Title: Resume Writing and Job Hunting Tips for Students in Historic Preservation
1Resume Writing and Job Hunting Tips for Students
in Historic Preservation
- Career Services School of Design
2Resume Basics
- A resume
- Is a summary of the aspects of your education and
experience paid and unpaid -- that qualify you
for the kind of job for which youre applying. - Is used in job searches in business, non-profit,
government and related areas. - For someone in the early-stage of a career, the
resume should be 1 - 2 pages. - It needs to show the reader why youre a good
match for a particular position or kind of job. - Its an ad for your qualifications, not an
autobiography.
3Sections of the Resume Contact Information
- Name (in bold or larger font)
- Preferred mailing addressPhone Number(s)E-mail
- FaxPersonal Web Site (if appropriate)
- JANE DOE
- 4645 Osage Avenue
- Philadelphia, PA 19104
- 566-321-4321
- jdoe_at_design.upenn.edu
- Fax 215 898-4444
4Sections of the Resume Objective and Summary of
Skills
- Objective (optional)
- A targeted statement that clearly states the type
of job you seek. - Good objectives are very specific
- A career in the adaptation, redesign, and
redevelopment of historic buildings to viable
contemporary use. - Project specialist in heritage site management
and/or conservation organization possibly related
to sites in North Africa and the Middle East. - Summary of Qualifications/Skills or Profile
(optional) - A summary of relevant skills, knowledge and
accomplishments. - Tailor this section to the job to which youre
applying. - This section can help an employer to focus on
your strengths - Two years of experience serving as liaison
between community groups and government agencies.
Familiarity with budget preparation and
administration. Skilled at public speaking and
negotiating working relationships between public
and private sector organizations.
5Sections of the Resume Education
- Include degrees, expected date of completion if
you have not finished, relevant coursework, and
honors and awards (placed under the appropriate
degree). Lead with most recent. - Can include information about activities.
- For degrees, only include the date granted. For
coursework that didnt lead to a degree, include
inclusive dates. - EDUCATIONUNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, SCHOOL OF
DESIGN - and WHARTON SCHOOL
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMaster Science in
Historic Preservation, Certificate in Real
Estate Degree expected May 2009 - Awarded Elizabeth Greene-Wiley Fellowship
- Coursework includes Corporate Finance,
Affordable Housing and Project Development, Real
EstateFinance, Law of Real Estate Financing and
Development, Real Estate Development. - Member of Urban Land Institute and School of
Design Real Estate Club. - Alpha Beta Gamma Travel Fellowship
May-July 2006 - BOWDOIN COLLEGE
Brunswick, Maine Bachelor of Arts in
Government
May 2005 - James and Sarah Bowdoin Scholar (top 20).
6Sections of a Resume Experience
- Think in terms of experience, not employment or
work history. - Include internships and unpaid positions if
relevant. - Be concise in descriptions of what you did.
- Do not use Responsibilities included or Duties
were use active verbs to describe your duties
and responsibilities. - Like Education, list experiences in reverse
chronological order.
7Sample Entry Experience
- EXPERIENCE
- The National Park Service, Northeast Regional
Office, Phila, PA - Intern, Interpretation Visitation Div., June
07-present - Researched Thomas Stone, MD signer of
Declaration of Independence, and created time
line of activities. Lay out reports utilizing
InDesign, attend meetings, and visit national
parks to evaluate interpretive techniques. - The Royal Oak Foundation, New York CIty
- Exec. Assistant to the Exec. Director, Feb.
2003-June 2005 - Worked with Board of Directors and Committees,
coordinated meetings, assisted in coordinating
social events and event benefits, maintained
Exec. Directors schedule, generated
correspondence, and handled all administration of
the Biennial Architectural Competition. - Hirschl Adler Galleries, New York City
- Receptionist/Public Relations Associate. Feb.
