Resumes are tricky, and it is often hard to find consistency in advice when you are transitioning from high school to college, and then the professional world. Hopefully this provides some clarity and guidance when it comes to refining your resume as you navigate these transitions. The Career Engagement Office also provides 1:1 appointments if you need any further help, so schedule a meeting today!
First, it is important to remember that your name should be large and in the center portion of the top of your page. Directly underneath, your address, phone and email can be found. Remember that this information should be your most current and updated personal information. The most important headings should be along the lines of Career Objective, Skills, Education, and Work Experience or Major Projects. However, headings are flexible and can be named differently.
What is an Objective Statement? Your Career Objective is a three-sentence blurb about who you are and why you are the best candidate for the job that you are applying to, or in general. We suggest the students only use one if they are 1. needing space to explain nuances in their applicant story, or 2. do not have an accompanying cover letter.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing bullet points. There is a special formula for your bullet point on your resume to ensure they are strong! The bullet point formula is as follows: Action verb + Example (What you did) + Result/Impact
Most employers will spend 15-30 seconds reading through your resume, so here are some other things to keep in mind.
- Avoid Templates – they are hard to manipulate
- Make your resume easy to skim with tailored section headings
- Balance out text and white space
- Choose an ADA-friendly, Sans-Serif type of font. Keep the size legible! Between 10-12 pt.
Here's a bonus tip: if you are a college student, listing your high school achievements isn’t totally necessary unless you are worried about the amount of information on your resume. If you do plan to include high school experiences, make sure that they are strong and relevant. Remember not to include your high school graduation year, because it reveals your age!
Hopefully this helps, happy resume writing!