And Just How Am I Supposed To Pay For That?

For the past 3 decades the rate of college tuition inflation has been about double the amount of standard economic inflation.  Meanwhile, the importance of a college degree to obtain work has increased exponentially in the job market, particularly for young adults (as discussed in our earlier post "Creativity: Education's Lost Art," Sir Ken Robinson refers to this as academic inflation).  Additionally, according to the 2009 research from Sallie Mae, the average undergraduate holds nearly $3,200 in credit card debt alone with graduating seniors having an average over $4,000.  And that doesn't even count actual tuition debt, of which the national average is $21,000.  Some students may try to cut down on costs by commuting from home, but even then some colleges and universities require that students live on campus for at least their first year of school.  In a poor economy, jobs are hard to find and most companies are looking for people with experience.  How might someone who just graduated college even have experience?  Through internships, of course!  But the problem with internships is the fact that many of them are unpaid, a legal issue that has gotten stronger as companies who've been hit by a bad economy look for ways to reduce costs.  So after all of that, we're pretty sure the question on everyone's mind is "And just how am I supposed to pay for that?" 

It's not impossible to receive financial aid, but much of that is just loans that add to debt and can be hard for young adults to manage.  The only real way to do it is planning to the best of your ability.  Start saving for college in your high school years, regardless of where you think you may go.  Some students attend classes part-time as a more affordable method while others simply take the hit.  The problem with this set up is that to advance in the job market, students don't have much of a choice.  To get a decent job you must have a degree, but having a degree doesn't necessarily guarantee a decent job.  The money students spend paying back massive loans their first few years out of school takes away from investing in 401Ks or other forms of savings that cut out on years of interest.  It is evident that while the job market is making tuition harder and harder to pay, they're really cutting into society as a whole.  If social security and health care funds seem hard to come by now, how's it going to be when everyone is so busy getting out of debt that they are barely feeding into the system.  Trade schools and better on-the-job training could be a great opportunity to promote advanced education for a particular field without necessarily mandating a four-year or higher degree (which is more commonly taking 5 or 6 years these days).  This could allow students who may not afford college the opportunity to be making money rather than being completely barred from an education or way of advancement or somehow obtain an education resulting in extreme financial consequences.

But enough about us, what do you think?

Imaculee Ilibagiza: The Woman Who Survived Rwandan Genocide

The whole point of picking out your lunchbox as a kid is so you can be ready to go to school and get an education, so you can go to a good university, get a degree, get a good job and be a good and productive member of society, right?  It seems sensible, it sounds easy, but the journey never quite feels that way.  At some point you ask your self "What am I doing with my life?  What do I want to do with my life?"  Things seem hard and unfair until you meet someone else who puts it all into perspective.  For me, one of those people is Immaculee Ilibagize (pronounced i-mack-you-lee ill-uh-bug-eeza).  I had the pleasure of hearing her speak at a conference I helped put together for a university project and got to meet her briefly.  She is a tall, quiet woman, well-dressed and incredibly reserved.  But when she speaks it is profound.  She spent 91 days in a tiny bathroom with 6 other women during the Rwandan genocide.  The space was so small that they had to take turns standing.  There was barely any food.  Imaculee entered at 115 pounds and left weighing only 65.  But not only did she spend 3 months practically starving and smashed into a tiny space, but when she emerged her entire family had been brutally murdered.  "Sometimes I feel like I'm centuries old," I remember her saying, "because all of my family is dead... no one I knew is alive."  It's those kinds of statements that really make you think.  I know how hungry I feel when I haven't had breakfast, let alone going 3 months having barely eaten.  I know how I feel in a crammed elevator and it seems like the doors can't open fast enough.  Then imagine being in that elevator for 3 months with almost no food and if the doors opened, men with machetes would be waiting to kill you.  Suddenly life doesn't sound so bad.  But what makes Imaculee's story so powerful isn't just the horror she survived.  It's the fact that she has not only lived to tell the tale, but that she is still a loving person who found strength in spirituality.  She met the man who killed members of her family and forgave him.  She looks at every person she meets with more kindness and compassion than most people who've had an easy life.  Now she goes around the world telling people about what happened to her and encourages them to be better people (and let me say, after listening to her speak, you wouldn't feel like a decent human being if you didn't).  She's incredibly inspiring and when you think about what you want to do with your life and where you're going, it never hurts to think of the world as a better place.

