S p ring 11 - Meeting Professionals International Chicago Area ...

Resumes That Work
“Backpacks to Briefcases”
W
We are excited to bring back the MPI-CAC Student Advisory
Committee’s “Backpacks to Briefcases” (B2B), an exclusive
program for all hospitality students on Wednesday, April
27 at Kendall College. It features continuing education and
countless opportunities to network.
The committee’s commitment
has always been to focus on the
learners—those who expect to enter
the meeting planning industry.
The round table discussions with
various industry professionals
will address many topics that are
on the cusp of meeting-planning
trends. Students will once again
have an opportunity to learn about
meeting-planning tools, services
and networking strategies in an
enjoyable environment.
So, what’s the hot buzz in 2011?
More than ever, students are asking
questions about how to land an
interview, launch their internships
or make their resume stand out
from the others. Here is a short
preview of some key points on writing a
resume that works:
1) Intrigue the Reader. Listing your
responsibilities will no longer suffice.
Instead, expand this area by citing
particular examples of how you
helped the company with cost savings
or profitability. Convey how your
particular skills can contribute to the
company. Create multiple versions
that will appeal to different employers,
emphasizing the particular skills that
meet their needs.
2) Keep It Real. It is important to
be truthful on your resume and
not publish information that can be
misrepresented. Background checks
are more thorough these days, and can
include reviews of social networks.
3) Be a Stickler and Proof Read! It is
crucial to make sure spelling and
grammar are correct. Use only one to
two fonts, such as Times New Roman
or Verdana, to make it easy to read. If
you are mailing or personally presenting your resume, print
it on high-quality paper; make sure the envelopes and thank
you cards are also the same high grade. When submitting
your resume online, create a simple format, use key words
and save a text version. Many resumes are
scanned by computers—fancy fonts and
formatting will be lost in this process.
4) Keep It Organized. Most recent and relevant
information is presented first. Knowing what
information to cut out or combine will help keep
the resume organized and fit on one page.
5) Key Words. Research similar job postings
and use the frequent phrases or words to aid in
getting your resume to the interviewer’s desk.
For more details please visit www.mpicac.org.
Make plans to attend “B2B” on Wednesday,
April 27 and learn more about the latest trends
in the meeting planning industry. We look
forward to seeing you at this year’s event!
www.mpicac.org news & views | spring 2011 11
By
Svetlana Kramarova
Battaglin
American Bar Association
&
By Nicole
Nikodem
American Bar Association