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Understand how to create a successful resume and LinkedIn Profile that will get noticed
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Communicate your GA experience effectively on your resume and LinkedIn
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Organize content on your resume to tell the story of your career transition
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Create a draft resume
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Update your LinkedIn profile
We know that you likely don’t know yet what you want to do or where to even begin with your resume; that’s okay! Our goal today is to show you what success looks like, and to get your content into a draft that you can continue to work on.
The secret six:
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Your resume should be an advertisement – not an autobiography
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Write for the reader – not yourself
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Make it easy to be screened in – not out
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Tell them only what they want to hear
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Give proof – not promises
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One size does NOT fit all situations
Do your research - your resume is your personal advertisement
The format:
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Introduction (centered): Name, phone number, email, location (just city, state), link to portfolio
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Brand Statement (centered) {You do not need to label it as "Brand Statement"}
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Skills (List your hard skills - tools, languages, programming)
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Relevant Experience:
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General Assembly XX IMMERSIVE STUDENT + description
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Projects
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Any other experience related to web development, ux design, or data science
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Professional Experience
- List chronologically
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Education
- List GA again, but without a description
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Side Hustle/hobbies/personal interests/awards (optional)
- Anything else that you are really proud of that you’d like to share
Review of previous successful resumes:
Writing sucessful bullets:
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Begin with verbs (Developed, Created, Designed, Managed, Led), and be sure to vary them
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Remember to provide proof...show the data. Don't just say "Led a team". Rather, "Led a team of five to achieve a growth rate that increased revenue 80%"
Turn to your neighbor. Choose a bullet on your resume to make quantifiable and brainstorm together on how to make it quantifiable and more specific
Don't stress out about Cover Letters. This is another tool to gain insight into who you are as a candidate that should be an addition to your resume to demonstrate why you would be a great addition to their team.
Use the KISS method-Keep It Simple Stupid.
Format:
Use the same heading as your resume {Name, phone number, email, location (just city, state), link to portfolio}
Paragraph 1: Say what you are applying for and how you heard about the organization.
Paragraph 2: State why THEY are great.
Paragraph 3: State why YOU are great.
Paragraph 4: State why you BOTH are great and would be a good fit.
Paragraph 5: Call to Action and Contact Info.
LinkedIn is an incredibly valuable tool that can completely shift your networking strategies
Find your career crushes and ask them to coffee.
- Hi Name! I'm a current ABC student at GA and I'm looking to learn more about the tech field in DC. I was really impressed by your career path and would love to pick your brain. Would you be open to coffee (my treat) or quick phone call in the next couple of weeks?
Whenever you are interested in an organization, search to see if you have any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree connections to that organization, and then ask for a connection
- Hi NAME! I hope everything is going well with you! As you may know, I've just started GA's XYZ immersive course, and I'm loving it so far! I'll soon be job searching and am looking to learn more about the tech field in DC. I saw that you are connected to ABC and I'm very interested in that organization, would you be willing to connect us? I've written an email below that you can copy and paste:
First of all, turn off notifications when you are making lots of edits (Click your headshot > Settings + Privacy > Privacy tab > "Sharing Profile Edits" half way down the page)
Make sure your contact information is listed (Click on your headshot > scroll down halfway down the page on the righthand side "Contact and Personal Info"
Update your tagline (under your name)
- Examples: Web Developer, Frontend Developer, Web Development Student at GA, User Experience Designer, Data Scientist. Even if you don't feel like it's true, put it up there!
Once your resume is final, you can copy and paste the content into LinkedIn
Add your GA projects to your GA section
- Use the "Add a section to your GA Profile" and then look for "Projects"
Ask for recommendations: former bosses, coworkers, clients
- You can use the recommendation section on LinkedIn and be sure to also follow up with a personalized note:
- Example: Hi NAME, I hope everything is going well with you! As you may know, I've just started GA's XYZ immersive course, and I'm loving it so far! I'll soon be job searching and am looking to build up my LinkedIn profile, would you be willing to write me a recommendation? I'd be happy to draft some ideas for you if that's helpful.
Here’s an example LinkedIn Profile to model
- Join relevant groups (JS devs, Data Science, UX etc.)
- Follow your favorite companies
- Meet strangers and request informational interviews
- Use advanced search to find hiring managers
- Share, read, and comment on articles
- Search for jobs, and see who you know at the company
Begin your draft resume
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Here are templates you can use in word and Google docs: Google Doc Add-on VisualCV + Google Doc templates
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GA sample descriptions (please don’t just copy and paste - add your own voice to this!):
WDI Web Development Immersive Student
Three-month, 500-hour full-time and full-stack web development program providing experience with the latest front- and back-end programming languages, tools, and methodologies including: HTML, CSS, SASS, Javascript, jQuery, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, AngularJS, NodeJS, ReactJS, PHP, Wordpress, Jasmine, RSpec, Git, Github, Agile/scrum, wire framing, user stories/requirements planning, and test driven development. Developed a portfolio of individually and collaboratively focused in-class projects, including: {list projects in bullets}
- Led a team of 4 to build a functional site for Drizly- a local startup specializing in on-demand alcohol delivery.
- Completed projects using JavaScript, jQuery, AJAZ, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, node.js, handlebars, HTML, CSS, Sass
UXDI UX Design Immersive Student
Full-time immersive User Experience Design program that included over 500 hours of professional training over ten weeks. Utilized a hands-on approach to practice user-centered design methods, design thinking skills, team collaboration, and client relations. Developed a portfolio of individually and collaboratively focused in-class projects, including: {list projects in bullets}
DSI Data Science Immersive Student
Participated in full-time immersive Data Science course, completing in-class projects, Kaggle competitions, and personal projects focused on real-world applications of data science principles and best practices. Acquired, cleaned, and explored large datasets using Python, SQL, and Tableau in order to present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. Developed a portfolio of individually and collaboratively focused in-class projects, including: {list projects in bullets}
Homework due next Monday at 6 pm Final Brand Statement + Draft Resume
Resume & Social Media Slide Deck
Resume templates:
- Enhance CV: Resume templates + feedback
- Canva
- Word templates
- Google docs: Google Doc Add-on VisualCV + Google Doc templates
- UXBeginner.com: Complete Guide to UX Resumes + 3 Free Templates
The Muse: An Editor’s Guide to Perfecting Your Resume
Aline Lerner’s Blog: Lessons From a Year’s Worth of Hiring Data
Forbes: 9 Key Things the Hiring Manager is Looking for on Your Developer Resume