By Briana Rossi
If you are applying for a job, you will be required to submit a resume with your application. A resume is more than just a piece of paper with your work history; it shows the prospective employer all the great things that you have accomplished and what you have learned from your experiences. It is your chance to validate that you have the qualifications of a good employee and the skills to make you successful if chosen for the position.
You want to make a good first impression with your resume, as an employer will make a decision to keep or toss it after only scanning it for a few seconds. So it is important to make your resume stand out from the other applicants.
Here are some tips that I have found helpful when creating my resume:
Use Action Words: Word choice can make a huge difference. When describing your accomplishments use words that show action, personality traits, and the nature of the experience. Refer to the Active and Descriptive Words and Phrases handout on the Career Center website for a list of great words to use.
Tailor: Use the job description as a guide for what skills to highlight on your resume. This will make it easy for the employer to clearly see that you have the skills needed for the position. Only include relevant information that is applicable to the job or is related to the organization’s mission.
Be Clear, Concise and Visually Appealing: Your resume should be organized, easy to read, and well laid out. This can be done by maintaining consistent formatting throughout and being mindful of the visual flow of information. Include headings and bullets to help with organization and keep things concise. Generally, your resume should only be a single page. Make it so the employers can have an understanding of your accomplishments and skills by just can scanning your resume.
Be Personable: Resumes are important for showing your skills and this can include interpersonal skills. Including information that helps the employer understand who you are and what you care about can be a great addition. You can do this by adding volunteer experiences, a profile statement, or links to professional social media profiles (i.e. LinkedIn, Twitter). Keep in mind that you should make these additions relevant to the employer or position.
Making your resume stand out can help you land in the “keep” pile, but is only the first step in your introduction. Make sure that you are able to follow through and talk about your experiences more extensively if needed.
Remember that the Career Center has Express Advising Hours every day (M T W 2-4 PM and Th F 10 AM -12 PM) to help you with writing and reviewing your resume!