Alpha Kappa Psi

Alpha Kappa Psi is the premier developer of principled business leaders. This is the tumblr for Loyola University's chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi. Feel free to ask questions about the fraternity and we will answer them as soon as we can.

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It's Rush Week! 

Did you miss the speed dating event? If so, do not worry!!!

On Wednesday night, at 6pm, we will be hosting our Ice Cream Social in the Library Living Room. There, we will enjoy FREE ice cream and learn about the benefits of joining Alpha Kappa Psi.

Hope to see you there!

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Are you curious about the history of Alpha Kappa Psi?

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Are you questioning whether or not you want to join a student organization at Loyola University?

Here are some testimonials of those who have joined Alpha Kappa Psi.

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Rush week! Please stop by our table to get more information about Alpha Kappa Psi!

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An example of a cover letter.

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New Post has been published on http://www.shortlist.in.net/get-resume-work/

Get Your Resume Work For You

We know how it feels to spend hours, or even days, creating a resume. You pore over every word of your cover letter and agonize over what to say in your email. Then you hit ’send’ and wait…and wait…and wait. No one calls. No one writes. You don’t know if anyone even saw your resume.

When this happens, it’s easy to get dejected and worry that employers are not interested in you. Don’t!

Remember, they haven’t met you. They have only seen your resume and that may be the problem.

An overwhelming majority of job seekers make basic mistakes with their resumes – mistakes that ensure that they will not get the interviews they deserve. If you feel as though you’re sending your resume into a black hole, try this ‘10 Step Program’ to diagnose problems and get your resume working for you.

1. Is your resume the right length? You may have heard that your resume should fit on one page. This is nonsense. Recruiters don’t care if your resume is one or two pages long. But they do care whether it is easy to read and gives key information upfront. Your resume can be one, two, or occasionally even three pages. The only rule is that the length should be appropriate for you.

2. Does your resume clearly position you as someone who can meet the needs of the employer? Think of a resume as an advertisement for a product, only this time the product is you. Just like any other advertisement, positioning is everything. The person who receives your resume will scan it quickly – perhaps for no more than 20 seconds – to determine whether you can help her company. Your job is to say quickly, clearly and loudly that you can!

Don’t just launch into a chronology of your career history. Instead, determine your own positioning by spelling out your message at the start of the resume and giving the reader your version of events straight away. For this reason, you should use the first 1/3 of your resume to create a compelling personal profile which highlights your key strengths in an attractive, easy-to-read format.

3. Does your resume begin with an objective? Recruiters and hiring managers may not like them because they focus on the needs of the job seeker rather than the needs of the potential employer. Consider this objective statement:

“Seeking a software engineer position with a progressive employer where I can contribute to the development of new technologies and work with bright, committed people.”

This may be very honest but it is irrelevant to the reader, who does not care what you want and only cares what you have to offer. Instead of an objective, try using a positioning statement that clearly and concisely explains what you have to offer.

“Senior Software Engineer with 10 years experience developing leading-edge technologies.”

Now the reader can immediately see your value to the company. For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position so that the reader immediately sees a match between his/her needs and your skills.

4. Does your resume contain specifics? You must place your achievements in context by providing specifics.

For example, don’t say something vague like “contributed to product design.” This tells the employer nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific about what you did: “Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics. Led changes to original design spec. despite initial developer objections. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.”

See how being specific makes a difference? This level of detail shows the reader the contributions you have made in the past and therefore the contributions you can be expected to make in the future.

5. Have you outlined achievements as well as responsibilities? Don’t provide a laundry list of responsibilities without showing what results you achieved. Most employers already know what the main responsibilities of your job were. They want to know what makes you different from all the other applicants. An effective resume summarizes job responsibilities in a few sentences and then provides details of quantifiable achievements.

Focus most of your resume on the results you accomplished, not the regular duties of your job.

6. Are there any typos? Your resume has to be perfect. Proof read it over and over again. When you are sure it’s perfect, have other people proof it! If even one word is misspelled the reader will assume that you didn’t know how to spell the word (this is bad) or that you didn’t care (this is even worse!) Nothing puts the reader off more quickly than misspellings or typos.

7. Is the resume easy to read? At least 50% of the impact of your resume derives from design. A strong resume design will pull the eye through the document, making it easy to keep reading and will highlight your key strengths clearly. But if your resume is badly laid out, disorganized or hard to read, it will be discarded before the reader knows how qualified you are. Take time to understand how the page has been laid out and then apply what you’ve learned to your resume.

