Workshop feedback: Nina

TORDA'S SPRING 2026 TEACHING SITE

Workshop feedback: Nina

12/10/2025

9 Comments

Nina

12/10/2025 01:48:51 pm

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zc7qNXY5s29NBCr_QvpGZk7dFxUin297L6eXozzRAyI/edit?usp=sharing

Nina

12/10/2025 02:00:15 pm

I think that the pieces I had to put on the website are strong as well as the working draft of my resume, I just have to add a few more things to it to update. I left some notes at the end of my draft with some directing questions of where I could really use some feedback from the class. Here are the three main questions I outlined: “Should I include a section regarding where I stand with AI?,” “I will probably have a section of the website that talks about my entire resume and then a second section with a downloadable pdf. For the pdf, should I condense the resume to only include specific jobs/experience or should I try to reformat it to fit everything?,” “Should I include creative pieces even if creative writing is not my focus for this portfolio site?” Other than that, any feedback on pieces that you suggest I add to the site or on the about me section would be fantastic! Thank you guys in advance!

12/10/2025 02:11:53 pm

Hi Nina--

I couldn't use the link because it just led me to a log in. I might have more to say if/when you have a draft of the actual page. As you shift from print to that visual medium, style, color choice, voice all of that will matter in a personal site like that.

A few very specific suggestions about the resume:
I would separtate your work experience between related experience and general work experience. That you were an orientation leader (I wish you had been so last year) is a good job, but it's not what you want to do for the rest of your life. So I would move that and any other part time jobs you've had to a different section below relevant work experience. When you have your linked in page and website up and running. Include that info on your website, as well as any appropriate social media accounts. Another suggestion: consider including a section of relevant course work/projects. People never think to include those, but they can often demonstrate expertise and intrerest just as much as a job. Next: you should have a bio that goes on your contact page. Like 250, 200 words, something like that. Here is a place that tells the world who you are--and it sets a tone, etc. Finally, one last thing to consider. Your resume is uber competent, but because you are going into a creative field, having a version of it that reflects that might be worth considering. Here are some webistes that offer guidance on resumes for creatives.

Answers to your specfic questions: The stance on AI thing sounds like a linked in post not something you want permanently on your website. I think. That's just me, but isn't that sort of the kind of thing people us Linked in for? About creative work. It really depends on how confident you are about quality. If it feels like college level creative dabbling I would say leave it off. If you think it might be something you'd send out to be published you could include it.

Just thought of this: if you've presented at conferences or at one of the BSU symposia, that can be a section on your resume. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal to you to be able to say you presented, but no body else knows it doesn't seem like a big deal.

Paul Sweeney

12/10/2025 03:02:08 pm

I think that this is overall a very solid resume, but I think the formatting could be better. It's professional, but I think the information is too condensed in a way that can be visually overwhelming. More clearly labelling sections (possibly by underlining the text) could help.

I also definitely think a section on AI is a good idea. Considering how much it has been creeping into the workspace over the past few years, jobs with a heavy emphasis on writing are going to start using AI more often, so a clear stance on where you stand is going to be very helpful for you and your employers.

Overall, a good start but the formatting could be a bit cleaner.

Alexandra O'Brien

12/10/2025 02:16:21 pm

With writing and communications being very focused in critical thinking, it is important to have a section on your thoughts on AI. This shows your awareness of changes and advancements that affect what you are interested in, and it shows that you care about authenticity as well. I dont think a section on AI is a bad idea at all, throw it in there!

I think the answer to reformatting your resume is what kind of jobs are you applying for? It never hurts to show your versatility in different work environments, showing your commitment to different places of work, and your reliability. BUT, if it doesn't seem relevant to the positions you are applying for and you are looking to cut down on some length of the document, then consider chopping out what doesn't feel relevant.

I think, as I said above, by showing versatility, even if your focus may not be on creative projects per se, having creative works on there shows the range of your writing. And your commitment to doing all these different things. It's nice to see that you can think outside of the box, even if it is not your main focus!