She recently interviewed on 60 minutes.  Click here for more.
Imaculee's Book "Left To Tell" is also available at Amazon.com.
You can always learn more about Imaculee and her charity at http://www.lefttotell.com/

Jessica D.
Make That Resume Founder

Making The Best of the Worst: How Susan Retik & Patti Quigley Are Changing The World

“Make That Resume” believes that everyone has the capability to get a job so we like to show what other people are doing and give you ideas.  The economy isn't great but we know that it's not about getting back to where we were before-- it's about learning what we did wrong, recognizing the tools we have in our current economic climate and creating something better.  It's about improving sustainability, environmental consciousness and acknowledgement of the humanities to propel us into a more stable and more successful future.  We believe that everyone is not only capable of this, but responsible for it.  One such example is an organization, Beyond The 11th, started by 2 women, Susan Retik & Patti Quigley, widowed by the tragedy of 9/11.  As described in a New York Times opinion piece, rather than be hateful or angry, these women took their frustrations and problems and related them to women of Afghanistan, many of whom they knew would also be widowed by war.  Both women were pregnant during this time and knew how hard it would be having to care for their children on their own.  They knew the importance of independence, education and the basic needs to maintain a family.  So they started out simple, providing chickens to allow women to sell eggs, which has since progressed into multiple businesses and educational opportunities.  Now a documentary, Beyond Belief, these women's endeavors have proven that we are capable of great things and that we can take the steps needed to turn the adversity created by one unfortunate event into an opportunity to make life better for others.  Susan Retik has even just received the Citizens Medal from President Obama for her work.  You don’t have to start your own organization to follow in their footsteps – just get involved with one that already exists!  Find what you’re passionate about and make a contribution.  Whether its volunteering at a school or simply encouraging others to recycle, everyone can be an active citizen of the world.  Part of making that resume is showing that you are making a difference – so go out there and do it!

More Than Black & White: Diandra Forrest, Super Model

Usually people stand out because they want to, but there are some people who don't have a choice.  One such person is 19 year-old Diandra Forrest.  As an African American born with albinism, she was riduculed so much in school that her parents transfered her to a special school focused primarily on blind children.  She couldn't hide who she was, but who she was made her a super star.  She was literally walking down the street when she was discovered by a photographer.  Her unique features were so striking to him that he helped develop her career and she now struts her stuff down catwalks everywhere.  She talks about her experience in the first part of this clip, discussing the obstacles of her childhood where her skin color didn't exactly match her ethnicity.
We think she is an extraordinary example of how to think of yourself in a new way.  To her classmates she may have been weird or different, but to the fashion world she is unique, talented and beautiful.  She no longer hides from who she, but embraces what makes her different.  At Make That Resume, we're all about being unique and that's why we love Diandra!

Real Life Twilight: This Guy Might Be A Werewolf

It's Friday and we're bored with regular life and looking forward to an exciting weekend.  And what's more exciting than running around in the snow almost naked?  So when we found this guy -- who does just that -- we thought 2 things: 1. He sounds a lot like one of those werewolves from the Twilight Series and 2. This guy could probably party like it's '99.  So who is he?  Fifty-one-year-old Wim Hof, dubbed "The Iceman," is a human paradox, capable of feats that have had him considered by some to be superhuman.  From running in the tundra barefoot to swimming in freezing waters, climbing Everest and submerging himself in ice for a record 72 minutes, this guy may arguably defeat Twilight's famed, hunky werewolf Jacob in a face-off (take note RV Salesman).  In an article from ABC News, he answers the giant question of "how are you still alive?" with a simple answer: "I know my body. I know my mind. I know what I can do."  Now, we're all for challenging yourself, knowing your strengths and accomplishing goals, but we had to take a step back and wonder how this Hollander hasn't been spliced by the Volturi yet for leaving the Quillettes' reservation and exposing himself to the human world.  We also wondered if Stephanie Meyer would out-do her own character, Bella, and hook up with this dude.  Anyway, you're probably wondering how this relates to job hunting, career goals, and resume writing?  Well, it may inspire you to do something different or creative that will compell companies to employ you (just don't kill yourself or do yourself serious bodily harm in the process, kids).  And that would be something to write about.  Otherwise, we have no idea.  We just thought this guy seemed cool. Happy Friday!

