Welcome to the first part of our series on enhancing your career skills! We’re starting with how to create a resume that stands out. Think of your resume and LinkedIn profile as your personal marketing tools. A resume, which means “summary,” is a brief written account of your personal, educational, and professional experiences.
You might not realize it, but you already have great experiences to showcase. Reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far—there’s a lot to be proud of! Highlighting these achievements on your resume is the first step toward amazing opportunities. Here are five essential tips to help you craft an impressive resume:
Tip 1: Format Matters
The way your resume looks is super important. A clean and organized layout can make a great first impression and make it easier for potential employers or college admissions officers to read. Remember, if your resume is hard to read, it won’t be read! For a quick and easy way to create a well-formatted resume, try using a resume template. Google Docs also has free resume templates that you can customize to fit your needs.
Here’s how you can structure your resume:
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Start with your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn URL. If you don't have a LinkedIn profile yet, consider creating one. Use an email address that you check regularly and make sure it is professional, like your school email or one with your name. Including your street address is not necessary. For LinkedIn, make sure your profile has a photo and is set to be visible.
Education
List your school, city, and state, your current grade or expected graduation date. Include your GPA if it’s over 3.0, and mention any special courses or honors.
Awards
List all awards with the dates you received them.
Experience
This section can include:
Paid jobs (full-time, part-time, and summer jobs)
Unpaid jobs and internships
Research experience
Volunteer work, leadership roles, and significant extracurricular experiences
List these in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. For each position, include the employer’s name, location, dates worked, and your job title. Use 3-4 bullet points of no more than 2 lines each to describe your responsibilities and achievements, and start each bullet with a strong action verb.
Activities
Mention your participation in clubs, organizations, sports teams, and other activities. Highlight any leadership roles, such as president or founder.
Skills
List any foreign languages you speak. Highlight your computer skills, specifying the programs or tools you know (such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Photoshop).
Additional Formatting Tips
Here are some formatting tips to keep in mind:
Choose a Simple Design: Avoid using overly complex templates with too many colors or fonts. Stick to a simple, professional design with clear headings and plenty of white space. Minimum 0.70 margins.
Choose the Right Font: Use easy-to-read, contemporary fonts like Arial or Calibri. Keep the font size between 10-12 points for the main text and slightly larger (14-16 points) for headings.
Keep It One Page: As a high school student, your resume should be concise and limited to one page. Focus on the most relevant and recent information.
Tip 2: Action Verbs are Your Friends
When describing your experiences and accomplishments, the choice of words can make a significant difference. Action verbs are powerful tools that convey a sense of initiative and accomplishment. Here’s how you can effectively use them:
Start Each Bullet Point with an Action Verb: Words like "led," "organized," "created," "developed," "managed," and "assisted" give a dynamic and proactive tone to your descriptions.
Be Specific: Instead of saying "worked on the school newspaper," say "wrote and edited articles for the school newspaper."
Show Results: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. For example, "raised $500 for a local charity through an organized bake sale event."
Using strong action verbs not only makes your resume more engaging but also clearly communicates your contributions and the impact of your efforts.
Tip 3: Tailor Your Resume
One of the most common mistakes is using a generic resume for every application. Tailoring your resume to the specific job or internship you’re applying to can significantly improve your chances of success. Here’s how to do it:
Research the Position or Program: Understand the requirements and responsibilities of the role or the criteria for the program. Highlight the skills and experiences that match these requirements.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasize the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the position or program. If you’re applying for a marketing internship, focus on your involvement in the school’s marketing club or any related projects.
Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords from the job description or program criteria into your resume. Many organizations use automated systems to screen resumes, and using the right keywords can help ensure your resume gets noticed.
Tailoring your resume shows that you’ve put thought into your application and that you’re genuinely interested in the opportunity.
Tip 4: Proofread
Even the smallest mistake on your resume can make a negative impression. Proofreading your resume is an essential step to ensure it’s free from errors and clearly conveys your professionalism. Here are some proofreading tips:
Take a Break: After writing your resume, take a break before you start proofreading. This will help you look at it with fresh eyes.
Read Aloud: Reading your resume aloud can help you catch awkward phrasing or errors you might have missed when reading silently.
Check for Common Errors: Look for common mistakes such as typos, grammatical errors, inconsistent formatting, and inconsistency in verb tenses.
Use Tools: Utilize tools like spell checkers and grammar checkers, but don’t rely solely on them. They might not catch every mistake.
Proofreading ensures your resume is polished and professional, making a positive impression on potential employers or admissions officers.
Tip 5: Get Feedback
Creating a resume is a process, and getting feedback from others can provide you with new insights and help you improve it. Here’s how to effectively gather and use feedback:
Ask Multiple People: Seek feedback from a variety of people, such as teachers, school counselors, family members, and peers. Different perspectives can help you see your resume in new ways.
Be Open to Criticism: Constructive criticism is invaluable. Be open to suggestions and willing to make changes based on the feedback you receive.
Implement Suggestions Thoughtfully: Not all feedback will be useful. Consider each suggestion carefully and implement the ones that genuinely improve your resume.
Review and Revise: After making changes based on feedback, review your resume again to ensure it’s cohesive and error-free.
Just remember not to get stuck in "analysis paralysis." Spending too much time perfecting your resume can keep you from actually getting out there and connecting with people.
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Creating a standout resume is your first step toward landing an amazing job. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to impressing potential employers and opening doors to incredible opportunities. Stay tuned for the next part of our series, where we'll dive into the art of networking. Happy job hunting!
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