Alright ladies, it’s that time of year again!
Though we promised ourselves that over winter break we would polish our resumes, tweak our cover letter and update our LinkedIn profiles, most of us didn’t quite get around to it. Now, with the spring semester in full swing, it is the time to start the job push! Whether you’re rallying for the perfect summer internship, or you’re working up the courage to start applying for full time jobs, your resume deserves a little TLC before it’s sent off to potential employers.
To ensure your resume gets put in the ‘yes’ pile, here are some key tips to get you started in your career endeavors!
DO:
Start from scratch.
Some people do elect to use a resume template, yet many experts recommend just making a personalized layout on Microsoft Word. When you use a template, there tends to be lots of issues with formatting and alignment, and many applicants even use the same exact templates for their resumes. To make matters worse, often times companies use software to scan and upload resumes into a computer system that certain graphics and styles will not transfer in. Stand out from the crowd! Start with your basic bold headings (education, experience, coursework, involvement, skills, etc) and align your dates to the right. As long as you keep your format organized, clean, and consistent, employers will take notice.
Keep it short and sweet.
Ideally, you should keep your resume at one page. Hiring managers have stacks of applications to sift through and very little time. Your resume does not need to include every single thing you have ever done in your career, but it does need to convey your most important positions and your most marketable skills in a concise manner.
Tailor it to the position.
Every resume you submit should be uniquely focused to the job you’re applying for. Yes, it’s more work, but it makes the difference in the long run when you score the job of your dreams. You should always list your most relevant skills and experiences first, and depending on the position, the most important skills may vary. The order of previous experience may change, or you may elect to add or take out certain things altogether!
Use active adverbs.
Remember on your resume, you’re not just describing what job you did, but you are trying to tell recruiters what you accomplished. Don’t settle for boring verbs, but replace dull words like “started”, or “worked with”, with eye catching key words like “conceptualized”, “initiated”, “maximized”, “collaborated”, and “managed”.
Use Bold, Italics, and Underlining to add emphasis.
Using these tools adds variation to your resume and really makes it more appealing to the eye and easier to read. In addition, making your name the biggest, boldest item on the page really makes a difference. It’s a simple change, but after all, isn’t the entire goal of making a resume to have someone remember who you are?
Utilize campus resources.
The Career Development Center is definitely worth taking advantage of. They are housed on the third floor of the John E. Thomas building, and offer handouts, workshops, walk in clinics, and mock interviews to ensure you’re ready to get out there and land the job. Most academic departments are also really helpful in helping you further tailor your resume to specific fields. When you finish your resume, be sure to upload it on to Career Gear. Career gear is an exclusive resource that connects you to employers looking to hire ASU students and alum for jobs and internships. You can browse job postings from tons of local and non-local corporations and in turn, recruiters can search your personal page and view your resume!
DON’T:
Include your GPA if it’s unfavorable.
Though it appears to come with the territory, you’re not required to have your GPA included on your resume. Unless it is outstanding and would enhance an interviewer’s impression of you, it’s better off not listed.
Include high school positions.
The more relevant experience you have the more likely you are to be hired. That one job you had in high school may have gotten you into college, but it wont impress recruiters, especially if you’re an upperclassman, it’s time to move on from your high school days.
Use diluted phrases like “responsibilities include” or “in charge of”.
You know you’re capable of more creativity. This is your opportunity to make an impression, so make your resume memorable!
Make silly mistakes.
When you make a resume, you are trying to prove that you are responsible and detail-oriented. Nothing quite says detail-oriented like misspelled words, bad grammar or punctuation issues. Read, re-read, and pass your product on to a friend or professor (or both) before sending the final copy off.
Don’t lie.
Period. There is no excuse. If you try to pass two semesters of Spanish off as fluency, you’re in for a rude awakening when you are forced to deal with clients that can’t speak English.
Photo Links:
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/7motivatingmadmenquotesthatsumupeventmark…