• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • College Loans
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • College Loans
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise

You are here: Home / Career / Show and Tell: A Resume Guide for Communication Majors

Show and Tell: A Resume Guide for Communication Majors

April 27, 2015 //  by Ale Russian//  Leave a Comment

FacebookTweet

Ah, resumes. The simple-looking piece of paper that can either make or break your future and all your dreams and aspirations. The real nightmare that keeps college students awake at night.

On paper, building your resume doesn’t sound like much work. You just have to summarize your experiences in a simple and effective way that highlights your best qualities and who you are and why you are the most qualified person to fill a job position. Easy, right?

The truth is, resumes can be documents of horror. But with the right amount of help and encouragement, a lot of the stress is taken away. Read on for advice from true professionals on building your resume and making it your key to the promised land (aka the real world).

Show Them Who You Are

giphy.com

Your resume is supposed to reflect who you truly are and your shining qualities. “A mistake students make is thinking of a resume as a factual document,” said Dr. Michael Weigold, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and professional advising professor at the University of Florida. “It’s far from that. [A resume] is intended as a persuasive document. It’s supposed to speak to the employer,” Weigold said.

A dry resume that just summarizes experiences is ineffective; employers get no sense of who you are as a person. It’s important to show them you are someone they would like to work with by infusing your personality. Focusing on your teamwork skills is a way to do that. As a communication major, you will work in teams and collaborative environments often. Your resume needs to let the employer know you thrive in this setting and you would be a great addition to their team. If your resume doesn’t paint a picture of who you are it’s likely employers won’t pay attention because they can’t picture a human being on the other side.

Tell Them Who You Can Be

giphy.com
giphy.com

Since you’re just entering the workforce, you likely won’t have much experience in the field you’re applying to. Weigold said that’s ok; just spin it to your benefit. “As a student, you mostly have to call attention to your potential because that is really all you have,” Weigold said. The best way to do that if by emphasizing your eagerness to learn and why you’ll be able to thrive at the job you’re applying to.

A way to combat a lacking resume is by working on it early. “You should have a resume from the moment you walk in the college and it should be updated regularly,” Weigold said, “But it should also be a document that serves as a way of saying ‘what are the experiences that I need to get?’” This is especially important in the communication field because employers want someone that is resourceful and self-motivated. In an industry that is constantly changing, you have to prove you can challenge yourself.

Show Them What You Did

giphy.com
giphy.com

When it comes down to it, a resume really is a list of experiences. David Ostroff, head of the telecommunication department at UF, said, “Students need to showcase what they are able to do and that is by showing what they have done.” Your jobs and internships and what you did during them will show an employer that you could thrive in a professional setting. That’s why Ostroff emphasizes tailoring a resume to the specific job.

No job in the communications industry is the same and your resume needs to adapt to that. Research every company you’re applying to and make sure your resume meets their brand and what they’re looking for. All employers generally look for similar things, but each job has its own requirements. “List job experiences in terms of relevance for the job that you’re trying to acquire. Don’t make them wade through minimal jobs before they get to the important ones,” Weigold said. Both Weigold and Ostroff advise making sure you emphasize exactly what you did while you were working there. It will give them a clearer picture of what experiences you have and how they relate to the job they need you to fill.

Tell Them What You Can Do

giphy.com
giphy.com

When an employer looks at your resume, they should immediately be able to see if you fit the role they’re looking for. “Employers have decided to hire because they have a need for something,” Weigold said, “They will always choose the person that they think will help them meet that need the most. Your resume needs to show you are that person.” The best way to do that is by highlighting the skills you have that can specifically help that employer. Your resume has to be able to tell them how you’re going to help them with what they really need.

As a communication major, your ability to get your point across in an effective way is obviously important. Ostroff suggests showcasing your writing ability and bringing attention to the experiences that have helped you become a better writer. You know you’re an unstoppable candidate—why not show that to the hiring manager?

FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Career How to Write a Resume Jobs & Internships

About Ale Russian

Telecommunications junior at the University of Florida and aspiring entertainment writer. Drowning in TV shows while daydreaming about being Amy Poehler's BFF.

You May Also Like

How To Become A Nurse

10 Most Irresistible Moments at the Amy Porterfield Entrepreneur Experience

Knowing yourself is the start of wisdom

10 Ways to Incorporate Soft Skills into Your Personal Brand

10 Majors to Tackle Climate Change as a College Student

10 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Avoid Google Analytics like the Plague

How to Write a LinkedIn Summary That Sounds Legit

Buy Low and Sell High Into a Stock Market Success

Dress to Impress: Nailing Down Women’s Business Attire

15 Ways to Battle Through Your Quarter-Life Crisis

major

CM’s Guide to the International Business Major

letter to myself

How Rejection Has Prepared Me for My Future

CM’s Guide to the Botany Major

unsplash.com

10 Jobs in Fashion Media You’ve Been Overlooking

lawyers without borders

CM’s Guide to Lawyers Without Borders

museum job

Advice From the Pros: Earning That Museum Job

inspirational bloggers

Meet 12 Inspirational Bloggers to Feed Your Mind, Body and Soul

soft skills

Soft Skills 101: A Guide for Every Job Search

jobs in politics

10 Jobs in Politics That Don’t Require a Campaign

NAMM foundation

How the Innovation Award Elevated My Music Career Journey

unsplash.com

10 Best Summer Jobs for College Students

women in medicine

The Unique Challenges that Face Women in Medicine and How Women Overcome Them

public relations

How to Make the Most of Your Public Relations Degree

21 Ways to Actually Land a Job at Your School’s Career Fair

mentoring

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Mentor

Previous Post: « Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game: 8 Ways to Win at School
Next Post: Crafting the Perfect Schedule for Next Semester »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

2203

10 Gifts Every Little Wants From Her Big

299

20 Gifts for Parents That They Actually Want

98

Top 10 Non-Materialistic Gift Ideas

77

10 Most Irresistible Moments at the Amy Porterfield Entrepreneur Experience

George Washington University Kogan Plaza
64

Top 10 #OnlyAtGW Things To Do

Featured Chapter: University of Florida

University of Florida Football Stadium

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2019 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.