The year is winding down, Collegiettes! For some of us, that means fun in the sun and beach days every day, but for most it means getting back to work. Whether you work at a summer camp or at an internship in a large office, those summer plans that are paid often have an application process. Whether you are a freshman or a senior, there are multiple things you should definitely include in your resume to make it more appealing to employers.
First of all, you should obviously include the basic elements of a resume, such as your objective, your previous places of employment, your clubs and activities, your grades, etc. You should also elaborate on all of these elements to give the reader a sense of the responsibilities you’ve had and the experiences you gained while in those positions. For seniors or students with more career experience, these skills should be written so that they are tailored to match the skills needed in the job for which you are applying. If you have had many internships but are applying for a finance job, make sure to elaborate on the financial knowledge gained in your previous internships. By elaborating on one specific skill set, the employer will understand the depth of your insight and experience in that field.
For example, if you are applying for a sales position and you worked at an Ice Cream shop last summer, you could say that you worked with hundreds of customers on a daily basis, memorizing the products and their combinations while providing customers with information to make the best possible choice. You also gained valuable communication skills and people skills from this position, while maintaining good customer relations as the recurring face of the business.
If you are a freshman with very little experience in your intended career field, you should elaborate on the skills you gained while volunteering and in the clubs and organizations in which you are involved. Describe the events that you have attended within these organizations, and what values these organizations stand for. Also, if you planned any events or fundraisers within these clubs, definitely mention the way in which you organized them, and the knowledge gained while you planned.
Whether you have no experience or a lot of internships behind you, there is always more you can say on your resume to enhance the reader’s view of your skills, and enlighten them as to why you deserve the job. You know more than you think, and it’s time to put it on paper. Get writing, Collegiettes!