2002-Jan. 2003 - Acted as liaison for gallery website, performed
web-based research, handled exhibition listings
and press releases, assisted the press, handled
reproduction rights requests, greeted and
assisted clients, and gallery daily operations. - Assistant to the Director, European Art Dept.,
April-Nov. 2002 - Performed research, assisted in preparation of
exhibitions and catalogues, planned openings,
drafted correspondence and offerings, assisted
clients, maintained dept. files and archives,
utilized digital camera and scanning equipment,
and processed images.
8Resume Sections
- Additional possible sections
- Related Experience
- Memberships
- Additional Information
- Interests
- Community Service
- Languages
- Computer Skills
- Honors
9Resume dos and donts
- Most employers will only look at your resume for
15-30 seconds, so - Demonstrate why youre a good match for a
specific job. - Include paid and unpaid experience to show the
range of what youve done. - Begin each bullet point with a verb.
- Use reverse chronology (the most recent position
is your first entry) to organize your education
and experience. - Choose a format, even an unusual one, which shows
your qualifications to greatest advantage - If applying to very different kinds of jobs, make
several resumes, with each one targeting a
particular field. - Proofread and ask others to look at your resume.
(Call 215 898-7530 to schedule a critique with a
Career Services advisor.)
10More resume dos and donts
- In most cases, include dates, on the right-hand
side. - Look at other resumes to get ideas of formats
- Use formatting techniques judiciously.
- Dont make your resume too dense or busy.
- Avoid using fonts smaller than 10 point and fancy
fonts that are hard to read. - Dont make your reader dig for information.
- Refrain from telling everything youve ever done.
- Dont use complete sentences
- Do not include personal information, such as age,
race, marital or health status if youre applying
for positions in the U.S.
11Should I have a Portfolio and what could be in it?
- Examples of course work that are geared for
professional applications such as - Statements of significance
- Documentation and recordation showing technical
skills - Condition surveys
- Analyses reports
- Research papers
- Thesis proposal
- Studio work
- Visuals
12Job hunting
- Network
- Research employers
- Read job descriptions carefully and address what
they are looking for - Make sure your job search materials are perfect
proofread - Practice interviewing
- Think about a Plan B
13Networking
- Networking is the art of building alliances and
using shared interests to develop and maintain
mutually beneficial relationships. - Networking lets you transition from research to
an active job search - Networking is the best way to access hidden job
market - - people know about job openings well before
they are posted - - an inside referral can get your application
noticed - - people are looking out for you, so you have
help casting your net while fishing for jobs - Networking may include using
- Targeted/formal networking through events,
professional associations and university groups,
online groups, and organizational research - Unofficial networks
- Informal, spontaneous networking
- Information interviewing
- How to network you must have a way to introduce
yourself and say where you are going next. - - The best way to network is to ask questions!
14Applying for jobs
- Focus on the responsibilities and/or duties
section of a job description. - You can apply for a position even if you dont
meet 100 of the qualifications - Dont presume that because an organization isnt
posting any jobs, there are absolutely no
positions - Contact people or organizations that interest you
whether or not they are posting job vacancies - Submit cover letter and resume. Might also
submit a one page design sheet or short writing
sample if seems appropriate
15Interviewing
- An interview is an opportunity
- to learn whether or not there is a "fit" between
you and the employer - You match up to whats on your resume
- Setting up an interview
- Get the name(s) and title(s) of the person(s)
with whom you will meet. - Find out where you need to be and when.
- What will the interview entail?
- What should you prepare?
- a presentation?
- How long will it be?
- Who will be attending?
- What should you bring?
- If travel is involved, work out the arrangements
16Interview questions to practice
- Why are you the best candidate for this position?
- Tell me about the most challenging professional
assignment you've ever handled. - Have you ever worked with difficult people?
- How would those who have worked with you describe
you?
17Day Before the Interview
- Know what you are wearing.
- Get together whatever you need to bring including
the materials you initially sent the employer
that got you the interview. - Research the employer again.
