Jake's Letter

Jake Frandsen
754 S. 1370 W.Orem, UT 84058

Jourdan Lance
Managing Editor, Aspire

Dear Jourdan,

I would like to make a proposal for an article for our coming issue of Aspire. In considering our audience and purpose, I feel that an article on creating a professional resume would be both relevant and helpful. As young professionals entering professional fields, our audience members need to be able to stand out; they need an edge that will help them succeed. A resume is a tool that each audience member should have, and with my article, I hope to help them create resumes that will make them stand out in a crowd.

My article would probably consist of one or two full-page spreads. I would likely include multiple sidebars and graphics. Below is a possible rough outline of the article.

Resume Writing

Use Power Words. Remove all “responsibilities included…” and replace with “on the job accomplishments.” Begin sentences with action verbs.
Basic Power Words: Edited, Planned, Directed, Serviced, Executed, Advised. There are many variations of these words. The Power Word section could be a sidebar.

Develop P.A.R. Statements (Problem, Action, Result). State the problem that existed in the workplace, describe what you did about it, and describe beneficial results.

Quantify Accomplishments. Always use numbers to describe achievements.

Use superlatives. Use words like “youngest,” “highest,” “best,” “only” (but only if it’s true).

Creating a Master Resume

It streamlines the creation of custom resume versions
It helps you remember past jobs
It helps you spot themes and patterns
It helps you highlight your favorite tasks
It helps you avoid the “generic resume”
It allows you to describe different skill sets

What to include (and not include) in your resume

Include:
· Contact Info
· Education
· Coursework
· Research Experience
· Computers
· Instrumentation
· Experience
· Communication Skills
· Publications and Presentations
· Professional Organizations
· Volunteer Work

I believe that this article, if done right, could be a valuable tool for every one of our audience members.

Thank you,

Jake Frandsen