8. Have you listed irrelevant information? Don’t list your hobbies unless they directly support your qualifications for the position. Don’t detail your marital status or the number of children you have. Don’t mention non-professional affiliations such as political or religious volunteer work unless it directly relates to the position you are applying for. Any personal information runs the risk of turning the reader off. However proud you are of personal achievements, you should not run the risk of alienating someone before you even have your foot in the door.

9. Are you too modest? Don’t be uncomfortable about blowing your own trumpet. Too many people play down their achievements. While you should never exaggerate on a resume, you should definitely take credit for the things you’ve accomplished. Some people feel uncomfortable boasting on paper preferring to explain in an interview. But if your resume doesn’t spark interest, you may never get that opportunity, so don’t be modest!

10. Have you created an internet-ready version of resume? And finally, if you have to post your resume online, or apply to a job via an online system, you will need to convert your resume to a text-only format. If you don’t do this, your resume will be almost impossible to read because most online systems cannot support the type of formatting used in a resume (bold, italics, bullet points, lines etc.)

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New Post has been published on http://www.shortlist.in.net/cover-letter-can-personal-touch/

A cover letter can be the personal touch

Add the finishing touch to your resume with a cover letter

Once your resume is a finished document, complete with an attractive design and comprehensive content, it’s time to add one last thing – a cover letter. While a resume is the bread and butter of who you are to a potential employer, a cover letter can be the personal touch that makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Second in command

When preparing a cover letter, it’s important to remember that the resume is always the most important part of your application. In fact, most employers read the resume first, and then if they are still interested they will take the time to read your cover letter. So never rely on the cover letter alone to get you in the door–use it instead to give you an edge once your resume has gotten you through the first round.

Get personal

Always write your cover letter to the appropriate contact at the company. “To Whom It May Concern” does not cut it if you are serious about applying for a position. Take the time to find out whom you should send your resume to, and direct your letter to their attention. This gives you a specific contact with whom you can follow-up, and they will know you were interested enough to do some research on the company.

What you have to offer their company

Every cover letter you write should be customized for the specific company who will receive it. It is not enough to simply change names at the top of the letter. Research the company and address their specific needs; more specifically, concentrate on highlighting the benefits you can offer to the company. The cover letter is your chance to interpret the top skills on your resume and discuss why they make you the best candidate for the position.

The next step

At the end of your letter, make it clear that you are actively pursuing a position with the company, and not just sending out your resume to a long list of potential employers. Request an interview, and let the contact know that you will be in touch to further discuss your credentials and the open position if you haven’t heard from them by a certain date.

Final countdown

Once you are ready to send out your resume and cover letter, do a final edit!  Mistakes on a cover letter are just as detrimental as they are on a resume. Your letter is an excellent indication of your communication skills, and a great opportunity to display just how well you can express yourself. A cover letter is usually not the first thing an employer reads, but it does have the power to make a more personal, customized pitch for your credentials. Be sure it’s customized for every company that receives it, make it clear that you are active in your pursuit of the job and edit it just as carefully as your resume. The cover letter is your chance to actually discuss your credentials, and serves as the first “conversation” with a potential employer, giving you a better chance of setting up your second conversation — an interview.

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New Post has been published on http://www.shortlist.in.net/fill-resume-gaps/

How to fill resume gaps

Awkward holes in your CV can give you sleepless nights while job hunting. There are some of the experiences, apart from work, that you can highlight to create the best impression.

When you start thinking of your resume as a powerful tool, the results can be astonishing. Ideally your resume should reflect your professional image, reflect your unique skills sets and accomplishments, be easy to understand and most importantly project you as the best candidate for the job. However, there are often some unforeseen circumstances that lead to the accumulation of blank spots on your resume. When you are searching for a job a gap in employment can cause a lot of stress and fear.

What can you do to stop that listless period from burning you down the road? In other words, what can you put on your CV apart from employment/ work history? Are there any significant experiences you have had, or accomplishments you have realized, that have helped to define you as a person? Here’s a quick guide:

Volunteer Work : Your involvement with a local charity could demonstrate that you are a socially responsible individual. With corporate social responsibility becoming a buzzword, this could potentially give you an edge over others. Your extracurricular activities say a lot about your commitment and ability to work with others. Incorporate your volunteer experience under your employment experience section; if asked, you can explain that these gigs were volunteer ones.

Professional Affiliations/Memberships : Include only those that are current, relevant and impressive. Include leadership roles if appropriate. This is a good place to communicate your status as a member of a minority targeted for special consideration by employers, or to show your membership in an association that would enhance your appeal as a prospective employee. This is also a great way to network with fellow professionals and identify jobs that may typically not be advertised.

