If the only resume you have on file is the one you had to make for your high school business class three years ago, it may be time to re-evaluate. As impressive as it is that you were on the high school swim team and volunteered at the food bank with student council, employers couldn’t care less. You’re in college now, and it is high time that your resume joined the colligate ranks as well. This means taking off your high school activities, removing your mom from your professional references page and deleting “Microsoft Word” from your skills section. Every employer will likely have different opinions and style preferences when it comes to certain elements of your resume, but here are a few tips everyone can agree on:
1. Create a resume
You can’t improve your resume if you don’t have one! Even if it is just the basics, put together something that you can add to as your experiences grow. It is easier to build off of something than to start from scratch.
2. Always have your resume updated
You never know when you will be in a situation where you are asked to send your resume. You could meet a possible job or internship connection anywhere at any time, so you should always be prepared. Show that you are ahead of the game when put on the spot.
3. Stick to what is relevant
I used to have a two page, 10 pt. font resume in attempt to fit in every job and experience I had ever had, until a friend explained the concept of quality over quantity. Employers do not have time for, nor do they care about, every place you ever worked or every fundraising event you participated in. Pick the top skills and experiences that relate to your goals and field of study, and showcase those.
4. Tailor your resume
Have a resume that is the best representation of your accomplishments to have on hand for general positions or career fairs/networking events. For any specific job you apply for, make sure to tailor your resume so that it reflects the job qualifications and requirements. Look for key words in the job description and make sure those are reflected in your resume. Often times, resumes are run through a “key word checker” to eliminate unqualified prospects.
5. Don’t forget the obvious
It may seem basic, but make sure you have had several people fine-tune your resume in search of spelling and grammatical errors. Be confident that you are coming across as professional in your word choices. Avoid phrases such as, “responsibilities included serving food to customers” and instead use action phrases such as “improved my customer service and sales skills while serving a diverse group of customers.”
Remember, resumes are never finished. You will always be editing, refining and adding to your experiences. Utilize your professional connections and seek help from professors and Career Services. Your resume might only get 2-3 seconds to catch your future employer’s eye, so make it count.
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