Recently, Eckerd College marketing Prof. Gemma Fountain invited our resume expert, Mandy Minor, to guest lecture for her “Developing Your Own Brand” course at Eckerd College. For two hours, Mandy was immersed in the energy and focus of 21 students who were challenged to communicate their skills and history strategically as they prepared for their job searches.

She began with the fundamentals of career documents and communications: résumé format and design, the art of the cover letter, strategic follow-up, and knowing how to use LinkedIn.

Students were engaged, insightful, and asked fantastic questions. 

During the lively Q&A it became clear that applicant tracking software (ATS) was a new concept to most. This technology scans résumés before humans, often deciding the applicant’s fate. But the biggest take-away for me was how every student had buried their “Skills” section at the very bottom of their resumes. This is a major mistake, because ATS generally places a greater emphasis on the opening content of a resume. Accordingly, skills belong in the top half of the first page, immediately after an introductory statement or profile summary.

Mandy really enjoyed going carefully through the fundamentals with the bright students at Eckerd, and demonstrating that a resume isn’t just a list of jobs; it’s an applied form of strategic communication.

Take a look at your own résumé right now. Where are your skills? If they’re languishing at the bottom, give them a promotion, and amplify your impact. We can help!

A huge thank you to Professor Gemma Fountain and the Eckerd College students for having Mandy come in.