Fall 2014

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Constructing the Ultimate Résumé

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Senior Leah Bowman’s Lego self-creation helped her land a summer internship with one of Chicago’s ad giants.

Leah Bowman Lego resume

Like many Northwestern students, rising senior Leah Bowman started her internship search more than a year in advance, applying to about 30 different companies. But by the time spring break rolled around, the communication studies major decided she needed to “build up” her résumé.

After brainstorming with her parents about ways to set herself apart, Bowman designed a Lego kit of herself with the tagline, “Build the perfect account service intern.” Using Lego Digital Designer and her dad’s collection of Legos, she made a 62-piece Lego set to send to potential employers. But once she posted a photo of the kit to the social networking service Reddit, it went viral, and human resources directors were reaching out to her.

Bowman has been a fan of Legos from a young age. She said her family is of Danish heritage, and Legos, manufactured in Denmark, have always been special to them. Her father, an engineer, is an avid builder, and some of his pieces have been on display in their hometown of Des Moines. Bowman said she collects Lego Star Wars sets herself.

She said she never imagined the Lego résumé would gain the traction it did online. After trending in the Reddit community, it was picked up by many news outlets, from Huffington Post to Adweek. The publicity provided her with many networking opportunities.

Bowman, who will graduate in December with a degree in communication studies and a certificate in integrated marketing communications, landed a summer internship in downtown Chicago at Energy BBDO, as an account management intern on the Bud Light account.

“They do really cool work,” she says. “Specifically, I liked that they offer practical, hands-on experience. Interns in their program get to interact with the clients.”

This was Bowman’s first internship in advertising. She hopes her creativity will continue to be an asset when she graduates and applies for full-time positions in January.