Brain Spew in Lieu of Wit

  While the standard format of resumes hasn’t changed extensively, many subtleties have due to the increased use of application tracking software (ATS) and artificial intelligence (AI) in recruiting departments. These tools have changed how resumes are filtered and sorted, often eliminating applicants before they appear before a recruiter. It is important to recognize that this article focuses on resumes, not CVs . CVs are intended to present the entire career path, and often include publications, all awards and commendations, volunteer work, and educational coursework. Resumes are summaries of work experience, usually no more than the past 10 years of relevant experience while using your skills section to highlight the full breadth of your relevant achievements. I have divided this into three parts. The first part outlines what categories must be included on your resume. I summarize what should be included in the section and briefly touch on basic formatting. In the second part, I...

Note: This article was originally published December 12, 2020 on my now-defunct website for AMA Creative Solutions. I have completed the most minor of edits, so what you see is what was published (barring a glaring and obnoxious error). There are many, many ways to organize a resume. Looking at resume samples and advice can be overwhelming and the advice on what to include can be confusing. Here are the basics of what to include in a resume (in a US context – I’m not sure how well it translates in other parts of the world) and a simple format to get you started designing your own. So, what is a resume? Your resume acts as a summary of your work experience. It gives hiring managers and recruiters a snapshot of your experience, skills, and formal education. The detail you use and the skills you focus on can vary depending on your field and hiring level, but you generally want to highlight what you bring to a specific role. Resumes are usually short documents – not more than two pages, b...

  Note: This article was originally published August 30, 2020 on my now-defunct website for AMA Creative Solutions. I have completed the most minor of edits, so what you see is what was published (barring a glaring and obnoxious error). What even is an essay?! Essays are a non-fiction prose form that is used to explore an idea or experience. The core components are the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. More creative non-fiction essays, like you might see from David Sedaris and other memoirists, may not have a traditional structure. However, even these styles introduce the topic, often through a descriptive account of an event or memory, then use the body to explore or process the impact, and the conclusion may be a “take-away” or closing observation about the experience. Most U.S. schools teach essay writing using a “three-point thesis” model. In this structure, the writer uses the introduction to provide context for the thesis, or core argument, of the essay. The thesis ...