To assist students in the Comm Arts Department at Marywood University, I created a resume and portfolio workshop presentation that could offer practical tips on resume building, interviewing, and more.

1. Creating a Resume &
Portfolio that Pops
COMM ARTS WORKSHOP

2. Why do you need these things?
Resumes and portfolios are essential tools to make an impression.
They can help you:
● Find your first job
● Get a better job
● Connect with clients
● Earn a board position
● Secure your volunteer spot

3. But don’t just
take my word for
it.

4. Mike Muurmans
Senior Director of Product
Marketing at Oracle

5. Resumes

6. 93%
of recruiters are likely to look at a candidate’s social media profiles

7. Getting Started: The Master Resume
● Start by writing a complete list
of your experiences.
● Focus on the past 4 years if you
are a current student.
● Once you have your list,
organize & narrow.
Essential Resume Elements
● Contact information*
● Education*
● Work Experience*
● Summary/Objective
● Volunteer Experience
● Professional Affiliations
● Exhibitions
● Publications
● Performances
● Skills

8. Gabriella Sannino
International Marketing & SEO
Consultant, Founder of Level
343 Agency

9. Know Your Audience
Resume expectations vary WIDELY.
Gather information about your potential
employer.
● Look for in-demand skills
● Research their content on their website
and match the tone
● Be mindful of formatting
Arrange to best reflect your experience.

10. Create a Targeted Resume
● It’s okay (and expected!) to have
several versions of your resume.
● The ideal resume is one page in length
- no more, no less.
● Cut and expand your information to fit
the industry and the employer.
● Emphasize your strengths.

11. Chris Barrows
Social Media Strategist
for NYU & Founder of Why I
Social Podcast

12. Know Your Value
A strong resume goes beyond listing jobs.
● Show off your strengths and uniqueness.
● What makes you worth hiring?
● Be a leader.
● Think active, not passive.

13. Jason Falls
SVP for Digital Strategy at
Elasticity & author of several
social media books

14. Look Good
Your resume is a branding opportunity.
● Include social media, portfolio, and
website links.
● Make sure your business card,
portfolio/website & resume fit together
visually.
● Use graphic design best practices.
● Save as .doc, .pdf, & make it digital.

15. Colin Devroe
Senior VP at Condron Media &
Entrepreneur

16. 88%
The average rejection rate when you include a photo in your resume.

17. Describing Your Experience
● Paint a clear and accurate picture of your role on the job.
● Go beyond responsibilities to think about what you contributed.
● Use bullets to make descriptions easy to read.
● Write in phrases, not sentences.
● Start with strong, action verbs. (Here’s a cheat sheet!)
● Provide context. (Think 5W’s & H!)
● Think about why your job was necessary for the company to operate, what
you were praised for, and what you were proudest of on the job.

18. How do I keep it to one page?

20. But wait - are there resume
tools out there?

21. Resume Tools to Check Out
● https://www.visualcv.com/
● http://www.canva.com
● http://flavors.me/
● http://www.easel.ly/
● http://vizualize.me/
● Google Docs

22. Show Not Tell
“What do I look for?
1. An impeccable job with grammar, spelling, and layout.
2. More than just bullet points - tell a story.
I love to see real experience that resulted in something - media attention,
something printed or published, an interview, etc.”
- Karla Porter, Human Capital & New Media

23. I have a LinkedIn
- is that good
enough?

24. LinkedIn is essential - but it’s not a resume substitute.
● Use your resume as a base but
supplement it.
● Recommendations are key.
● Choose a professional photo.
● Use Pulse to create content.
● List your skills (and get endorsed).
● Groups introduce you.

25. Any questions
before we jump
to portfolios?

26. Portfolios

27. Make a (Good) Impression Online
"We're usually Googling the candidate, looking for FB and LinkedIn profiles,
maybe an online portfolio. I think even if it's not terribly in-depth, it's worth
making some sort of impression online and showing you care about reputation
management.
Best case scenario - a website or some online profile with a portfolio.
Worst case scenario - they leave their FB profile public and we get a good long
look at their crazy."
- Jean Holmgren, Marketing Specialist, Maternal & Family Health Services

28. Portfolio Elements
Your portfolio should be a personal statement and collection of pieces that
show your range and ability.
● Start by taking a step back and finding your best work.
● Use eye-catching images, and share the backstory.
● Context around the pieces you’ve created.
● Keep it simple and straightforward.
● Craft a bio that shows your point of view or how you're different.
Content “proves” your talent and skills to an employer/audience (SHOW ‘EM!)

