Several resume questions

[Heidi]

I am looking for the answers to some resume questions. I have done a search and haven't found exactly what I need, but if there is something out there I missed, please point me in the right direction!

I graduated from college in 2001 and in the past 5 years I have been bad and did not keep my resume up to date like I should have. Now everything is so outdated.

•*My GPA was 3.8, so I had that on my resume, but now it seems stupid 5 years out of school. Would it be okay to list summa cum laude after my degree, or would this be as stupid as listing my GPA?

• How would I indicate work done in a team? Right now it looks like I am taking credit for everything my team did.
ex: Transitioned bi-monthly magazine to a monthly publication.
I obviously did not accomplish this alone, but I was a major part of it. Should I somehow indicate I was part of a team?

• Pro bono/community work - I have done some design for people and businesses in the community for free, or as a donation - do you think jobs like this are worth listing?

• I also have a side business (if you can even call it that!) and wonder if I should include that on my resume? Something in me says I should keep that to myself for now (someday I hope it becomes my full time job, but for now it is just a side thing!)

Any suggestions are helpful!

Heidi

[houseblend]

My GPA was 3.8, so I had that on my resume, but now it seems stupid 5 years out of school. Would it be okay to list summa cum laude after my degree, or would this be as stupid as listing my GPA?

I think listing summa cum laude is great! It reflects a bit of who you are. I agree about not putting GPA on there, though.



How would I indicate work done in a team? Right now it looks like I am taking credit for everything my team did.

Thank you! I often come across applicants who take the credit all themselves and later found out it wasn't the case. I'm not sure the best way to word, though.


Pro bono/community work

Definitely list these! Again, it gives insight into your character. I would list it as a separate section though (under Volunteer Work).


I also have a side business (if you can even call it that!) and wonder if I should include that on my resume? Something in me says I should keep that to myself for now (someday I hope it becomes my full time job, but for now it is just a side thing!)


If it's related to the job you are seeking I would list it. It is important for your employer to know about. Some jobs don't allow or discourage outside jobs or businesses, so it is important to be upfront about it early on.


Good luck on your job hunt!

[kris97]

I agree with what House Blend said - definitely list summa cum laude, that's quite an honor, and will make you stand out. As for indicating you were part of a team, how about: "As part of __ team, transitioned ..." I've also used, in my own resume, something like this: "With two co-clerks, managed a docket of over 240 pending cases." I'm not sure the specifics of your situation, but maybe you can work with either of those suggestions. Good luck!

[kam]

ex: Transitioned bi-monthly magazine to a monthly publication.
I obviously did not accomplish this alone, but I was a major part of it. Should I somehow indicate I was part of a team?

I would put "As part of the _____ team, helped to transition...." I agree with the others - take out the GPA but keep the summa cum laude.

[looch]

You all are making me wonder, I have my GPA listed on my resume, nearly 9 years out of school. every time i have interviewed it has been a discussion point, not sure why you woudln't want it on there, especially with a 3.8!

[pocket]

I think it's a bit young to have your GPA on your resume. It's not all that relevant to me, and gives me the impression that this is someone who rests on her laurels. I know that there are industries where it's considered relevant though - like Law or Academia. The right way to express this is with Phi Beta Kappa. I'd keep summa cum laude though.

Teamwork - "As an integral part of the Publications Committee, transitioned bi-monthly magazine to a monthly publication." or "Worked together with the Publications Committee to transition bi-monthly magazine to a monthly publication."

Pro-bono or volunteer work should go in it's own category - Other Interests or Community Work or something like that.

Only put your other job if it's impressive and relevant. Selling old books on ebay or even real estate is not impressive unless the job is in sales. Does that make sense? Like if the other job is home-based childcare and you are applying to a teaching position, that's relevant. If you are applying to a sales positon, not so much.

