Resume Suggestions

It's YOUR resume. Make it something of your own, so that you feel good about it.

  • Take a long, hard look at your resume – what story does it tell about your ability to learn new skills, demonstrate technical savvy, work with others, and communicate effectively? If you can’t answer that question, invest time and effort to revise your resume with new projects that highlight your skills  

  • Make sure your resume looks good in a plain-text editor (like Notepad), because the software used to slice and dice applicants may not preserve your fancy formatting. If you have the option to upload a PDF and submit it as a separate plain text file, do both.

  • Go over your resume many times for mistakes. It should be error-free.

  • Keep it short and sweet. Think of it as a billboard someone is driving past.

  • Show them, don’t tell them. Be specific (e.g., not “have good editing skills”; instead, use “edited weekly four-page newsletter”). Don't just tell them that you're great; tell them why and how.

  • Put your name and basic info on each page when you print in case they become separated.

  • The fonts should all be the same for similar information.

  • Minimize use of articles (a, the, of).

  • Lean into the future (“I have the ability to...” instead of “I have experience at”).

  • Focus on your accomplishments rather than your position. Explain why you are better at what you did than others who have done the same things.

  • Your accomplishments: Problem > solution > result.

  • Do you have a sample of each skill item on your resume to show what you can do? Be able to demonstrate your skills.

  • Use the X-Y-Z formula: Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z].

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18 Resume Help Sites

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AI & entry-level job losses

"Newly updated research from Stanford University economists suggests AI seems to be causing significant entry-level job losses for younger workers in some fields, even as older workers appear largely unaffected so far. The researchers theorized that entry-level workers could be especially affected by AI’s impact on jobs that require heavily 'codified' knowledge—the kind of 'formal, standardized, documented knowledge that can be taught through education, textbooks, or written procedures.' That would contrast with jobs where AI mainly complements an experienced worker’s more 'tacit' knowledge, which is overwhelmingly 'acquired through practice, mentorship, and repeated exposure to real situations,' the researchers write." - Arstechnica

Resume Formatting Options

Formats for Resumes:

1. Chronological
Possible Headings: Experience, Education, Activities and Skills (computer, language)

2. Functional or Skills
Possible Headings: Experience, Education, Skills (computer, language)

Professional Experience

  • A resume should begin with the job candidate’s experience in the field in which they are applying including jobs, internships or work for student media or the college attended.

  • All experience that reflects career goals, whether paid or unpaid.

  • Internships and assigned responsibilities.

  • Paid volunteer positions that reflect interests and skills, especially when it included a title.

Education

  • GPA only if 3.5 or above or not at all.

  • Coursework and papers can be highlighted as a special subsection under “Education.” For instance, one candidate was helped getting a position at CNN by taking classes in media ethics and law. For formal academic papers related to the field, include a one-sentence description of the length, focus, and scope of the paper or project.

  • Awards and scholarships including the Dean’s List, etc.

  • If your education was self-financed or you paid a large percentage of your college expenses.

  • Conferences or special meetings you've attended having to do with the area of the job for which you are applying.

  • If you worked while attending college.

International Experience

International experience, including semesters abroad and other significant travel. Living in another country or having spent time overseas shows a broad range of life experiences and the ability to adapt and interact with diverse groups.

Skills

Include a list of computer programs the applicant is proficient using. For instance, an ability to use Microsoft Word or Google Docs would be assumed but not experience with Adobe Premiere Pro.

Activities (or interests)

If you have any unusual skills or abilities, consider placing these under "interests" or a similar title. For instance, winning a chess tournament suggests the candidate is smart and possesses self-discipline.

References

The cliché "references available upon request" is not worth including. If a prospective employer wants references, they will ask. Just be ready to present them. Placing a list of references on a resume takes up vital real estate, especially when it's only one page. When a prospective employer asks for references, it's an alert that you are being seriously considered for the position.

If you include someone in your list of references, ask for permission to use them as a reference. Tell them who might be calling and which of your skills you’d like them to emphasize.

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43 Articles about Resumes

3 resume mistakes that can sabotage your job application - Fast Company

3 tips for a ‘hyper-focused’ resume to grab recruiters’ attention at a job fair, according to a career coach - CNBC

4 things Bill Gates did wrong on his 1974 Harvard student resume, from experts - CNBC

4 websites to help you create a clean, attractive resume - The Next Web

6 million job listings asked for 'communication skills': Here's how to include them on your resume - CNBC

6 Tips to Write a Winning Resume Summary (With Examples) - MakeUseOf

7 common resume mistakes to avoid - Fast Company

7 Mistakes that Doom a College Journalist's Resume - Michael Koretzky

13 Must-Have Words to Include in Your Resume - Glassdoor

50 Action Verbs You Can Use For A More Dynamic Resume - Refinery29

20+ LinkedIn Profile Tips (Guaranteed Ways to Stand Out) - Buffer

AI is screening your resume. Here's how to make it past the bots - NPR

Attractive women should not include a photo with a job application - The Economist

