Build a resume

Great advice on writing a resume:  National Public Radio, Jan. 13, 2024 

• Summarize.  Who are you, professionally speaking?
• Explain. What is your goal? What are you looking for?
• List your core skills.  Are you good at voice work? Stand-up? Copy editing? Design?
• Work experience.  Explain what you achieved and what you learned. Bullet points and dates.  Student media definitely counts, especially if  you are an editor or managing editor.
• Education.  University major and minors, GPA if good, student media or other extra-curricular experience.
• Portfolio. Your best work.  Can be on an interactive PDF or web site.

Checklist … Does your resume have… 

• Name and contact info such as email & phone
  • No you don’t need your home address
• Summarizes qualifications and goals — “Award winning student media editor with strong interviewing and social media skills now seeking professional career opportunities in online or broadcast journalism …”
• Highlights education, experience and skills as major headings
• Probably has a good photo of you working as a reporter
• Provides education & date of degree(s)
• Gives info about other training (eg Poynter Institute, fellowships, internships, etc)
• Demonstrates a record of professionalism, such as
  • Positions in student or professional media (freelance, stringer, reporter, editor…)
  • Portfolio site to showcase your best writing, photos & videos
  • Professional   memberships SPJ, SEJ, NABJ, RTNDA or other media groups
  • Non-media positions that show responsibility
• Has an “ask”  — Contact me at …  / Looking for assignments in  … (etc) / download my pdf resume here …

A professional resume  … 

• is short (one page)
• Avoids personal details
• Does not mix past employment in non-media jobs with professional media work
• Does not have to be fancy or graphically polished