- Prepare some questions to ask.
18Day of the interview
- Arrive a little early.
- Shake hands with each person and look them in the
eye. Memorize their names. - If you have successive meetings, treat each
person/interview as if it were the first. - Try to establish rapport with each person you
meet. - With each meeting, stay within the time frame.
19During the Interview
- The employer wants to find out
- what you can do for us
- why you want to work with us
- what are you like once we've gotten to know you
- You want to find out
- what are the specific responsibilities of the job
- what are the resources to do them, e.g., staff,
equipment, etc. - what its like to work there
20During the Interview
- Ask for clarification if you do not understand a
question. Do not guess - Illustrate your answers with specific examples
- Feel comfortable taking a moment to think about
an answer - Be honest
- Connect your accomplishments to what you know
about the job - Have questions for the employer
- Avoid being negative or saying negative things
about your current job, supervisor, etc. - Dont bring up salary
- Avoid taking notes
21Closing the Interview
- Be aware of signals that indicate the interview
is over. - Express your enthusiasm for the organization.
- If youre interested in the position, ask what
the next step is/when a decision will be made and
when you may call. - Maintain eye contact and shake hands.
22After the interview
- Write a thank you note/letter
- Send anything you offered to send
- Follow-up if relevant
23Negotiating and accepting an offer
- Its not a good idea to accept a job on the spot.
- Reach an agreement with the employer about when
you will need to give a decision - A real offer has terms of employment and a salary
figure attached to it - Find out how performance is evaluated and when
- Once you accept an offer, take yourself out of
any other searches - Thank everyone who helped you
- Let those in your network know you got a job
- Focus on starting the new job
24What if you dont get any offers
- Talk to people in your network
- Do more networking and information interviewing
- Move to Plan B
- Consider an internship or unpaid work to keep
yourself involved in your field - Try to maintain a positive attitude
25(No Transcript)
26(No Transcript)
27(No Transcript)
28(No Transcript)
29(No Transcript)
30(No Transcript)
31(No Transcript)
32(No Transcript)
33While you are a student, develop your Career
Network
- Former employers
- Fellow students
- Speakers in your classes
- Attend professional talks and meetings
- Keep track of who you meet
- Use the Employer/Alumni database and the Penn
Career Network - Advice from a peer network with people in the
field. Make sure your professors know who you
are and your capabilities.
34Positions Preservationists have accepted
- SELECTED POSITIONS REPORTED TO CAREER SERVICES BY
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GRADUATES 2003-2008 - New York Landmarks Conservancy, Program
Coordinator New York, NY - The Ventin Group Architects, Conservation
Specialist Toronto, ON - Getty Conservation Institute, Graduate
Intern Los Angeles, CA - The Rouse Group, Project Manager Bryn Mawr, PA
- EHT Traceries, Architectural Historian Washingto
n, DC - National Trust for Historic Preservation,
Director of Sustainability, Seattle, WA - Delaware River City Corp, Executive
Director Philadelphia, PA - Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, SCA
Intern Boston, MA - Partners for Sacred Places, Fels Intern,
Philadelphia, PA - Architectural Resources Group Conservation
Service, Conservator San
Francisco, CA - Urban Land Institute, Scholar in
Residence Washington, DC - John Milner Architects, Inc., Architectural
Conservator Chadds Ford, PA - Cultural Resource Consulting Group, Architectural
Historian Philadelphia, PA - S. Harris Company, Preservation
Specialist Philadelphia, PA
35Meetings with Career Advisors
- Call 215-898-7530 to schedule an appointment at
Career Services. - Walk-in hours
- 2-3 daily, 11-12 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday in
Career Services. (Good idea to call and confirm
walk-in times at CS.) - Julie Vick, Rachel Burk, Rosanne Lurie and John
Tuton are the counselors for PennDesign students
and alumni. - We look forward to talking with you.