Program: Continuing Education
Lauren Milligan loves the art of resume writing, something that started when she began taking classes at College of DuPage.
Now she teaches resume writing as well as other important job skills through “Plus50 Career Readiness Program,” a class offered by Continuing Education at COD.
“In this class, which is geared toward older workers, we extensively cover resume writing, interviewing skills, negotiation strategies and creating a LinkedIn profile,” she said. “We also discuss the issue of ageism and multiple generations in the workplace. In this class, the tough topics are not brushed under the rug.”
In 2001, Milligan started her own career management company, ResuMAYDAY. Today she has a team of expert resume writers who work with a national client base.
“What I love most about resume writing is the power of telling a person’s best version of their career story in two pages or less,” she said. “Teaching this class is only a small part of my job. Other evenings I’m usually running workshops or writing resumes for clients. When I’m not working, I’m usually knee-deep in some DIY project, reading the latest John Irving novel or binge watching something on Netflix.”
What she enjoys about teaching is the ability to create a connection with her students.
“When I do a presentation through a job club, I can be talking to 100 people at a time, only for an hour and a half. That means that I get to say everything I need to, but it doesn’t allow for a lot of interaction, personalization or questions,” she said. “This class allows for all that because I never mind staying late, and we have four weeks together. I really enjoy the connection that is created between everyone in the room. And I’m always delighted when my students follow up with me after the class ends, to keep me updated on their job search.
“I hope my students get excited about their career development, whichever direction that may be. I also hope that my students are motivated to push past any fears or assumptions they have about the employment landscape. My motto is, ‘No Wimps Allowed!’ That means that job seekers can give themselves permission to be outspoken in their approach, unapologetic for their career choices and bold on paper, and in person.”