Heisman to Businessman: Eric Crouch's Rise from Fame to Success

He may not be "The Old Spice Guy," but Eric Crouch, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2001 while playing for the Nebraska Huskers, has made himself a career outside of the league.  As highlighted on Yahoo's rivals.com sports blog, injuries and playing the wrong positions kept Crouch from NFL superstardom, which serves as a good example of how sometimes talent doesn't equate with success.  That doesn't mean that you can't take advantage of what have done.  We're big advocates of being out of the ordinary and using whatcha got to do what you want and achieve your own goals and Crouch is a perfect example.  He now owns his own small business, Crouch Recreation, which installs recreation equipment in schools, parks and other areas.  An appropriate move for a man who clearly enjoys recreational activities himself.  It also doesn't hurt that people want to have a Heisman Trophy Winner show up at their place of work or school.  The moral of the story?  Work with watcha got, kid.  What you start out doing may not be what you always do so it's important to continuously evaluate your skill set and what might be right for you now.  So get to thinkin' and come get a resume.  You never know what might make you awesome at life.

Harry Potter & The Parseltongue Who Stopped Drug Trafficking

We know this really has nothing to do with jobs or resumes but it's Friday.  Give us a break.  According to an article from Reuters, drug traffickers in Italy used a rare python as a form of protection for a valuable stash of cocaine.  After a special police force was called in to contain it, they determined that the snake's guard-dog-like behavior could only be attributed to one thing: training.  We guessed it was Voldemort.  So like anyone who was alive in the 90s, we instantly thought that Harry Potter would have kicked ass at solving this problem and taking down those dark and dangerous wizards who seek to destroy the Muggle World through excessive drug use. After having us put together a stellar resume for him, we imagine Harry Potter's interview would have gone something like this:

Interviewer:  "So Harry, I see that you've defeated Voldemort 7 different times as chronicled in your books.  Do you think that defeating someone 7 separate times might not actually be defeating them, but rather just dragging it out?"
Harry: "Voldemort was very calculated, he had a lot of plans.  And in all fairness, I was 11 when it all started."
Interviewer: "So if it's taken you 7 years to defeat Voldemort,  how do you expect to over take an entire army of drug wizards with guard snakes?"
Harry: "I'm a Parseltongue."
Interviewer: "How do you expect to defeat an entire army of drug wizards with guard snakes?"
Harry: "I'm a Parseltongue... and I started Dumbledore's Army."
Interviewer: "And now Dumbledore's dead, so I'm not sure I'm too convinced by that one."
Harry: "He trusted me, he believed in me more than anyone and he was the greatest wizard of all time."
Interviewer: "Can you tell me a little bit about your relationship with Dumbledore, since it was clearly sexual?"
Harry: "What? I'm not a --"
Interviewer: "We want you to know we're an equal opportunity employer.  Just curious is all."
Harry: "I married Ginny Weasley!"
Interviewer: "You mean your best friend's younger sister who looks exactly like your deceased mother."
Harry: "Um..."
Interviewer:  "Not exactly a Chamber of Secrets, that one, Harry.  Well whatever.  Strange sexual habits and poorly planned ideas aside, we'd like you to speak with the head of Wizard Drug Control for a further interview."
Harry: "I don't have strange sexual habits, sir, but I would appreciate an interview.  Times are a bit hard -- you know how those Weasleys populate.  I've got a boat load of kids these days."
Interviewer: "Alright, well sounds like you are willing to work hard and... ah, who am I kidding?  You're Harry F*cking Potter.  You're hired."