'Avoid these 2 resume words at all costs,' says career coach—here are 35 'power verbs' to use instead - CNBC

Best and Worst Terms for Resumes - Huffington Post

FontPair (Helps you pick font combinations for your resume. so you stand out from the typical Times New Roman)

Gen Z is rewriting the rulebook on 'résumé gaps' - Business Insider

Google recruiters explain how to demonstrate 'past experience' on your resume-even if you've never had a job - Business Insider

How to format your resume if you don't have a degree - CNBC

How to include your personality in your resume, says a Deloitte exec: It will give you ‘the edge’ - CNBC

How to get your résumé past the robot reading it - Vox

How to Make Sure Your Résumé Passes Muster With an AI Reader - Wall Street Journal ($)

How to use ChatGPT to build your resume - ZDnet

How to Write a Data Scientist Resume in 2026: Complete Guide - Analytics Insights

How to Write a Great Resume - Matthew Hale (video)

How to Write a Resume - Glassdoor

Questions about resume gaps are expected. Here’s how job seekers can address them - AP

Looking for a new job? These best online resume services can help you stand out - New York Post

Meet the New Boss, Big Data - Wall Street Journal 

The Most Efficient Way to Keep Your Resume Up to Date - LifeHacker

Over 55% of people admit to lying on their resume at least once—here are the 8 most common lies - CNBC

Resume advice from an internship supervisor

The résumé is dying, and AI is holding the smoking gun - ArsTechnica

Resumes that impress no matter your background - Glassdoor Blog

This is how often you should update your resume—whether or not you’re looking for a new job - CNBC

Steps you can take to modernize your resume - Boston Herald

Stop Saying You 'Helped' on Your Resume (and Use These Verbs Instead) - Lifehacker

This Google Executive Reviewed More Than 20,000 Resumes--He Found These 5 Stunning Mistakes Over and Over - Inc

Tiny Typos Can Add Up To a Big X - Washington Post

To get a job, write your story instead of a resume - Quartz

Want a new journalism job? 'Crawl' your resume first - Poynter

Why I tossed your Resume - Chronicle of Higher Ed

Your Résumé Might Be Getting Tossed by AI. How to Push Back. - Wall Street Journal

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Job Search Tips 2026

Based on recent research:

·       Apply directly on the company’s website rather than through LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.

·       Make your resume computer readable and easy to for software to ingest.

·       Avoid including your address, especially if you don’t live near the company. Just contact info.

·       Write short declarative sentences in your submission materials.

·       Quantify achievements with specifics.

·       Include a special skills section, especially soft skills.

·       Active verbs.

·       Make sure the resume includes most but not all the keywords in the job description.

·       Resume headings: Summary, experience, education, skills, certifications, special skills.

·       Avoid breaks in job employment (especially more than six months).

·       Don’t use prompt injections.  

Based on material from Hilke Schellmann, Associate Professor of Journalism at New York University and author of the book The Algorithm

What it means to be an Expert in an AI World

Generative AI will redefine what we mean by expertise.  

Much as Google devalued the steel-trap memory, electronic calculators speeded up complex calculations, Wikipedia displaced the printed encyclopedia and online databases diminished the importance of a vast physical library, so, too, platforms like ChatGPT will profoundly alter the most prized skills.

According to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, an organizational psychologist and professor of business psychology at University College London and Columbia, the skills that will be most in demand (in an AI world) will be the ability to:   

1. Know what questions to ask. The quality and value of AI-powered tools’ responses hinge on the prompts it is asked. Better prompts elicit richer and more robust responses. 

2. Go beyond crowdsourced knowledge. Advanced and specialized domain and subject matter expertise will become more valuable, since AI-produced responses will inevitably contain errors or oversimplifications. The capacity to spot inaccuracies, miscalculations, mistakes in coding and other boo-boos and correct errors or complicate understanding will be highly valued.

3. Leverage AI-generated insights into decisions and actions. Information becomes most valuable when it is actually applied in real-world contexts: when we solve problems or translate ideas into tangible products and services. The ability to implement solutions is, of course, well beyond AI’s current capabilities.  

As Chamorro-Premuzic puts it succinctly, “If we want to retain an edge over machines, it is advisable that we avoid acting like one.” In other words, if a program can do a job as well as a person, then humans shouldn’t duplicate those abilities; they must surpass them.  