Travel  : Maybe you chose to travel during the gap period. If positioned smartly, you can actually demonstrate how this helped you mature as an individual. Travel cleanses the mind and touches the soul and could stimulate your creative senses. Travel can mean new friends and a reconnect with yourself. You could focus on how travelling has made you a better individual with more favorable characteristics, polished skills, and mature understanding — all of which you are dying to contribute to your new employer. If you visited foreign countries, you may have gained an understanding of that culture and basic language skills. Apart from making you well-rounded, it may come in handy given today’s focus on globalization and international business. Travelling alone is also the quickest and easiest way to grow your independence and gives you time to think and re-evaluate your career goals.

Project/Contractual Work  : You could consider taking up contractual or project-based assignments or even consider temporary work while searching for that perfect job. These are great ways of keeping up to date with the changes in your industry. So be open to taking up assignments even if they don’t pay you too well. For example, writing a business report or freelancing for advertising agencies looking for copy writers or working as a phone representative with a local call centre could add key skills to your personality. If you have been published in any trade magazines, it can establish you as a subject matter expert in your domain.

Education/Schooling  : You could list educational qualifications ie, degrees first, followed by certificates and advanced training. Set degrees apart so they are easily seen. Put in boldface whatever will be most impressive. Don’t include any details about college except your major and distinctions or awards won, unless you are still in college or only recently graduated. List selected course work if this will help convince the reader of your qualifications for the targeted job.

If you didn’t finish college, start with a phrase describing the field studied, then the school, then the dates (the fact that there was no degree may be missed). Do include advanced training, but be selective with the information, summarizing it and including only what will be impressive for the reader.

Other headings might be ‘Education and Training’, ‘Education and Licenses’, ‘Legal Education / Undergraduate Education’ etc. Rather than boldfacing what is most impressive, leave out what’s secondary or superfluous. The list of qualifications needn’t be an exhaustive one.

Awards  : If the only awards received were in school, put these under the education section. Mention what the award was for if you can (or just ‘for outstanding accomplishment’ or ‘outstanding performance’). This section is almost a must, if you have received awards. If you have received commendations or praise from some very senior source, you could call this section, ‘Awards and Commendations’. In that case, go ahead and quote the source.

What’s In It For them? Project The Positive

Your break may have helped you rejuvenate and spend time with the family but think from the perspective of an employer. How do they gain from hiring you? Highlight your accomplishments and help them understands your value.

Life throws up a lot of surprises and you can’t possibly plan for everything. A change in the economy resulting in downsizing, sickness, divorce, the birth of a child or a lot of other unexpected things can keep you away from work for long. It is important to stay positive and let your potential employers know that this gap has rejuvenated you and that you are ready to join the workforce with more passion conviction and commitment.

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Résumés come in many formats, though they share typical categories of information and features. The three most common formats, which we’ll address here, are the reverse chronological résumé, the functional résumé, and the combination résumé. Reverse Chronological Résumé: This is the traditional format, in which work experience is highlighted and is listed chronologically with the most recent positions listed first. This is a good style for job seekers who already have professional experience in a specific field and who are looking for a new job within the same field. Functional Résumé: This is a skills-based format, in which specific job skills are highlighted. This is a good style for job seekers without much professional experience, or for those who are looking to move into a new field. Combination Résumé: This style highlights the job seeker’s skills and also provides a chronological listing of experience. An excellent style for foregrounding skills but also providing a work history. You can (and should) adapt the formats and résumé categories to your own experiences and skills, as well as to the job being targeted. You may want to develop a number of different formats for your résumé, to be used and adapted for different jobs. Don’t rely on a single résumé to serve the purpose for all situations: you will need to adapt and revise your résumé and cover letter each time you target a new position.

Resume Writing: Undergraduate Advising (via unboxup)

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Resume Checklist

A resume is viewed less than 15 seconds at the first sorting, so it is important to have a checklist for ensuring that all the details are listed. Below is the checklist that one should go through while making their resume-:

1) First Imprint • Is the resume inviting to read with clear sections ? • Is qualification synopsis written so, the employer can understand applicant’s value offer ? • Is the length of the resume appropriate ?

2) Resume Sections • Are all the sections clearly named ? • Are the sections placed in order to emphasize applicant’s effective documents ? • Does the work history written in order of occurrence ?

3) Career Goal • Is the resume intended to a career purpose & not one size fits all documents ? • Is career objective added at the top of the resume ?