Ashley

12/10/2025 02:22:32 pm

I feel like I say this about all of your work, but I can really hear your voice in this writing and it is working so well! While you maintain the level of professionalism needed for a public-facing website, you haven’t lost who you really are. I think this really works when considering your mission and values too; we really get to know you in every component, and the mission and values statements just elaborate on that. I will say, my biggest question about what you have so far is when you get to this point on your website (the link took me to a page to log in, and I couldn't see what you have so far), could you combine these sections together? It’s not that what you have right now isn’t working, but it’s that I think it would be more cohesive combined. I think the idea of readers first learning your mission and then getting to see what values and beliefs have informed it would work well from an organizational standpoint. I also think this could address your stance on AI—I love the line “that’s human!” and I think it could be the perfect lead-in to briefly discuss if you believe AI is the same or different than humanity. I don’t necessarily know if you need to devote a whole section to AI, but addressing it feels really important.

I think the resume you put on your website, even if it is not the exact same as the one you use to apply to jobs, could benefit from including all of your experience in the past few years (it’s hard for me to determine what the cutoff date for inclusion in this section should be). I do think it would be smart to make the downloadable resume the one you use to apply to jobs though; you never know who will see your website! As for your general resume, you could definitely tailor each experience to speak to your strengths as a communicator, leader, etc. that will be beneficial in your life as a writer. I do have two small organizational suggestions for your resume that could really elevate this section though. I was always taught to organize a resume in reverse chronological order (most recent to furthest back in time) and to use past tense when discussing any jobs you no longer have; implementing these could really elevate your content without taking too much time!

I also support you including a selection of your creative writing if it is something you are interested in pursuing throughout your career! If you have examples that you’re proud of or even would like to consider publishing later on, why not put them on your site? You can never be sure of who will end up on your page at some point! You could always add to or remove this section entirely as your lifestyle and desires as a writer change. You are off to a great start and I can’t wait to see where this project takes you!

I.S.

12/10/2025 02:37:12 pm

I’m honestly not super familiar with making a website of this sort or resumes, just to give a disclaimer. The overall structure and language of this is well done. It’s easy to read and professional while still showcasing your personality. Regarding AI, if you are strongly against it, I definitely think that’d be important to include. If you want to work with AI and are experienced with it, then that’s worth mentioning as well. Similar to what Alexandra said, it’s probably most effective to include relevant jobs/experience to what you’re applying for, but I think the formatting is strong as is. I also think including your creative pieces is a good idea if you’re going to pursue that professionally!

Anna

12/10/2025 03:18:32 pm

Hi Nina! I think you're off to a great start with your web portfolio! I think that including a stance on AI is a great idea, especially as you are looking to work in a field where it is in pretty frequent use. I think for the PDF, condensing into one page would work because you will have the rest of the section on the website to expand on all of your experiences as much as you desire. Additionally, I think that including creative pieces would be great! You could even include them with a little section on how creative writing has made you a better communicator, so that way it ties back into your main focus. My final piece of advice would be to really sell yourself. Boost yourself up as much as you can in each piece of writing, make sure that they know what a unique candidate they have in you!

Glen Beaulieu

12/10/2025 03:19:05 pm

Hi Nina!

First off, I have to say, I absolutely adore your voice in this. So much of your personality comes out from your work on this, and I am so here for it. Your mission statement especially! Great work on this, Nina.

So, for your questions, I don't know if you *need* a section on AI here. I guess I would ask first what you want that section to do for you, you know? What is it going to look like? I wasn't sure exactly what you wanted that section to do for you, so I figured I would pose these questions. For the PDF, I'm not well-versed at all in that regard, but I would say, if someone's downloading something from you, I think it'd be safer to have it be the full thing and not a condensed version. That's just me though. And for the creative pieces question, I say yes. I wouldn't have it front-and-center if your focus isn't creative, but I think giving users the opportunity to explore some examples of your writing can help with further conveying your voice, personality, and/or beliefs, you know?

Workshop feedback: Nina

Leave a Reply.

Torda and the 489s

Archives

Categories