Greetings, collegiettes! It’s that time of year again – the search for jobs and internships. How do you make yourself stand out? What is a résumé? Here are some of my tips to help you perfect your resume and land the position you desire!
1. Use a template.
There are plenty of FREE résumé templates online, pick one, and fill in the blanks with your information.
2. One page maximum
Did you know that your résumé is designed to be short and straight to the point? Collegiettes, this is NOT the time to write your future employers an essay; the average time they will spend on your résumé is about 10 seconds. Using one page and front side only, your goal is to not only convince your employer why you are the perfect fit but also who you are outside of academics.
3. Use catch-phrases and action words
Since your employer will be glancing over your résumé, you want to make it the best 10 seconds of their life, so you will want to use words that will jump out. For example, if you worked as a cashier – you would say something along the lines of “Accurately processing/processed cash and credit transactions totaling up to $5,000” vs. “Served as a cashier at X company.” Don’t sell yourself short!
4. Tailor your résumé to the job description
Ladies, make sure you read the job description! The last thing you want is to land an interview and realize you are either not prepared or you are not a good fit for them. When you tailor your résumé to the job description, it shows that you came prepared, you are serious about the opportunity, and you can tell your employer why you are the perfect fit. Lastly, you will leave them with a great first impression, and they might remember you when it’s time to make the final decision.
5. Bring your skills to the top of your résumé
Not all college students have had the opportunity to work yet, or they have not had a work experience that closely aligns with the job they are applying for; one way to prevent you from selling yourself short is by emphasizing your skills prior to noting your work experience. This way your employers will see right away what you can bring to the table, and most of the time, they are surprised by what a college student can offer. So, if you have taken on leadership roles in student organizations, this is your time to shine.
6. Proofread and edit your résumé plenty of times
Take it to the career services, they will be able to give you feedback and advice on what you have thus far, and sometimes, they can catch careless mistakes. Trust me, the last thing you want is for your employer to see a typo on your résumé.
That’s it for now. Good luck collegiates, and share your résumé writing tips with us!