Take a look at our
Resume Tutorial
Guide.
Just starting?
More and more, employers are expecting that you will gain some type of
significant experience while you are still in college. There are several ways to
do this:
- Seek externship, internship or co-op opportunities or look
for part-time student worker positions on campus that will
allow you to gain experience and skills. You may also want to work
part-time off campus. Any job, whether related to your major or
not, will help you develop important transferable skills.
- Volunteer in offices that offer the opportunity to gain
experience related to your career goals.
- Choose an organization that is meaningful to you and get
involved. It is better to be involved in just one or two organizations than to
be a member of six and only show up for the meetings. Chair a committee,
plan a membership or fundraising event, and start developing leadership,
teamwork and communication skills. Do not let your involvement interfere with
your studies because GPR is always important.
- Extracurricular or academic projects are good ways to gain
professional experience. Many departments will allow you to use elective credit
for a directed study or research project. You can gain valuable skills in your
field and make a connection with a professor who might someday provide a letter
of reference.
What are transferable skills?
Transferable skills are skills that have application in a variety of
careers, regardless of your major. These could be skills like
communication (written, oral, presentations), teamwork, leadership, time
management, and project management. They can be gained through volunteer work,
part-time work, classes, projects, hobbies and interests, organizations,
internships, co-ops and other experiences.
How do I get started writing a resume?
When an employer looks at a resume, he wants to see at a glance if you are
qualified for the position he is trying to fill. An employer will typically
spend about 30 seconds scanning a resume the first
time he or she looks at it, then from that decide who gets a second look. The
important information in your resume should be easily seen in that 30 seconds,
so it must be very concise, well-organized and easy to read.
There is no such thing as one resume that fits all situations, so you must
have an objective before you start. Start with the position
description for the job of interest. If you don't have a specific job
in mind, then search out 4 or 5 that seem appropriate. See what skills
and knowledge employers are looking for. Start writing down everything
you have done that might be relevant--classes you've taken, hobbies,
part-time jobs, church activities--anything that might be of value. Think back
over accomplishments in high school and college--awards, recognition, honors or
merit-based scholarships--things that you are proud of. Don't worry about
format--just get it down on paper.
When everything is written down, sort your content into
categories. Education and experience are two you must have. These can
be followed by others such as achievements, activities, skills, foreign
languages, computer and technology skills, honors and awards, memberships,
leadership, and publications. The general rule of thumb is that the most
important information comes first on the page.
You should keep this master resume in a safe place (with backups) and update
it frequently. When you need it, open it and save it as a new document and
edit out the information that is not relevant to the job you are applying
for.