Michael Patrick Rutter and Steven Mintz writing in Inside Higher Ed

Job Interviews: What you do

Be prepared to answer:

What are your values, goals, weaknesses?
What don't you like to do?
What work environment do you NOT like?
What's your passion for life and career?
Describe yourself.

What to do before the interview:

Take deep breaths.
Remember, they want to find the right person; They want you to do well.
Listen, eye contact, sit up straight, enthusiasm, confidence (sound authoritative).

3 Types of Interview

1. Behavior-specific skills (ex: “Tell me about a time where…”).
2. Case-specific problems (ex: “Here is a business case for you to work through.”).
3. Stress (more than one interviewer firing questions, i.e., let's see how you do under stress).

Questions to ask about the company:

Where do you see the company in the next 5 years?
How would you describe the atmosphere here? (formal or informal, etc)
How does the company support work-life balance?
Are things handled differently for in-office and hybrid workers?
How does the company determine salary levels?

Questions to ask about the position:

What was the reason last person left? How long was she in that position?
Why is this position available?
How far along in the interview process am I?
Have there been any changes in the company I should know about—such as layoffs or changes in leadership?
What did you like about the last person in this position?
How many times has it turned over in the last 5 years? (if a lot, ask why)
Who do I report to? Who would work under me?
What are my responsibilities?
Describe a typical day.
Do you have a written job description (get a copy)
What is the potential for promotion?
What is the greatest challenge I will face?
What problems might I face in the job?
How would you describe your management style?
How soon do you hope to make a decision?
Can I take a tour of the facilities?
Do you have any hesitancy in hiring me?

Questions to ask about Benefits:

Health benefits booklet?
holidays and vacations?
Do you have any “employee resource groups” (eg.)?

"Thank you for meeting with me."

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12 Common Job Interview Questions

› What do you know about our company?

Or, are you a consumer of our product?

The employer hopes to learn:

Did you prepare for this interview? Did you do your homework?

Be ready to offer specifics.

› Why should we consider you for this position?

Or, why do you think you are a good fit for this position?

The employer hopes to learn:

Are you confident in your abilities? What does the company gain by hiring you?

› What are your strengths and weaknesses?

The employer hopes to learn:

Companies expect honesty in answering this question. You should be able to articulate what you are best at and areas you are working to improve.

› What do you want to be doing 5 years from now?

The employer hopes to learn:

Are you goal-directed? Or will you be satisfied with an entry-level position?

› What other job experiences have you had?

The employer hopes to learn:

Have you held a job before? How long have you been working? Did you get along with others?

› What people have been important influences in your life?

The employer hopes to learn:

People who are quick to credit others often work well with others and are not driven by ego. 

› Are you a self-starter?

The employer hopes to learn:

Can you work alone and without direct supervision? If you're not given a task, are you the type of person who takes the initiative to find something to do?

› What are your interests apart from work?

Or, what’s special about you? What do you bring to the job that will help you succeed?

The employer hopes to learn..

Hobbies, activities and other interests indicate that people are well-rounded and can manage their time and work. It’s an opportunity to sell yourself.

› Tell me about a problem you solved recently.

The employer hopes to learn:

Insight into your problem-solving skills.

› Tell me about a goal you recently achieved. What did your initial plan look like? What worked particularly well?

The employer hopes to learn:

Can you talk in detail about a goal you have achieved—where you created your own plan and not only followed those plans but also adapted to circumstances and changing conditions.  

› Tell me about a goal you failed to achieve.

The employer hopes to learn:

If you take responsibility for failing without blaming other people or outside factors. Can you admit you were wrong and that you are willing to change your mind? This will also indicate whether you learned from your experience: can you describe in detail what perspectives, skills, and expertise you gained from that training?   

› How do you handle stress?

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21 Freelancing Articles

6 ways to find fresh story ideas — and where to sell them - Health Journalism

7 tools and tips for getting — and staying — organized as a freelancer - Health Journalism

14 Ways To Get Paid To Write As A Side Hustle - The College Invester

Chelsea’s Guide To Freelancing - Chelsea Cirruzzo, a reporter with U.S. News & World Report

Freelancing with ADHD: How to embrace your strengths and manage the challenges - Health Journalism

Here's what a bunch of publications pay freelancers - Freelancing with Tim

How AI is transforming freelance journalism - Harvards Nieman Lab

How to ask for more money — and actually get it - Freelancing with Tim

How to become a Freelance Writer (A Guide) - MSN

How to price your work as a freelancer - WePresent

How to Succeed as a Freelance Investigative Journalist - GIJIN

I've been a successful freelancer for 10 years. I still feel like I should always be chasing my next opportunity. - Business Insider

A Journalist’s guide to freelancing - Julie Patel blog

Learning how to thrive as a freelance journalist - Response Source

New market guides for pitching to Good Housekeeping, Big Think and New York Post - Health Journalism

