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Last Updated on February 8, 2025
A captivating resume is vital for securing your ideal job. Your work history might be limited as a
What This Article Covers
- How to showcase achievements effectively even with limited work history as a
college student. - The key
skills and experienceshiring managers value beyond GPA and job titles. - Why tailoring
your resume to specific job requirements increases interview chances. - The importance of highlighting
leadership and problem-solving abilities onyour resume . - How to leverage education, academic projects, and coursework to demonstrate relevant
skills . - Tips for emphasizing transferable
skills gained from part-time jobs, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities. - How to incorporate keywords to pass applicant tracking systems and capture attention.
- Best practices for keeping
your resume concise, error-free, and professionally formatted.
What Employers Really Want
Employers aren’t interested in your GPA or a long list of your barista duties. What they value most is your ability to effectively showcase your
Hiring managers understand that
Hiring managers seek evidence of
As a
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1. Summarize Your Skills and Objectives
List all of your
Review your list and identify the most relevant items for the job you’re applying to. Resumes that concentrate on specific job requirements have a higher chance of securing an interview. This presents a valuable opportunity for you to envision your future in a particular career and comprehend the essential
Your objectives should state some past accomplishments and the accomplishments you want to achieve for the job you are applying for. Objectives can show employers that you know what you want for your future and are familiar with their company and industry.
2. Your Education is Key
Without experience in the job market, your education information is more relevant now than it will be on later resumes. Gather the critical facts about your education, especially if you have an advanced degree.
List the colleges or universities you attended, the degree program, years attended, and any honors you earned, like a place on the Dean’s List.
Include serious academic projects you took part in like independent studies or senior theses. These things will show that you are an active learner and highlight
If you have taken any courses specific to the job you’re applying for, include those courses on your resume.
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3. Take the Lead
Because
Use action words like “led, created, and implemented,” when describing your activities with these groups.
4. Work It
Even if you have only worked part-time, you should list those jobs on
Highlight “transferable
A server who used a POS system could write that you are quick to pick up new computer systems. If you worked in a call center, you have excellent listening
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5. Community Service and Volunteer Work
Well, maybe leave off any court-ordered community service! While community service and volunteer work are not paid, they still provide you with valuable experience and show employers that you have a willingness to give without expecting anything in return.
These experiences should be listed as a job with a title, such as an essay writer, that explains the role you played in the organization and should include a description of your duties and accomplishments.
6. Extracurricular Activities and Hobbies
Potential employers want to know what you do in your spare time. If you were a member of a sports
Hobbies like rock climbing and camping show a willingness to leave your comfort zone, also a desirable trait employers look for.
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7. Put a Number on It
When you can, include numbers tied to your achievements. If you worked in retail, give a number to how many customers you helped per day and a dollar amount of your monthly sales.
If you raised money for a charity, organization, or sports
8. Keywords are Key
Keywords are words that describe requirements in a job posting, and the
Some companies even use a computer program to scan for keywords so if you don’t include them; a human may not even see your resume. Be sure to cram as many keywords into
Learn how to find and select resume keywords for your specific area of expertise with targeted tips and techniques. Master the “what-to-do” and “how-to-do-it” for your resume keyword needs. With step-by-step examples and an Internet browser, anyone can identify and collect their own resume keywords.
9. Keep it Short
Even someone with twenty years of relevant experience is advised to keep their resume short so as a soon-to-be or recent grad; you certainly need to keep your
10. The Usual Suspects
When
Make sure your resume doesn’t include any of those. Re-read it ten times, ask ten people to read it, and run it through Grammarly. Whatever it takes to make sure it looks and reads perfectly. There is a lot of competition out there so don’t lose out before you even get a chance to get in the game.
You Have A Lot to Offer
It might feel like your
So as long as you have put together a thoughtful resume highlighting your
Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
