4 Steps to Crafting a Competitive Resume

Drafting a compelling resume that immediately captures the attention of a prospective field supervisor or hiring manager takes work. Whether you are updating your resume for field placement or for a job, taking the following steps in the process can help you get noticed.

  1. Identify your target. Towards what issue or causes do you want to direct your energy, and how? Think not only about the nature of the job or role, but the type or organization, work setting, and population you want to serve.
  2. Assess the organization’s needs and goals. To demonstrate how you can best contribute to an organization, you need to understand the knowledge, skills, and abilities they’re seeking first. Review organizations’ websites and job descriptions to get a better sense of their mission and goals, and the type of talent they need to achieve those goals. Students preparing resumes for 2nd year field placements can gain additional insight into the different organizations, their work, and the qualities they seek by speaking with the Associate Directors of Field Education and 2nd years currently in those placements. Job seekers can reach out to their personal and professional network, including those within the CSSW LinkedIn Group.
  3. Brainstorm relevant experience. The best way to convey that you would be a strong candidate for any position is by aligning the organizations’ needs with your demonstrated qualifications. Think of examples of how you’ve successfully accomplished similar goals, projects, and initiatives. (Tip: Use their job description — in particular, their section on tasks and responsibilities — as a guide.)
  4. Create impact statements. Now that you’ve collected evidence of your sought-after abilities, draft concise bullets that highlight the action that you took (knowledge or skill that you’ve applied) and the impact that you had on your organization and the communities you’ve served. Effective impact statements start with strong action verbs and provide specific and concise details about what you achieved, how you achieved it, and for what purpose.

For additional tips and strategies on how to write effective resumes, go to the “Resume Writing” folder in the Document Library within Career Connect.

Devex’s Career Navigator, A Comprehensive Global Development Resource

Are you interested in global development? Whether you’re a student or recent graduate looking to break into the field or experienced professional weighing different opportunities, Devex’s Career Navigator is a useful resource to explore. Get tips on writing your CV, making a career transition, acing your next interview, and more.

Devex connects and informs 800,000+ development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding and career opportunities so you can do more good for more people.

Additional resources for careers in global development, such as Impactpool, can be found in the Document Library of Career Connect within the International Social Work / Development folder.

Tamer Social Enterprise Summer Fellowships | Application Being Accepted Starting March 1

Are you working at an organization with social or environmental value this summer? You may be eligible for the Tamer Center Social Enterprise Summer Fellowship Program!

The Tamer Center for Social Enterprise provides financial support to undergraduate/graduate students engaged in summer internships with social and environmental value. You may be eligible to apply if:

  • You are a non-graduating student (currently in year 1 or 2 of a graduate program or an undergraduate freshman, sophomore, or junior)
  • You will be working at a social venture or a social or environmental entrepreneurship-focused organization which is less than 7 years old (or solely dedicated to social enterprise)
  • Your internship is 6-10 weeks long, full-time, and concludes on or about August 31

For complete guidelines, please visit our website or contact us at: [email protected]

GoinGlobal Training Sessions

Are you taking advantage of our GoinGlobal subscription? You can access GoinGlobal by logging into Career Connect, and clicking on the logo on the main dashboard. (Alumni – go here.)

GoinGlobal resources can help you plan ahead for international jobs and internships. Schedule a complimentary, one hour training session to learn more about:

  • Work authorization regulations
  • Industry and employment trends
  • Professional and social networking organizations
  • Office protocol and interviewing customs

Find upcoming training dates and register here.

ProFellow Academy, an Online Fellowship Resource, Now Offered for FREE

ProFellow Academy, an online platform where the experts teach you how to find and win competitive fellowships, grants, and awards, is now being offered for FREE!

Content will include:

  • Free short courses and webinars on how to find and win fellowships, grants, and awards
  • Our Events calendar of live in-depth workshops on insider application strategies
  • Recorded courses, including ProFellow’s Kickstarter Course (aka “Fellowships 101”) – learn how to find the right funding opportunities for your next big career goal
  • Virtual “office hours” with ProFellow Founder and four-time fellow Dr. Vicki Johnson – ask your burning questions when you need assistance
  • Live Q&A with fellowship winners and industry experts
  • Invitations to ProFellow’s in-person networking events
  • Personal introductions to current and former fellows globally
  • And more!

Request to join here!

ProFellow Academy is an extension of ProFellow, an online database where you can search through more than 1,000 professional and academic fellowship programs.

Career Strategies for the New Year

Happy New Year!

While any time is a good time for setting new goals and habits, the start of a new year always presents a great opportunity to implement new resolutions.

One easy-to-implement resolution, whether you’re interning or working in a full-time role, is to keep a regular journal of your personal and professional accomplishments. This is not only an effective way to track your progress toward your goals but also to tangibly reflect on your successes, challenges, and growth and identify next steps.

You can use the traditional pen-to-paper method or try one of the many free journaling apps available. Journal entries are most useful when they include:

  • Specific details about a situation, project, or challenge you faced (including who, what, and when)
  • Skills you used or actions you took to address it
  • Results you achieved or impact you had

Sound familiar? These are the core elements of resumes and interviews. They’re also great to discuss in performance reviews. Not sure where to start? Schedule an appointment with the career team today!

FREE Access to Premium Resource Site for International Opportunities

The Office of Career Services and Leadership Management is excited to announce its new partnership with Impactpool (previously UNjobfinder), a comprehensive career platform devoted to providing the best possible support to people who want to pursue a career within mission-driven organizations. Through the Academic Partnership Program, CSSW students and alumni may now access premium features of their site for FREE!

Impactpool’s resources include a robust database of opportunities from hundreds of international organizations, such as those within the United Nations Systems and influential Intergovernmental and Non-Governmental organizations around the world, and online career content, including articles, webinars, news, podcasts, and guides that provide a wealth of information and insight on different career pathways and hiring processes.

You can claim your free “Impactpool Fellowship” account by going to our Impactpool page: https://www.impactpool.org/academic-institutions/columbia_university_ssw