| Resume-Writing 101 |
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Having an updated resume is important because you never know when an internship or job opportunity may approach you. Your resume should look professional but also stand out amongst all the others applying for the same position. Here are some tips to get your resume into top-notch shape!
Focus on Relevant Information You may have lists of activities and jobs you’ve held in the past but what’s more important is to just list useful information to the job you are applying for. Resumes should be about one page in length. Prepare more than one Resume If you're applying for a job or internship in a variety of fields, you may need to write a resume for each one focusing on the useful information for each position. Create one resume as a template and just cut and paste the most relevant information for the different jobs. Four Key Elements Four main categories you should always include in your resume are volunteerism, association memberships, computer proficiency (skills), and knowledge of other languages. 1. Volunteerism Volunteering is a very important factor in being a well-rounded member of society and potential employers want to know about it. If employers see that you spent your free time participating in a program such as Habitat for Humanity or a local soup kitchen they will be sure to make note of it! 2. Association Memberships Associations are really important to add because they set you aside from others such as being part of the National Honor Society (NHS), National Art Honor Society (NAHS), DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America; association of marketing students). Also add any club participation at school or in your community in this section. 3. Computer Proficiency With the way technology is advancing today its important to have some knowledge on it such as with computer skills, and programs you are familiar with such as Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), also other skills such as Photoshop, AutoCAD, etc. 4. Other Languages Today other languages are being more frequently spoken so if you have knowledge in a second or third language you can put you at an advantage in qualifying for a job Putting your Resume on Paper You can find most templates for a standard resume in Word and Office programs but if you want to show your creative as well as intelligent side take it a step further and use bullets, borderlines, headings, etc, as well as changing the fonts, and font sizes. You’ll be sure to catch the employer’s eye! Organization You can organize your resume in a lot of different ways, but this is one of the most common: Objective – state what kind of job or internship you're looking for Experience – describe your job history Education – list college if any and high school attended Other Skills/Information –list your computer or language skills and any associations or memberships you’ve belonged to Use Action Words Make your work stand out by using strong action words and keywords in your roles and accomplishments so they will pop out at employers. Here are some words that can get you started: team work/player, multi-tasking, executed, organized, performed, maintained, supervised, managed, directed, developed, and implemented. Writing Style Make sure your writing is professional. Here are some writing style rules to keep in mind when preparing your resume: Use matching verb tenses. Keep descriptions short and to the point. Descriptions should only be about three to four lines on the page. Full sentences are not necessary, but be consistent with punctuation. Of course check spelling and grammar! Few added tips when preparing for an interview: Sell yourself! You should be doing the majority of the talking and asking questions during the interview. Have some knowledge on the company, position you are hiring for and the interviewer if on their website or accessible. Bring a portfolio of all school and work accomplishments. This way if an employer asks to see your some of your skills, you can show him pieces of your work done in the past. Look professional! First impressions are always lasting ones. Be confident in who you are and what you want to become with this job opportunity. |
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