Resumes   When preparing resumes to obtain an employment or internship interview opportunity, there are several very basic components which students must master in any of the communication industries. The student should begin these components during his or her Sophomore year in college. These three things are basic to obtaining any professional communication internship or job interview. These are all important, and the approach is different for communication than it is for other areas of employment.   Click on the links below to review important information about networking, cover letters and resumes for communication internships and employment opportunities. YOUR COMMUNICATION NETWORKING YOUR COMMUNICATION COVER LETTERS YOUR COMMUNICATION RESUMES

	Communication Networking   An absolutely mandatory part of gaining essential communication discipline experience is student involvement in the University student operated activities and organizations such as APSU IABC, APSU PRSSA, or the APSU NBS AE Rheo Chapters, The All State newspaper, Clean Cut Productions, or Mid Tennessee Web Design. This provides an opportunity for students to attend the Nashville-sponsoring chapter meetings or to work in a commercial environment where direct contact with communication professionals occurs. Thus, students who have not involved themselves in these APSU student-affiliated organizations or activities are ill-advised to seek internships until they have completed the necessary and essential student-professional networking that occurs only through meeting attendance and experience involvement with area broadcasting and cable, public relations, advertising, marketing communications, and web design pros. For more information on the organization of interest, simply click on the red and underlined link, or seek additional information in the Communication and Theatre Department office in the Music and Mass Communication Building, room 173.   It is the student's responsibility seek involvements with thse students activities and organizations, meet communication professionals, and begin to establish a network of contacts throughout middle Tennessee. When parents ask APSU faculty and staff why their son or daughter, an APSU graduate, is having difficulty finding employment, the most likely cause is lack of networking and failure to obtain a productive and appropraite college internship.

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	Communication Cover Letters   A cover letter is used when seeking an interview for an internship or employment in any of the communication disciplines (advertising, broadcasting, corporate communication, Internet and web technology, newspapers or magazines, or public relations) must include certain essential information about what position you are applying for, your education, your skills, and your previous experience. Generally, all communication discipline cover letters should be thought of as an opportunity to convince a potential employer or interning organization to look further into your materials and consider you for the position or internship. The cover letter is a sales tool, and really persuasive rather than merely informative.   Cover letters must identify the specific position or precise internship for which you are applying. Cover letters are best when addressed to the appropriate supervisor at the current address in the deparment of the organization to which you are applying. Cover letters must briefly stress specific skills and appropriate experiences relevant to and directly related to the specific position or precise internship for which you are applying. Cover letters can highlight some specific accomplishment you have achieved which you believe to be highly relevant to the specific poistion or precise internship for which you are applying. Cover letters must indicate any limitations to your accessability for interviews and clearly state your availability time frame for beginning employment or an internship, should you be offered such an opportunity. Cover letters must be clear, correct, and concise with a maximum length of 3 to 4 paragraphs. Cover letters should follow a standard business letter writing form, style, and structure. Figure 1 - Sample Cover Letter for Communication Industry Internship or Employment         When writing in the cover letter remember the following: place an emphasis on the present and somewhat past tense; downplay the use of future tense use active voice wherever possible employ action verbs in your sentences use primarily simple sentences avoiding ending sentences with prepositions try not to begin very many sentences with prepositional phrases always proofread your cover letter looking for phrasing, punctuation, and spelling errors

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	Communication Resumes   Most communication resumes are very similar in construction and style, including advertising, broadcasting, corporate communication, newspapers and magazines, public relations, and Internet and web related technology opportunities for internships and employment. One very important point for resumes in the communication industries is that experience is as or more important than education. This is why it is so very imperative that Communication Arts majors focus on an active approach to involvement in their respective area of study throughout their college careers via membership in student organizations, participation in student activities, work study opportunities, part time employment, practicums, and internships.   The name and address headers at the beginning of the communication resume can employ many different approaches using line or no lines graphics, but typically all such resumes include at minimum (a) the applicant's name, (b) address, (c) city, (d) state, (e) zip code, (f) telephone number, and (g) email address. A fax or cellular telephone is optional. The applicant's name is usally emphasized by boldface fonts, all upper case lettering, or some other means of setting it apart fromt the rest of the address and contact information.              Figure 2 - Sample Name and Address Headers with Lines for Communication Resumes           Many communication resumes contain "objectives," but stating a specific objective is unnecessary as it can be mentioned in terms of the specific opportunity within the cover letter. The use of headers is essential to the success of the resume. Some of the typical headers used below are Objective, Experience, Education, and References, but also Employment, Activities, and Awards are sometimes included int he communication resume. Proofreading a resume is absolutely essential. Simple sentences and phrases, action verbs, active voice, correct spelling, and meaningful phrasing are always expected in communication resumes. Either a graduation date or expected graduation date should be listed in all communication resumes, regardless of whether the resume is for an internship or employment opportunity. Typically 1 inch margins are employed on all sides of an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of typing paper. Most resumes for internships or entry-level employment consist of just 1 page.                       Figure 3 - Sample Communication Resume A                     Figure 4 - Sample Communication Resume B

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