Free Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job by Ellen Gordon Reeves

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Oui, I Studied Abroad
    T HOUGH STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS ARE FAIRLY COMMON these days, it’s still worth your while to mention that you took part in one. If you attended the Bucknell Spring Semester in Japan program, don’t just write “Spent spring semester in Japan.” Explain what you studied and did there: “Bucknell Study Abroad Program: Spring Semester in Japan. Lived with host family. Studied tea ceremonies. Course work included Intermediate Japanese, the Art of Watercolor, and Modern Japanese History.”
Thesis Pride
    Q. Should I list the title of my thesis or self-designed major?
    A. Obviously you want to make it clear that you actually wrote a thesis or designed a major, but is the title necessary? It depends. A title can serve as a hook, but make sure it’s the kind of hook you want. If you wrote a thesis on a provocative subject, include the title only if it’s something you want to talk about in an interview. Make sure that the topic is clear to the reader: I once saw “Cry of Pain” listed as a thesis title. How could anyone know it was actually a history of flamenco dancing? Shorten and condense a long title unless you are applying for a position that relates specifically to the work you did.
    EDUCATION OR EXPERIENCE FIRST?
    If you are a recent graduate, the Education entry should probably be at the top of your résumé. The top entry creates the first impression, so lead with your most impressive material, whether that’s your internship experience or your educational institution. Once you’ve been out of school for a couple of years, place the Education entry at the bottom of your résumé, but before your activities and interests or computer skills (unless you’re applying for a job in the tech industry, in which case those skills would appear up front).
Alpha Beta Phi!
    Q. Should I mention that I was in a sorority, fraternity, or other social club?
    A. People often assume that Greek societies are all about partying. If your organization was community-service oriented,take the time to explain its work. If you’re simply proud of your participation in what was a purely social organization, you’ve got a fifty-fifty chance of alienating someone by including that information—your interviewer may turn out to be a sorority sister or brother, or may be vehemently opposed to the Greek system.
Alternative Education
    Q. I was home-schooled in high school. How do I indicate that?
    A. Once you have a college degree, you don’t have to include information about your high school; so there’s no need to mention your home-schooling unless it’s important to you and you want to talk about it in an interview. If you wish to mention it or don’t have a college degree yet, write “High School Diploma” or “GED,” then qualify with “Home-school program followed _____ curriculum,” specifying whatever state or other curriculum was used.
Transfer Students
    Q. How should I indicate that I transferred from one college to another? And should I? I’m worried that I’ll come off as flaky.
    A. Many college transfers seem to think their choice to switch might make an employer wonder. But in reality, there’s nothing wrong with the fact that you were able to make a change in your life, whatever your motives.
    One option is to list the college from which you graduated—or from which you will graduate—first, and then list the college from which you transferred. You will likely be asked about it in an interview, so rehearse a smooth, confident response: “I decided a larger school would make more sense given my academic and extracurricular interests.” If you would rather not talk about the transfer, there’s no need to list the first college.
    In explaining the transfer, don’t be too negative—you never know where your interviewer went to school. Choose objective criteria to explain your move: “While I liked Cool College, I found I really needed a bigger/smaller/more urban/rural school so I