Are you looking to land the perfect job out of college, but unsure of how to write up your experience? Do you find yourself second-guessing what you need to apply?
If so, then you need to learn about how to write a resume that will impress employers.
Doing so can help set you apart from the competition. If your resume is organized and concise, it can have a positive effect on you as a candidate. You need only to take the time to do it right!
Keep reading below for an in-depth guide on how to make a resume that will impress at any job that you apply for. Follow this exact format for valuable results.
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1. Start With Your Contact Information
First things first: You want to make your name and contact information as prevalent as possible for the person reading the application. There should be zero confusion on who’s applying for the job or what the best ways are for reaching them.
Ask 10 resume experts what contact information that you need to include on your resume, and you might get 10 different variations.
Think of it this way: You want to highlight the best ways for them to get in contact with you for further information. For that reason, be sure to include both your phone number and the best email for them to reach you at.
The employer will most likely email you to set up a phone interview, so be sure to put an email address that you check often.
You can also include your current residential or mailing address. This is less important nowadays (since everything is digital), but it still looks nice and helps fill space.
Related Read: Resume Sections: 10+ Things to Include on a Resume to Land Interviews
2. Add a Resume Objective Statement
As the name would imply, this section allows you to highlight all the key points of your resume. It’s similar to the “executive summary” on a business plan.
In this portion, you want to list your career goals and why you’re interested in the specific position you’re applying for. Then, you wrap it up in a nice bow by explaining how your experience makes you the best fit for the position.
Whenever writing an executive summary, be sure to mention the exact company name and position that you’re applying for.
3. Experience
If you have job experience that pertains to the job that you’re applying for, you should flaunt it. Make it the focal point of your entire resume.
Experience can be anything that you want it to be. Even if you’re fresh out of college with little job experience, be sure to write down any internships you’ve had or previous positions you had before/during college.
It’s best to find a mixture between the two. That way, you can show that you have experience in your desired field (however little it might be), and a significant tenure with a company.
For example, let’s say Tom is applying for a position with a sports equipment manufacturer. He only had one internship during college, so there isn’t much to fill his resume with.
In the “experience” section of his resume, he listed his summer internship with Rawlings Sporting Goods Inc. He also included his job as a Footwear Associate with his local sports store, a job that he’s had since he was in high school.
One shows that he has experience in the position he’s applying for (Rawlings), and the other shows that he’s a committed employee. His job as a Footwear Associate has taught him how to be a professional. That’s valuable to employers.
Whatever you do, don’t lie on your resume. Employers fact-check. Be honest about the experience you have.
List each of your positions you’ve had, the company, the location, and a few bullet points describing some of the position’s most important tasks. Keep the descriptions as short as possible.
Related Read: How to Turn Your Passion Into a Career in 5 Easy Steps
4. Education
Now that you’ve listed your experience, it’s time to put down your education information.
List your college’s name at the top along with the year that you graduated. If you are still in school, just include the years you’ve been going to school there (for example, 2018-2020).
Under that, include the official title of the degree you’re seeking (such as Bachelor of Science in Business Administration), along with your major.
Lastly, be sure to place bullet points for any awards or noteworthy accomplishments you had while attending. This could mean things like being a Resident Assistant, Senior Captain of your college’s Lacrosse team, any minors you’re pursuing, etc.
5. Relevant Skills
For the relevant skills resume section, you want to put in any experience or skills you have that might be useful to the job you’re seeking.
For example, if you were applying for a business administration job, some relevant skills would be having experience with Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop. If you’re applying to be a PE Teacher, then you might put “CPR Certification.” You get the idea.
This portion of the resume doesn’t need to be super elaborate. Most people choose to condense it to one line (separating each skill with commas) to save space.
Remember, the goal is always to keep your resume to one page.
Related Read: How to List Your Achievements on Your Resume (the Right Way)
How to Write a Resume: Concise and Honest Wins the Day
Too many people think the key to learning how to write a resume is impressing the employer with industry jargon and fluff. Keep yours as transparent and condensed as possible. The right employer will find you!
After your killer resume impresses and you’ve nailed the interview process, you’re bound to receive a job offer. Here are 8 questions to ask before accepting that job offer. Then, read this article to learn how to respond to a job offer when you get one.