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RESUME BOOSTER
There are many different ways you can use stepping out to boost your resume, but the most essential thing is having the ability to express what it is you learned during your time off.  |
| Below is some advice from career
counselors from colleges around the country: Larry Sechney, Director of Career and Community Services, Kutztown University (Pennsylvania): I
would offer that any experience can be beneficial, but there are some
things that can prove to be more helpful. Certainly any
internship or
other form of experiential educational experience would be best.
Again
the important question to be asked is "what did you learn via this
experience?" And don't forget the value that can be derived
from
volunteerism and public engagement. It
is important to use the time constructively. I don't care if
students
take a job in a paper mill or at Wal-Mart as long as they can
articulate why they took the position and what they learned from it.
To take time off to work on your tan or your serve/volley
isn't going
to cut it!
Judith Carruthers, Director of Career Development, Castleton State College (Vermont): As
the world "flattens", recruiters are looking for people with
international travel experience, familiarity with other cultures,
languages, etc. Personally I do not recommend people take
time off
unless they have a "plan". Having said that, I didn't start
university
until 31 with a grade nine education. Seven years later, I
graduated
with a Masters Degree in English Literature. I became an
international
business and marketing consultant, a professional cartoonist, author.
Now I am adjunct faculty and full-time Director of Career
Development.
I think the eclectic background makes me a dynamite Director.
So who's to say what is the "right" road. Follow your heart.
Donna Marino, Associate Director of Career Services, Skidmore College (New York): Internships
in [students'] fields would be viewed positively. As might
other
experiences, if the message is clear. For example, if
someone
traveled around Europe exploring the great museums and ancient sites,
and he or she were interested in art history, it could be seen as a positive
experience. If they traveled around Europe, working on farms,
successfully making enough money for the next leg of their trip, and
they wanted to prove that they can take risks and initiative, have
strong enough interpersonal skills to pick up jobs like these quickly,
are diligent enough to get the job done and have a good referral for
the next job, again, it could be seen as a positive experience.
Clarice Wilsey, Associate Director of Career Development Services at the University of Oregon: If
it's purely a travel experience, the experience of understanding
different cultures, being independent, communicating with a variety of
people, problem-solving and decision making could be skills that the
person has developed and could be beneficial to a potential employer.
The skills that would be emphasized would be the skills most
appropriate to the potential job description. If the student
was
interested in a position that doesn't have anything to do with
international customers, he or she could still talk about their abilities to
communicate to a variety of clientele. The U.S. is filled
with
people from various cultural, ethnic, racial, value oriented diversity.
It would be helpful for students to find an experience that would be skill building for future employment. If they aren't sure what type of future employment they want, there are some general skills that most employers want. Some of these generic skills appropriate to a wide range of positions/employers would be: communication, interpersonal relations, problem solving, decision-making, organizing, planning, and conflict resolution. In summary, understanding what it is you learned from your experiences (whether good or bad) is indispensable. Explaining HOW and WHAT you learned while stepping out is essential. |