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Five Tips to Resume Readiness

Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd Headshot
Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd, Membership Co-Chair, Board of Directors WWPR

Whether you’re a graduating college senior preparing to enter the job market soon or a mid-career professional, almost everyone has had the experience of finding the “perfect” job and not having a resume at-the-ready to apply. When it comes to your livelihood, it’s always best to update your resume continuously, so you don’t have to spend weeks pulling one together.

Veteran resume writer and WWPR Membership Co-Chair Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd presented her “Five Tips to Resume Readiness” webinar last month and shared the following advice on being prepared with an updated resume at all times:

  1. Decide on your career goal – Assess your hard and soft skills being sure to document your numbers (these are metrics that demonstrate your results).
  2. Start with your basic resume – Start with your latest resume, updating it with any new accomplishments, trainings, certifications and skills and focusing on value delivered
  3. Write a profile statement – A profile statement isn’t an “objective” statement, but a summary of your unique expertise and the value you can offer a potential employer. 
  4. Focus on achievements, not duties – While it’s important to document what your responsibilities were, it’s equally important to convey what you accomplished. Did you reach your media goals? Book a record number of podcast guests? Secure a major sponsorship for big dollars? Highlight those results.
  5. Banish antiquated items – Here’s a short list of items to lose and why:

– Objective Statement – This tells employers what you want and it’s all about you. They want to know who you are and what you can bring to the table. Replace the objective statement with a profile statement.

– Dated Work Experience – It’s important to focus on your most relevant skills, which have likely occurred with your most recent work history. Ten to 12 years’ work history will suffice for work experience. 

– Dates for Educational Achievements  – Avoid giving any clues regarding your age by removing the year you graduated from college (ageism in a real concern). 

– Expired certifications – If your certification has expired, don’t include it on the resume.

– Volunteerism – Unless your volunteer work is directly relevant to the position you’re applying for, don’t include it on your resume.

These quick tips will help you get organized and focus on the most relevant, impactful details to include on your resume.

President’s Note: April 2020

Sarah Beth Cloar, President, WWPR

Can anyone ever really prepare you for what the world has seen these past two months? The loss of loved ones, disconnected families, shuttered businesses, layoffs, and furloughs, financial uncertainty, and decline of mental and physical wellbeing. 

It’s like a movie plot that has gone on far too long, with the twist not presenting itself soon enough.

Despite the immensely trying times, I try to look for the bright spots in each day. As a full-time working parent of an 18-month-old, I’m challenged to do this more days than I can count. 

But when a fellow board member recently flagged to our group this amazing piece, Your Only Goal Is to Arrive, it hit home (a place I haven’t ventured from in a while). Comedian Paul Ollinger paints a beautiful metaphor of our sheltering in place with that of traveling via flight with a baby in tow. He says:

“Because our reality has changed, we also need to change the metrics by which we judge our success. If Satisfaction=Experience–Expectations, and much of the experience is out of our control, now is the time to make sure our expectations are realistic and achievable.”

While our organization and many like us, our employers, and businesses large and small have made adjustments to programming and services to be connection-reliant, contactless, curbside, and convenient, the experience has been improved. But the expectations are ours to own – and they require equal parts grace, optimism, and patience. So, in Paul’s scenario, we can “survive and arrive.” Forget about thriving, that’s for another day.

Thank you for staying aboard with us – we are here should you need a connection, a friend, a piece of advice. Reach out and let us know how things are going.

 

  

Stuck at Home? Take The Time to Give Your Professional Development a Boost

Stephanie Wight
Stephanie Wight, WWPR Professional Development Co-Chair

We know your inboxes have been flooded with constant coronavirus updates, from handwashing memes to event cancelations and everything in between. We’re hoping to offer you some ideas to boost your productivity and get your mind off the virus for a few minutes, while you’re potentially stuck inside.

Whether you are working from home and have some extra downtime during your would-be commute, or your workload is dwindling due to meeting cancelations, why not check out some free resources to increase your PR knowledge, freshen up your digital skills and tackle your negotiation fears? 

Take this opportunity to continue to work on YOU, and check out these free resources: 

  • Google Ads Certifications: Showcase your mastery of Google Ads by getting certified in Search, Display, Video, Shopping ads, and Measurement 
  • Google Analytics Academy: Analytics academy helps you learn about Google’s measurement tools so that you can offer your organization, company, or clients intelligent data collection and analysis. Courses include beginner, advanced, power users, and analytics 360. 
  • Salary Negotiation Workshop: In this free online workshop from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), learn how to identify and articulate your personal value, develop responses and strategies to use when negotiating, and conduct objective market research to benchmark your target salary and benefits.
  • Writing for Brands: Freelancing in the Age of Content Marketing: Knowing how to pitch and write for brands is key to a successful freelance writing career — and it’s never been more important than in today’s digital content-driven world. In this 30-minute Skillshare class, Contently’s Brian Maehl breaks the process down into simple steps, so you can advance your writing career and get paid to create content that you’re proud to show in your portfolio. (Note: This course is free with trial.) 
  • Intro to Digital Marketing Livestream: Step into the world of digital marketing with General Assembly. During their online introductory workshop, explore the components of brand building and see how modern marketers drive successful campaigns using content, email, social media, paid advertising channels, and more. Livestream events happen on a weekly basis. 