Creativity: Education's Lost Art

From doodling to dancing, expression, creativity and innovation seem to go hand-in-hand.  In an article from PR Newswire, Sharpie is working with Sunni Brown who has started what she calls the "Doodle Revolution."  The idea being that there is a visual language that may help kids retain information and improve their minds.  This initiative is meant to show that these can be learning tools and not just a sign of a lazy or poorly-behaved child.
Likewise, Sir Ken Robinson gave a presentation at the 2006 TED Conference discussing his ideas on education and how our society doesn't value the importance of creativity in all of its forms.  In the video, which is an educational 19 minutes, he addresses educational inflation (the idea that what used to be sufficient education with a bachelor's degree now requires a masters, etc.), children's uninhibited ability to embrace the unknown and the simple idea that we are conditioned to think and behave in such a way that those who do so differently are less inclined to find their talents and contribute to society. 

These outlets on capability and creativity really give us all something to think about.  We always say that you need to have something to put on your resume as much as you need the proper grammar, punctation and format of a resume.  But we always encourage you to be exactly who you are and excel at your skills.  These 2 sources not only emphasize how quickly society ignores how other people's brains might function, but will hopefully make you want to really think about what you're good at.  In hard economic times when jobs are scarce and resources are low, innovation is key.  So hopefully you will be inspired by Sunni & Sir Robinson as much as we have and will go out and create something!

Going For The Job You Might Not Get: A Look At Wyclef Jean

If you haven't heard by now, Wyclef Jean is running for president of Haiti.  It may be fair to say that if Ronald Reagan, a former movie star, could be an American president why can't Wyclef Jean, a well-known and respected musical artist, be president of Haiti?  Jean has shown abition towards improving Haiti, his native homeland, with his foundation Yéle Haiti (Haiti Freedom Cry), which has raised millions of dollars.  He sees politics as a way to go beyond his current efforts.  In an article from Time Magazine, Jean talks about wanting to dedicate himself even more and what that means.  The big question though is what happens if he doesn't win?  Or better yet, what happens if he does?  There's something to be said for someone with lofty goals.  As the saying goes, "it is better to try and fail than to never have tried at all," and we believe this ideal holds true for everyone.  Some of the most interesting and compelling stories come from regular Joes who decided they didn't want to be regular anymore-- or in the very least, saw something that needed change and actually did something about it.  As much as it's important to have perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation on your resume, even more important is having something to put on it.  And it starts with an idea, a dream, or something that maybe is nothing more than what you should do.  We feel that everyone can be encouraged by Wyclef Jean's motivation to better an entire nation and regardless of the outcome, we think that there is no better way to improving our future than being ambitious and inspiring others to do the same.  

Career Lessons From The Old Spice Guy

You may not smell or look like him, but you can copy his method for success.  One of the best ways of getting a job is knowing how to stand out.  That means workin' with whatcha got, kid.  And no one serves as a better example than former NFL wide receiver Isaiah Mustafa, more commonly known these days as "The Old Spice Guy."  It's pointless to mention how his football career was going, but after a few light workouts and a commercial gig he's not only "the man your man could smell like," but an up-and-coming movie star.  According to an article from mashable.com, Mustafa is retiring his scented sales work for the greater glories of Hollywood.  Landing a lead role in "Madea's Big Happy Family" and getting a smaller role alongside A-listers Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell and Jason Bateman, Mustafa has taken himself from a barely-known athlete to a household name.  What makes him such a great example is not just his rise to fame, but his ability to leverage it.  While admittedly the face and physique helps, he has used his spicy success to keep his audience engaged.  He has responded to questions through youtube videos that proved his ability to be funny and deliver spot-on tag lines while giving fans the opportunity to connect with him on a more personal level.  But rather than let the fun fizzle out, he chose to strike while the iron was hot.  Commercials provide great exposure but don't guarantee career longevity.  Movies, however, have a bit more sway.  There's sure to be some behind-the-scenes work of a stellar agent, but those hop-scotched, chess-board moves are enough to keep people guessing, and more importantly establish Mustafa as an individual with talent instead of just "that guy from those Old Spice commercials."