[tenofcups]

I think you've already gotten good advice on most of your questions, but I wanted to point out that if your side business and pro-bono work are related to what you do (or want to do), I would definitely include them both, perhaps under a heading such as "Related Work Experience" or "Additional Work Experience." You could also keep it with your regular work experience, as a separate category such as:

* Additional design work [expand on that as necessary] for such companies as a, b, c.

If it's related to your industry, I wouldn't necessarily note that it was pro bono as I don't think that's all that relevant--the fact of the work itself is more important than what you've been paid for it.

[Heidi]

These are great responses and I appreciate it ladies!

I agree with the team wording suggestions and will go back and do that.

But I thought of one more question today:

I have my education at the very top on my resume. I remember in college, this was important, as it was recent but now that I am actually out in the world and do have experience I wonder if my work experience should be bumped to the top. What do you ladies prefer?

Thanks for your help - hopefully my updated resume will land me a job that makes me happy!

[Heidi]

oops - forgot to explain my "side business"...

I am applying for graphic design positions and my side business has evolved into designing wedding, graduation, birth announcements, etc. It definitely relates to my field. I still feel weird putting it on there though - I mean it is not even a registered business or anything (I have not even thought about doing this yet). I also feel a little weird because most of my work has been for friends and family. Still appropriate?

[Myra]

These are great responses and I appreciate it ladies!

I agree with the team wording suggestions and will go back and do that.

But I thought of one more question today:

I have my education at the very top on my resume. I remember in college, this was important, as it was recent but now that I am actually out in the world and do have experience I wonder if my work experience should be bumped to the top. What do you ladies prefer?

Thanks for your help - hopefully my updated resume will land me a job that makes me happy!

Once I was two jobs out of undergrad, I moved my education underneath expereince. But if you have an advanced degree, you keep it at the top. Attorneys, for example, always keep their education at the top, and once I started my Master's I put it on top.

For the teamwork, since I am always trying to conserve space on my resume, I would write my part of it, then in the cover letters explain that it was part of a team.

I agree, keep the summa on there.

[looch]

I gotta go update my resume to take off my GPA! I have only moved around inside the company, so it's never been an issue, interesting point of view though, pocket, on it looking like someone that rests on their laurels.

[Sazoo]

I too would recommend moving your education down below your work experience on your resume now that you have some relevant work experience under your belt. If your education is not the most recent or most relevant thing that you want to highlight to employers, then don't list it first. I agree with Myra though about keeping education at the top if you have an advanced degree. ;)


I am applying for graphic design positions and my side business has evolved into designing wedding, graduation, birth announcements, etc. It definitely relates to my field. I still feel weird putting it on there though - I mean it is not even a registered business or anything (I have not even thought about doing this yet). I also feel a little weird because most of my work has been for friends and family. Still appropriate?
As for the design work you've done on the side (wedding announcements, etc.) I would mention it somewhere since it is related to the type of work you're seeking (graphic design). Maybe put it under the same category as your pro bono/community work - other posters above have suggested some good titles such as Volunteer Work, Other Interests, or Community Work.

I agree with removing your GPA but listing summa cum laude. That's an accomplishment to be proud of, & I think the GPA becomes slightly less relevant as you get further away from your college days. That's just my opinion, though. ;)

Good luck!

[katmg]

I agree with those that said to move your education below work experience. That's how I've done mine since I graduated from college. I had a professor who said that the most important thing to the employer should go first on the resume. The most important thing (for me) is the relevant work I've done in my field not the fact that I have a degree - everyone in my line of work has a degree.

My resume has 3 headings, Work Experience, Education and Community Involvement, in that order.

[pocket]

As a general rule you want to lead with your strengths. If you don't have a graduate degree, don't point it out. If you went to an impressive school I will recognize AND your higher degree is in a relevant area AND it's the most relevant thing you have done since graduating, then put it at the top. Otherwise the default is that you should lead with your education if you are 1) an attorney 2) an academic 3) just got an new degree.

since the side work in is the area of design, I would list it separately under "Other Design Experience".