A Quick guide to finding your freelance niche - Freelancers Union

Should freelance journalists get an LLC? - Health Journalism

This writer wants to prevent freelancers from floundering on story pitches - Poynter

Tips for pitching the New York Times, Wired and Consumer Reports - Health Journalism

What Freelancers Need to Know About Income, Deductions, and Taxes - Bloomberg

Why your timing matters when pitching to journalists - PA Media

20 Articles about Cover Letters & Personal Statements

43 Articles on Career Advice

5 skills young professionals should master - Glassdoor

5 Ways to Demonstrate Your Value — Remotely - HBR

Actionable Advice For Young People Starting Out Their Careers - Forbes

The best way to show off your emerging A.I. skills to land a job - CNBC

Building Your Intellectual Toolbox: Career Advice from the Experts - Council on Foreign Relations

The Career Advice No One Teaches High Achievers - Inc

Common misconceptions about MBAs - ZDnet

Don’t Focus on Your Job at the Expense of Your Career - Harvard Business Review

Don’t Just Pay Interns, Help Them Build Networks - Harvard Business Review

Essential advice for landing your dream job - Fast Company

Find Work You Love by Identifying Your Unique Angle - LifeHacker

Gen Z is Hungry for Career Advice. But Their Parents Are Lost Themselves - TIME

Giving Career Advice to Kids Has Never Been Harder - Wall Street Journal

Google’s ‘Career Dreamer’ uses AI to help you explore job possibilities – Tech Crunch

Harvard researcher shares key skill of the future—that most people don't have - CNBC

How do you launch a journalism career in the middle of a pandemic? - Poynter

How to Break Up With Your Career - Wall Street Journal

How Much Time Can I Take Off Between Jobs? - Harvard Business Review

How to get your career moving: lessons from a behavioural scientist - Financial Times

How to Improve Your Career Development - US News

How to Recover from a Toxic Job - Harvard Business Review

How to Tell You're About to be Laid Off - Life Hacker

How to Vet a Remote Workplace - Harvard Business Review

The Journalists of Color Resource Guide

Journalism Mentors

Journalist Guide to Survival: Five ways to thrive on your first job - RTDNA

LinkedIn CEO: Ignore this common piece of career advice—it’s ‘outdated’ and ‘a little bit foolish’ - CNBC

Losing Passion for Your Job? Why Quitting Might Be the Right Move - Harvard Business School

One Piece of Career Advice Changed Everything - Inc

Our Top 6 Pieces of Career Wisdom for Recent Grads - First Round

The Personal Business of Being Laid Off - HazLitt

Pros and Cons of Working From Home - US News

How to Recover from a Toxic Job - Harvard Business Review

The Secret to Retaining the Best Employees: Ask Them These Four Questions - Wall Street Journal

A Survival Guide for Dealing With a Bad Boss - Wall Street Journal

These are the signs that you're in a toxic work environment - CNN

The top 10 skills you need to land a job right now, according to LinkedIn - CNBC

These 5 skills are AI-proof and likely to become more valuable ‘over the next 5 years,’ says Oxford-trained career expert - CNBC

Tips for Using AI Tools in Technical Interviews - IEEE

Well-meaning advice to new grads often makes the job search more stressful—what actually helps: Harvard psychologist - CNBC

What Reporters Should Do Before and After a Layoff - Education Writer’s Association

What’s a good (and bad) way to leave your job? - FT

Your Career Is Just One-Eighth of Your Life - The Atlantic

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11 Apps for Job Hunting

Career Builder - online hiring app that allows job seekers to access tools that will help them at every point in the process.

ExpressJob - mapping that shows nearby jobs and makes applying easy with one-click applications but also offers ways to stay organized once you are hired (timesheets, schedule, etc.)

Glassdoor - search engine platform offering job openings along with company reviews.

Indeed - sort through the search engine database and stay on top of openings that interest you. 

Linkedin - the social network for professionals.

Linkup - focuses on little-known job listings. Free, iOS only. 

MeeBoss - A chat-first job matching platform.

Monster - brings jobs from other job searchers into a single app.

Snagjob - only hourly jobs. Free.

Strawberry.me - Matches individuals with professional personal and career coaches.

ZipRecruiter - offers more than 100 job boards with filters. Sends notifications about vacancies.\

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Standalone AI Literacy

The returns on standalone AI literacy without domain depth are heading to zero. What the economy will actually reward is deep domain expertise with AI embedded in industrial context. A financial analyst building AI-driven models needs to understand finance first. A biotech researcher using AI for drug discovery needs to understand biology first. The hard skills underneath the AI layer, mathematical reasoning, scientific literacy, domain knowledge, take years to develop and will hold their value. -Sofia Fenichell