Looking for a job to earn some cash? Need money to make this month’s rent? Job-hunting can be one of the most stressful experiences. Aside from the skilled and hard-working qualities employers look for, they also want to see one thing: an outstanding resume. A resume shows employers your skills and professionalism in advance. Whether you’re looking for part-time work or for a career beyond college, every student should know how to create an outstanding resume.
Below are a few tips for what can help make a first-rate resume:
1.) Stand out
Be sure to mention anything about you that is unique. If you were president of a particular club on campus, mention it. If you won a prestigious award or scholarship, mention it. Internships? Mention those, too! You want to exploit all the accomplishments you made that make you stand out from any other prospective employee. If you want the job, you have to list what makes you more outstanding and suitable than anyone else.
2.) Get involved in extracurriculars
Clubs and other activities can only boost a resume, right? You have four years in college; why not take advantage of that time to make yourself a better-rounded student? Joining a fraternity or sorority, SGA, the school paper, or any other club on campus can make you stand out from a student with nothing but a 3.5 GPA. Even list internships and volunteer work – just because you didn’t get a paycheck doesn’t mean it wasn’t real work or experience. Using terms like “leadership,” “fundraising,” “people management,” and “budgeting” can help make your experiences look professional.
3.) Priorities
Contrary to common belief, you don’t have to list your experiences in chronological order. When listing jobs and responsibilities, you should list the most important task first. Employers generally don’t spend a lot of time looking at a resume and won’t read every bullet point. It’s also helpful to note more challenging jobs. It shows them what you’ve done and what you can do.
4.) Don’t highlight something you despise
A common misconception in building a resume is that you have to mention everything you’ve done. On the contrary, you can omit any job or work you completed that is not related to what you’re applying for. For example, if you hated your job at a fast-food chain, there’s no need to mention it for a job as a receptionist.
5.) Don’t lie or stretch the truth
This should go without saying. Unfortunately though, many make the mistake of lying or stretching the truth on their skills or responsibilities. If a company hires someone and discovers they lied in their resume, that employee may lose their job. Furthermore, if you exaggerate your skills such as saying you’re fluent in Spanish even though you only studied it in high school, your lie can become extremely obvious when you start and don’t have the skills to fulfill the job requirements.
6.) Keep it simple
Resumes generally take up one or two pages; no college student’s resume should exceed that. According to Forbes Magazine, the average resume is read in 10 seconds. So you want to sum up all the accomplishments or skills that attract your employer. No crazy fonts or colors and no long pieces. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point!
7.) Leave out unnecessary information
According to Lindsey Pollack, the author of Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World, there are several things that students place in their resume that are unnecessary. Pollack suggests that you omit references completely; employers will request these if they want them. Also leave out the phrase “References upon request” for the exact same reason. Don’t list any GPA below a 3.0 or any obvious skills like “I’m a real people person,” or “Experience with Microsoft Word and the Internet!”
The final and most important tip….
8.) Make connections
Picture an employer’s office with a large pile of resumes on their desk and even more saved on the computer. You may have the greatest resume in the world, but if an employer never looks at it, you won’t get the job. This is where connections through your internships, school, or clubs can help. Knowing someone important in the company you apply for can help set you apart from the rest.
So there you have it, eight easy steps to help build your resume. Keep these tips in mind as you continue through your college years. Remember that being active in your community is one of the best things you can do right now. Happy job huntings!