You’re on the verge of breaking free from college and making your mark on the world. Or at least making a real income. But in order to do it, you’ve got to convince somebody to hire you. The first step to getting the job you want is putting together a killer resume.
Your resume should include this basic information:
- Your full name, phone number, email and address go at the top.
- School(s) attended with dates and degrees. If you have a strong GPA or received any awards, you can mention those. You don’t need to list high school if you’re in (or done with) college.
- List any previous jobs (including internships) along with dates and a brief description of responsibilities and accomplishments. Brief!
- List volunteer work and club or activity involvement along with dates and a brief description of responsibilities and accomplishments. Again, brevity is a virtue. Remember that anything you put in here should help demonstrate why you’re a good fit for the job; if it doesn’t, leave it out.
- If you have any unique skills (such as speaking another language, software proficiency, or other certifications) you may want to list those.
Remember these 5 tips when writing your resume.
- Keep it brief. Your resume shouldn’t be longer than one page. Hit the highlights, cut out the fluff and remember that it’s not a biography. A concise, focused resume will appeal to employers more than one that’s long and rambling.
- Keep it clean. Clean as in well written and easy to read. Check, check, and double check for errors. Use straightforward language, not a bunch of “look-how-smart-I-am” words. Choose a standard font, a readable font size (like 12 point) and use 1” margins.
- Prove your worth. Make it easy for the reader to see why you’re a good fit. Review the job description and use similar words in your resume. Whenever possible, quantify the results of your efforts.
- Cover it. Cover letters are your opportunity to make a positive first impression and explain why you’re the best person for the job. Keep it short (about half a page) and tailor it to each job application.
- Get some help. Talk to the experts at your school’s career center or ask a trusted professor for advice. They can really come in handy when trying to build your perfect resume.