Resume, Job Search & Networking Tips

Basic Resume Content:

• Contact information (Name, phone, professional email address (not “hotlips99@hotmail.com)

• Professional Experience (paid, internships and some volunteer)

• Objective (not always required but can be helpful)

• Education (post High School only)

• Training and Skills • References (second page or furnished upon request)

Sample Resume:

Page One

Sample Resume for a VERY experiencedprofessional:

Page Two

ResumeDo’s & Don’ts:

• Keep it to one page with less than 10 years work experience and never more than 2 pages

• Focus on accomplishments vs. tasks

• KISS (Keep it simple and short)

• Use action verbs to describe responsibilities & experience

• Make it too long• Just list the tasks you did

in a job• Add extraneous or

irrelevant information• Use personal pronouns

ResumeDo’s & Don’ts:

• List all relevant work experiences

• Use numbers to quantify experience

• List job titles and employers together

• Be accurate with your information

• Add jobs that aren’t relevant

• Exaggerate numbers• Leave out job titles• Lie, exaggerate or

embellish

ResumeDo’s & Don’ts:

• List Skills (advanced computer, language, familiarity with political databases)

• List languages in which you are better than conversational

• Describe non-political experience in terms of “translatable skillsets”

• List skills you don’t have or that everyone has (ie: MS Word)

• List language classes or study abroad experiences

• Leave off non-political jobs if that’s your only experience

Naming Your Resume

• Most resumes are emailed around to employers and most employers get lots of resumes

• Resumes should be named with the your full name in it

Good Examples: Tanner, Seth resume.doc

Seth Tanner resume.pdf

Bad Examples: My resume.doc

Political resume.pdf

Cover Letters• Only include if you are specifically asked for one• Tailor it to the specific position/organization• Should be 3 paragraphs:

• 1 – Introduction and how (or from whom) you heard about the job• 2 – Narrative of your professional experience that summarizes but does not simply repeat your resume• 3 – Explanation of why your experiences will make you good at this specific job

Writing Samples

• Only include if you are specifically asked for one• Use relevant samples, not college term papers

•IE: if applying for a press job, include a press release you wrote from a previous job (or make one up if you’ve never written one before)

Interview Tips• Remember this isn’t about YOU and what you want, it’s about how you can make their life better by hiring you • Be prepared. Research the organization before you apply for the position and refresh your memory before the interview• Remember they need you, but there are dozens of “yous” out there – why are you better than the rest and why should they stop looking and hire you?• Use action verbs and numbers when discussing your experiences• Never exaggerate your skills, abilities, accomplishments or job titles• Be honest about any less-than-stellar experiences but do not bad mouth anyone personally• Be confident in yourself, your skills and what you bring to the table

The Search PlanBe honest about what do you need? • Money• Schedule• LocationWhat do you want?Where do you want to be in 5 years?What are your skills?What skills do you want to learn?Who can help you?

Needs:• Financial requirements?• Schedule• LocationWants:• More money• What type of job responsibilities

are you interested in?• Move up in your career

Who Can Help You?

• Who you know is as important as what you know!• Make a list of former bosses, colleagues and

acquaintances. Let them know you are looking. Ask them to keep an eye out for you.

• Make a list of the types of jobs you may want and find people who are already there. Call and ask if you can have coffee with them (informational interviews)

Networking 101• Networking is a fancy word for “meeting people” – don’t be intimidated •Go to where the people are and meet them! Happy hours, fundraisers, luncheons, “Dem hang outs” (ie: Stetson’s, Hawk & Dove)• Follow up with everyone who is kind enough to give you their card and build that relationship• Go on informational interviews – both to learn things and to build new relationships• Talk to everyone anyone tells you to (Hi, I’m calling because X told me I should reach out to you…)

• Don’t feel bad asking people to help you build your career. Using our networks is how we all got our jobs and how we will get our next job.

Lobby for the Job

• When you hear of a job you really want – lobby for it! Call anyone you know who might know someone at that org and ask them to put in a good word for you. • Don’t just rely on your email to info@org.com

Network Online Social & Professional Networks:

• Use these tools to see who you know and who they might know• Use them to keep in touch with colleagues and acquaintances • Don’t “friend” people you don’t actually know – it’s annoying• Don’t ever put anything up you wouldn’t want published in the NYT

Network - Network - NetworkCollege Democrats

Drinking Liberally

Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century (New York)

Democracy for America

Democratic GAIN

Netroots Nation

New Organizing Institute

Women’s Information Network

Wellstone Action

Young Democrats

Types of “political” jobs

• Campaigns

• Legislature (state & federal)

• Administration

• Unions

• Advocacy Groups

• Consultants

• Party Committees

• Non-profits

• PACs & 527s

• Lobbying Firms

Types of organizations

that hire political talent:

Party Committees

Candidate Campaigns

Don’t forget other Campaigns:

• School Board• Municipal• Judicial• County Legislative• State House and Senate• Ballot Initiatives and Referenda

Non-Profits, 527’sAdvocacy Orgs. C(4) and some C(3)

For-Profits Orgs &Political Consultants

Unions

Political JobseekerResources:

Training Organizations: • Organizations include 21st

Century Democrats, Center for Progressive Leadership, Democratic GAIN, EMILY’s List, HRC, DFA, NOI and Wellstone Action.

Our website: www.Democraticgain.org

Other Job Board Resources:Democratic Party

Committees: • DCCC:

www.dccc.org/pages/jobs/• DSCC: www.dscc.org/content?

content_item_KEY=1440• DLCC

www.dlcc.org/about/careers

Other:• EMILY’s List:

www.emilyslist.org/training/

Political News Sites: • The Hill:

www.thehill.com/employment

• Roll Call: www.rcjobs.com/

• Politico: dyn.politico.com/politicojobs/

Non-Profit: • Idealist:

www.idealist.org

Unions• Union Jobs:

www.unionjobs.org

Contact: Amy PritchardPhone: (202) 863-4246 (GAIN)Email: amy@apcampaigns.comWeb: www.DemocraticGain.org

www.MissionControlinc.net Contact: Nikki EnfieldPhone: (202) 863-4246 (GAIN)Email: nikki@democraticgain.org