[KeriVit]

Thought I'd try this in a more active forum...

I'm in the process of updating my resume- which I haven't done in 8 years. Just having some trouble with the written part. I'm not sure how much detail to go into, low long it should be etc.

I have received many resumes over the years as a Design Manager and I know what I tend to throw away and what I keep, but when it comes to my own, I am having trouble. I know I will tie it in with a digital portfolio and I've got the presentation down-

can anyone help me tie it together? Do you have any samples you'd like to share that have worked for you in the past?

Any help would be great.

BTW- this is for an application to graduate school- an MFA in Advertising or Graphic Design- ten years after undergrad...

Thanks

[DeathMan]

You answered your question already. Imagine what the person looking at it would want to see, and ditch the rest. Look specifically at the programs you want to enter, and write exactly what they want to hear. Know beforehand where you want to go, or you'll just be spinning your wheels.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

you'll get in:

1. you are already showing much effort, i'm sure you are skilled
2. they only want your money


so just make your resume as you see fit. highlighting what you feel is important.

in terms of my samples...

i used my "logo" and design concept and applied it to my:

stationary (resume, cover letter, thank you letter, follow up)
business card
website
certain parts of my portfolio such as a folder to keep loose collateral and a pocket (just the PMS color) which houses recommedations and additional resumes.

[KeriVit]

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:
you'll get in:

1. you are already showing much effort, i'm sure you are skilled
2. they only want your money


so just make your resume as you see fit. highlighting what you feel is important.

in terms of my samples...

i used my "logo" and design concept and applied it to my:

stationary (resume, cover letter, thank you letter, follow up)
business card
website
certain parts of my portfolio such as a folder to keep loose collateral and a pocket (just the PMS color) which houses recommedations and additional resumes.

A little challenge would be nice....

I'd like to think that I need a little talent to get in.

I'll definitely use the logo to keep it all consistent. I guess- it's more about what to write, I want to explain what the hell I have been doing for 8 years and why I want to learn more...

but that's a whole new topic.

bottom line- explain everyhting or just throw down bullets of all of it?

[Apple Pro Underwear]

i like the way you think KeriVit.

you are strong in the force.



for me...

BULLETS!

i absolutely love functionality. and bullets allow a person to skim. i would want a person to be sble to skim my resume.

[rozwado1]

skimming is best because chances are that the interviewer will not study your resume beforehand. They would have an easier time asking questions if they have a well laid out list of your skills/qualities. The best way to do this is to word your bullets in a way that provokes certain questions (but I think that's getting ahead ofwhat you need).

Since it's design-related, do something slightly different. Depending on how "noticible" you want your resume to be, you may want to think about printing it on a thick, non-8.5x11 sheet of paper - so it sticks out in a pile. Layout should reflect your style. Include thumbnails or color samples of designs you've done (like a mini-portfolio for skimming).

[KeriVit]

Will do!

Finally! Some motivation to get going on this...

[Superchicken]

Just hit on your interviewer and things will go fine... regardless of gender...

[olePigeon]

Have your cell phone go off in the middle of the interview, then pick it up and yell "Not now, Gates, I'm in a ****ing meeting! ... Oh, sorry. I gave Bill my number and he just won't stop calling, you know?"

[KeriVit]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Just hit on your interviewer and things will go fine... regardless of gender...

Yes- I like this idea.

[effgee]

As stated above - know where you apply and what their emphasis is. If you apply at several schools and have the time to do so, I'd suggest adapting your resume (slightly) for each of them according to their respective "personalities".

(Visual) consistency, along with a logical structure, is king.

If you want to be extra-thorough (my recommendation), begin the whole thing with an "executive summary" (like the handouts you give to prospective clients when you're on a pitch) that is seperated into logical content groups (e.g., "me", "goals", "employment history", "clients", "achievements/awards", etc.) and then, in accordance with said structure/order, feel free to elaborate on each of your "content groups" on the following pages. Make sure the summary fits on one or two pages (better: one) - since this will most likely be the only part of your resume most interviewers will ever really read.

Good luck!

[KeriVit]

Originally posted by effgee:
As stated above - know where you apply and what their emphasis is. If you apply at several schools and have the time to do so, I'd suggest adapting your resume (slightly) for each of them according to their respective "personalities".

(Visual) consistency, along with a logical structure, is king.

If you want to be extra-thorough (my recommendation), begin the whole thing with an "executive summary" (like the handouts you give to prospective clients when you're on a pitch) that is seperated into logical content groups (e.g., "me", "goals", "employment history", "clients", "achievements/awards", etc.) and then, in accordance with said structure/order, feel free to elaborate on each of your "content groups" on the following pages. Make sure the summary fits on one or two pages (better: one) - since this will most likely be the only part of your resume most interviewers will ever really read.

Good luck!

Thanks effgee. I appreciate the advice. Those are just the TIPS I am looking for...

[Apple Pro Underwear]

is it just me or am i the only one who feels that although the resume/letter is important...