While Hollywood and the silver screen may not equate to your day job, the point remains the same:  it's not what you do but how you do it.  As always, we like to remind you that having a well-written resume is important (preferably, compliments of us), but it's what you've done and how you present yourself that will make all the difference.  So get out there, get creative and swan-dive yourself into success!

Fight or Flight? The Steven Slater Controversy

Steven Slater, a former JetBlue flight attendant, has become the patron saint of over-worked and underpaid Americans.  He is liked by over 35,000 people on facebook and has been the center of famed controversy.  In case you've been living under a rock, this is what happened: Slater asked a passenger, who was getting up to pull her bags from an overhead compartment, to remain in her seat until the plane landed.  Not only did she refuse to do so, but she swore at him profusely and her bag hit him in the head.  A fed up Slater got on the intercom, addressed the passenger with the same, ehem, curtious description she gave him, quit his job and managed to grab a few beers before getting off the plane via the emergency exit.  There's no hiding the grin he gives to the cameras, but was it worth it?
If you're thinking of leaving your job, you have to consider how you would do it.  It may be tempting to say "To hell with it!" but for Steven Slater that could include 7 years in prison (opening or using an emergency exit is a Federal Offense, in addition to public profanity), and forget about getting his job back (according to TMZ JetBlue attains that he was in the wrong).  It may be satisfying, but burning bridges with your previous employer may not be a good idea, even if you already have a new job.  Aside from the fact that you can kiss your reference good-bye, that kind of behavior will make future employers question your character and whether you're right for their company.  No one can deny that there are a fair amount of consumers who deserved to be sworn out or slapped, but we just want to remind you that we can help you make a resume, but we can't create your credentials.  However, at the end of the day, we can't say we really blame the guy.  If some woman cursed you out and hit you in the face with her luggage, well that's enough to make anyone wanna quit.

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Jobs we don't suggest, but wish we had anyway: The Barefoot Bandit

In case you hadn't heard about 19 year-old Colton Harris-Moore aka "The Barefoot Bandit," we'll brief you.  It's a modern-day version of "Catch Me If You Can."  Clearly a troubled child-genius, the "Bandit" managed to steal cars, boats and even an airplane all while remaining barefoot (hence the name) before he was caught by authorities on an island.  Although we don't suggest you become a thief, no one can deny that being like James Bond is pretty bad ass, especially when you're only 19.

However, like any smart kid facing a court room, according to an ABC News Article, Harris-Moore has promised to mend his ways.  We can't hide our disappointment, but we're pretty sure that anyone with those mad skillz will probably find a respectable job somewhere.  The C.I.A., maybe?  Either way, he's got a boat load (no pun intended) of facebook fans and there's already talks of a movie.  How's that for a resume?

Welcome to Make That Resume

Everyone knows we're still crawling out of an economic hole, which means we gotta wise up, kids.  It's times like these that teach us to keep it simple and do it cheap.  Which is why Make That Resume was created.  Most companies will charge $50-$100 or more for one single resume.  We do it for $15.  We don't make you do anything fancy, we just get it done.  And really we want to make job searching easier, more fun and informative.


But enough about us, what about you?  What are your job hunting and interview experiences?  Do you have advice or a great interview story?  Do you or someone you know always seem to get the job?  The bottom line is the world is changing and gosh darn it, we should help each other out.  So if you have something to contribute make a comment, send an email, check out our website or the facebook page, follow us on twitter... whatever works for you.  Awesome stories will be posted to the blog.  Find something worth sharing?  Post the link or send it to us.  Also be sure to check in to see what new events or contests we might be having and what prizes we might be giving away.  We're always updating something!  It's just more exciting that way.