- Simplify your resume: Everyone tells you to “stand out” with your resume, and that if you don’t make yourself noticeable you’ll be lost in a sea of CVs. Don’t fall into the that flashy trap! Standing out doesn’t mean colorful designs (unless you’re a graphic designer) or crowding your resume with any and everything you’ve ever participated in. Stand out by showing that you’re professional and to the point. Only put what you can speak about extensively and is most recent. Your resume is where your interviewer looks for questions to ask you, and you don’t want to be wasting precious impression making time by thinking back to that community service project in middle school.
How to: Pick only what you’ve been involved in the last year and a half, and only the clubs that you hold important positions. Only include your GPA if it’s a 3.5 and over.
- It’s Not What You Did: But it’s the impact you made. If you have numbers or concrete evidence of how you increased website traffic for last summer’s internship or partnered your not-for-profit with other local businesses, make sure to include it! Companies are looking for those who are proven to get results.
How to: After listing the previous experience, use the bullet points underneath to show off your skills. If possible, tell them where they can find all information in detail.
- Speak to the Future: Just as you made an impact, speak to how you’ll do it again for this new company. It’s the skills that you learned in that past experience that allows you to be an asset in this new position.
How to: When writing your bullet points, don’t just list activities. It’s not: “Managed social media presence.” It’s: “Managed Company’s social media presence by continually updating Facebook with clever and relevant links.” This way, the new company will know exactly how you’ll assist them in the future.
- Your Calling Card: What helps consolidate all your papers for your employer is having the same heading for your resume, cover letter, and writing sample.
How to: Microsoft has a lot of templates for resumes and cover letters based on position. If you’re just applying for things generally, there are templates made for that too.
- Know Who You’re Talking To: What’s more personal than getting a letter addressed directly to you? Don’t be afraid to call the company’s HR and ask for the name of your resume reader. Then address both your CV and your cover letter to an actual person rather than “To Whom It May Concern.”