YOUR PORTFOLIO should still be the ultimate focus. I mean, being a design manager you should have been big pimpin through some great work.



I mean... you are not looking for a new job. You are looking to get into school. They are forced to read your resume for monetary reasons. After a "good" resume gets your butt in for a interview, your portfolio should get you into the graduate program. If I was a screener for a college graphic design program, i would let anybody with a professional resume that was qualified in. I then would only accept the ones who had worthy skills for my program.

[then after that I would try to get butts in seats to pay my salary]

[Wiskedjak]

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:
is it just me or am i the only one who feels that although the resume/letter is important...


YOUR PORTFOLIO should still be the ultimate focus. I mean, being a design manager you should have been big pimpin through some great work.

I think it's just you. Yes, portfolio should be the ultimate focus, but the resume is what convinces people to take the time to look at your portfolio. Perhaps the resume isn't as important in the academic realm, but as a design manager, KeriVit appears to understand the importance of the resume.

[Nebagakid]

does anyone know of a resume template anywhere? for , like MS word or something?

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by Wiskedjak:
Perhaps the resume isn't as important in the academic realm

this was what i was referring to. being an academic institution, they want his money for the most part.

if he was looking for a job, his resume becomes much more important and for someone of his caliber he would have to customize tailor for each company.

[rozwado1]

Originally posted by Nebagakid:
does anyone know of a resume template anywhere? for , like MS word or something?

Why do you need a template? You don't necessarily want yours to look generic. Most resumes include contact info, goals, experience, and skills. It's not hard to put together, but it will take alot of revisions to get a solid one together. Most I've seen just use tabs or bullets to align everything.

[jersey]

maybe this is a dumb question, but why do you want an mfa when you have a perfectly good job?

if you're just looking to aquire some debt from an mfa program, you can have mine. hell, i'll even throw in a credit card or two, if it'll make you happy.

but seriously, do you need this for something? are you looking to teach at the college level? or is it something else?

and at what university can you get an mfa in g/d? those two things are quite incongruous

[KeriVit]

Originally posted by jersey:
maybe this is a dumb question, but why do you want an mfa when you have a perfectly good job?

if you're just looking to aquire some debt from an mfa program, you can have mine. hell, i'll even throw in a credit card or two, if it'll make you happy.

but seriously, do you need this for something? are you looking to teach at the college level? or is it something else?

and at what university can you get an mfa in g/d? those two things are quite incongruous

This is a very good question... Sort of a battle in my own mind... This is just something I always wanted to do. My job is not "perfectly good". It's going nowhere. All I could do elsewhere is make a parallel move.

I am lacking something in my "knowledge" or ability. I hope by going back to art school- I can fill the voids and be a more complete designer. The program I'm looking at is more "advertising design" than graphic design. It sort of gives it a new angle. I may want to teach but I more want to work on my own- and without any guidance- I want to make sure I have as much ammunition as possible. Plus- I like learning new things.

Soooo- the degree is more for me, I guess.

[effgee]

Originally posted by KeriVit:
... All I could do elsewhere is make a parallel move. ...

(senior) AD? CD?

Here's my take on this - any agency that (despite of you having a suitable portfolio and the appropriate experience + the ability to demonstrate all of this in an interview) won't consider you for a mid-/high-level position because you don't have the "necessary" degree is a shithole you don't want to be working for in the first place - and it doesn't matter if they're Joe's neighborhood agency or TBWA Chiat Day ... plenty of large agencies or agencies/design shops that are part of large networks know this perfectly well and will always look at your portfolio, your work experience, then the person (as in "get to know you") and then (lastly) at your degree(s).

[KeriVit]

I guess what I mean is that I HOPE I can learn something in a year or two of school and get back to more of the artist I once was versus the computer/production guru I have become. I don't consider the degree necessary to rise in the field- but the knowledge. I need/want to learn more. Could be fooling myself- who knows.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

kerivit,

very interesting to hear your views. if we were in NY i would like to buy you a round so i can learn from your troubles.

in fact i kind of feel for your creative "lostness". the very nature of graphic design is "communication" and therefore you can be as creative as you want within certain limits. which is to say GD is a restrictive art.

i am merely 25 and i can already see some things that i will need to encounter in the future. (for instance if i ever became a design manager, graphic design skill may even take a back seat to great inter-communication/managerial skills and that may lead to greater productivity in the dept. rather than pure design know-how)


[i myself am doing some "illustration" stuff in my spare time to guage if i want to move in that direction for my future. the freedom in that field is very attractive to me currently]

[KeriVit]

Originally posted by Apple Pro Underwear:
kerivit,

(for instance if i ever became a design manager, graphic design skill may even take a back seat to great inter-communication/managerial skills and that may lead to greater productivity in the dept. rather than pure design know-how)


[i myself am doing some "illustration" stuff in my spare time to guage if i want to move in that direction for my future. the freedom in that field is very attractive to me currently]

My point exactly- but on top of the management is the "prepress" side and being the owner's leaning post.

I have a unique opportunity to go to the grad school (provided I get in) and not end up in debt (I hope).