This is just a sampling, but please share with us if you’ve taken other free trainings that you’ve found helpful, and think would be useful for your fellow women in PR! Stay tuned for more online resources and remote activities from WWPR.

 

Member Spotlight: Interview with Meredith Huddle

Q: Tell me a little bit about your background and what kind of work you are doing now:

A: I’m an Associate Communications Manager at the Partnership for Public Service — a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to making government more effective. My background matches that mission. I’ve largely been focused on politics and public advocacy work, starting back as a junior press staffer in the 2016 presidential election. My passion for good government has brought me all the way from a turbulent campaign environment, to a thoughtfully-run think tank, and now to a leading non-profit in DC. In my current role, I am most focused on social media strategy, video production and event planning.  

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job? Can you share a successful accomplishment?   

A: Our organization prides itself on recognition, and it shows in our Service to America Medals (Sammies) program. We honor the outstanding work of public servants who don’t receive the praise and appreciation that they richly deserve. We earn them media spotlights and opportunities to share their stories widely. Every year, the “Oscars of Government Service” hosts a gala to celebrate these public service achievements. One of the proudest moments of my career was when I saw #Sammies trending nationwide. To see our hard work pay off, and to see the achievements of our nation’s brightest stars in the spotlight, was a highlight of my career.

Q: Why did you join WWPR? How has the experience been and what advice would you give to someone wanting to join WWPR?

A: Through my job at the Partnership for Public Service, I coordinate a quarterly convening with the Federal Communicators Network — a community of public affairs specialists across government. As I grew in that role, I realized the power of community, connectivity and sharing best practices. I knew I needed to find a group that could match my professional interests and career goals — and I’ve found that with WWPR. Joining WWPR has been one of the smartest moves I’ve made on my professional path, and I’m only expecting more from the membership in my future.

Q: How do you keep up with the latest trends in PR? 

A: I think the best way to keep up with the latest PR trends is to listen and learn from your peers. In organizations like WWPR, we are uniquely positioned to build and grow from each other’s expertise. Start there, then find your own creative path and let training, blogs, and podcasts guide you along the way. Sign up for every newsletter and daily digest you can find — it’ll be worth it even if you only read them every so often.  

Q: What trends are you seeing more of in public relations in the past 5 years? Are you implementing them in your career?  

A: Visual media has been on the rise, and it isn’t going anywhere. In my role at the Partnership for Public Service, we’ve taken both in-house and contracted video work to new levels, and we’ve seen tremendous returns. Try and get your principals on camera as much as possible to put a face to your brand’s spokespeople. Video storytelling will continue to be a leading priority in our world.   

Q: Outside of WWPR, are you involved in other organizations or activities outside the office? If so, share and tell us why.    

A: Book clubs! I love reading both non-fiction and fiction so that I can absorb new stories and diverse perspectives. I also started my own non-profit, The Recovery Project (edrecoveryproject.org // @ed_recoveryproject), a letter-writing initiative to support people battling eating disorders. Each month, our team of writers sends letters to hundreds of eating disorder survivors to support and encourage their recovery journeys.

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in the DMV area? 

A: DC has a vibrant fitness scene, and I’ve really enjoyed exploring all it has to offer. I’ve been a lifelong tennis player, and I was worried that the city wouldn’t have much to offer, but I was totally wrong! I play in a local USTA league and I’m loving it. If anyone wants to play, you’ve found your next hitting partner.   

Article written by Florence Sumaray, Digital & Marketing Communications Expert; WWPR Member

 

President’s Note: March 2020

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Sarah Beth Cloar, President, WWPR

This month, WWPR is in great company with Women’s History Month – each group marking its 40th year, applauding and remembering women and their contributions to various fields.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed Women’s History Week in March (which soon evolved to Women’s History Month) and urged the nation to celebrate and recognize women in schools, government, and organizations across communities that week. What he said 40 years ago still rings true today:

“Too often, the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”

This quote struck me because I felt like it was a textbook statement of how women in PR have been portrayed and not equally recognized in the field. Our efforts, while often a necessary part of the job, can go unnoticed. Let this be the month that we remember to make our names known as well to bring equal appreciation and leadership recognition to the important roles that we play.

 

 

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