4) Accomplishments • Does the resume show lists of career achievements ? • Are the accomplishments determined by using numbers, percentages or other measures of success ?

5) Relatedness • Is the information related to hiring manager’s requirements ? • Does the resume highlights important words ?

6) Appearance • Does the resume visually & amicably presented ? • Are bullet, line spacing etc. all done properly to highlight important content ? • Are design elements (line spacing, bullet) consistent in your resume ?

7) Style Of Writing • Is the content easily understandable ? • Is the resume flawless (no spelling mistakes etc) ?

These are the questions which must be taken in to consideration before sending your resume to an employer. If these are followed, then hopefully you can get the job.

All the Best!

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Two weeks into the New Year…

We’re two weeks into 2014. What professional goals have you set for yourself this year? Do you have a plan for moving them forward?

I was recently at a personal development retreat conducted by my buddy, Kim DuBrul of Your Year of Transformation (here’s a resolutions post from Kim’s blog). Kim let us know that the most recent research cites that it takes 66 days to change a habit or move successfully onto a positive path. Give yourself the time and support you need to reach your goal.

Remember:

Write down your goals and break them down into doable activities.

Celebrate when you check off an activity/take a step.

Keep moving forward even if you stumble or stall. (You know, it’s a journey and all that.)

Make yourself accountable - tell someone about your goal or even work with a coach.

Are you not making progress on the goal? Reassess. If it’s not making you happy it might not be the goal for you.

And here’s some great kick-yourself-in-gear-and-move-forward advice from the Levo League blog.

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Rush week! Please stop by our table to get more information about Alpha Kappa Psi!

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A collection (not created by me) of possible outfits that range from Business Professional (blazers!) to a bit more relaxed (sweaters!). 

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Man Monday: Suit Obsessed

I know. Most of us don’t wear suits everyday. But in the vein of breaking out of routines in 2014, consider investing in a great suit that works for you. It’s that time of year: suits are on sale everywhere. Check out the sales. But before you buy anything, know what works for you. Here are a few tips:

Want to feel more modern? Buy a suit with slim-fit flat-front pants. And the jacket should fit you to perfection.

More classic? Go for the traditional pleated pant, with or without cuff.

Whatever you buy, get it tailored. Make sure the shoulders fit - everything else can be adjusted. 1/8” - 1/2” of your shirt sleeve should peak out from your jacket sleeve. A traditional break in the bottom of your pant leg is created when the back of the pant leg reaches the top of your shoe heel.

And here are a few ideas for conveying your brand and looking great in your new suit at work:

Are you in sales, a teacher, or in management and want to be more approachable? Buy a blue suit and pair it with a light blue shirt, a gray suit and pair it with a gray shirt or a brown or tan suit and pair it with a cream shirt (you can even wear a tie in the same color family). This is called low-contrast dressing.

Are you in a leadership role? Buy a dark suit and pair it with a white or light shirt (solid or pattern) and a dark tie. This is high-contrast dressing. High contrast = more powerful.

Wear black shoes/belt with your blue suit for a classic look.

Wear brown shoes/belt with your blue suit for a more current look.

Matchy-Matchy: Handsome Suits 2014 by professionality featuring desks

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Man Monday: Which jacket style is more flattering for a substantial man?

Jackets and pants feeling a bit tight? Whether you’re just feeling a bit filled out because of holiday indulging or you are always a substantial (or plus size/heavy set/husky/solid - whatever!) guy, and you’re considering the purchase of a coat or suit during the holiday sales, I recommend you choose a two-button jacket over a three-button style. Why? Two-button jackets are more flattering.

The top button has a lower stance - it is set lower down the torso. This creates a longer lapel.

A longer lapel and a deeper V visually elongates the body.

A longer looking body appears slimmer.

And remember, whether you wear a two-button or three-button jacket, always leave the bottom button undone. Suits are cut in such a way that if you do button the bottom button, the jacket won’t lay correctly. 

Go ahead and have that cup of eggnog! A well-cut, two-button jacket on the sales rack has your name on it. 

PS And as always, if you’re secure in your personal brand and professional image, do whatever the heck you want.

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Throwback Thursday!

2013's Psi pledge Class of the Sigma Psi chapter's fundraiser!

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In 1904, Alpha Kappa Psi was founded on the principles of educating its members and the public to appreciate and demand higher ideals in business and to further the individual welfare of members during college and beyond.

College men and women everywhere are discovering that Alpha Kappa Psi is much more than just another organization or club—it is a unique, prestigious association of students, professors, graduates and professionals with common interests and goals.