29. Dan Kimbrough
Owner & Producer of Park
MultiMedia, Cinematographer,
& Video Editor

30. How Do I Get My Portfolio to Tell a Story?
Share a Point of View. As a creative, you have your own unique perspective on your
industry and the creative world. Frame your bio with your own creative focus.
Create an origin story. Share the backstory of how you developed your point of view. Did
you have an experience as a kid or early in your career that lead you to pursue a passion?
Ground your experience using external details. Anchor your bio with details that
demonstrate your connections through the creative world. Think notable clients, press, or
publications.
Be approachable. Round your story out with some personal trivia. Have any hobbies or
interests you obsess about? Revealing some guilty pleasures keeps your bio approachable
and relatable.

31. Q&A: Physical vs.
virtual portfolios
- which is better?

32. What do I put in my
portfolio?

33. Sonia Simone
Co-Founder of Rainmaker
Digital & Copywriter

34. Adam Singer
Googler, Columnist & Founder
of The Future Buzz, a popular
tech blog

35. Kami Huyse
CEO of Zoetica Media & Public
Relations Consultant

36. Portfolio Site Examples
http://www.amanda-bentley.com/
http://gabrielledawkins.wix.com/broadcast#!about-me/c128p
http://www.marthamhayes.com/

37. Portfolio Websites (in no particular order)
● Wix - http://www.wix.com/
● Krop - http://www.krop.com/creativedatabase/
● Weebly - http://www.weebly.com/
● Portfoliopen - http://www.portfoliopen.com/
● Cargo - http://cargocollective.com/
● Wordpress - http://wordpress.org/
● Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/
● Indexhibit - http://www.indexhibit.org/
● Vimeo - http://vimeo.com/
● Behance - http://www.behance.net/
● Carbonmade - http://carbonmade.com/
● Big Black Bag - http://www.bigblackbag.com/
● SmugMug - http://www.smugmug.com/

38. A few more tips for portfolio success.
● Illustrate self-reflection and demonstrate growth in your chosen pieces.
● Be positive. Glass half-full, always.
● Demonstrate intellect in combining classroom learning with professional
experience.
● Show you’re a “teachable” employee as well as an innovator.

39. Be Your Own Advocate
"Don't be afraid to be your own advocate. Speak to people you know can help
make a connection, do your job and do it well, regardless of whether you're
starting off at the bottom of the ladder or you've somehow gotten yourself a
swanky setup.”
“Stay fresh with trends, even if it's just on a personal level (meaning, know at
least a little about social media outlets and keep your writing skills sharp).”
“And last, but certainly not least, have a sense of humor about it all."
- Bridget Stevens, in-Store Marketing Specialist, Dick's Sporting Goods

40. What shouldn’t I put in a
resume or portfolio?

41. Where I got all of this knowledge
● Life, my experiences, my Aunt Joanne, and my mentors
● My social networks (thanks, Twitter, Facebook, & LinkedIn!)
● Columbia College Portfolio Center
● PRSSA PROGRESSIONS
● 99u
● Business 2 Community
● The Muse
● ASME

42. Navigating your
first job search:
A Q&A Session.

43. How can I make myself look more
appealing without a lot of experience?

44. Can I still apply for jobs that require
2-3 years of experience - even though
I’m just graduating?

45. Hiring Managers vs.
Recruiters

46. How can I wow them in an
interview?

47. What do you look for in a job
applicant?

48. Any other
questions?

49. Thank you!

50. Mandy Pennington
Director of Internet Marketing
at Net Driven, Co-Founder of
NEPA BlogCon
@mandyboyle
linkedin.com/in/mandyboyle
facebook.com/mandy.boyle
instagram/mandybpenn
mandyboyle.com