STUDENT RESUMES
Student resumes present unique challenges - here
are tips for making sure you stand out from the crowd.
A resume
has only one purpose
- to generate interest and interviews. It doesn’t have to get you a job and it doesn’t
need to cover your life history. It simply has to pique the interest
of the reader and answer the only question he cares about: will this
candidate add value to my company?
Most students worry about this
because they feel that they can't show they can add value until
they've had more work experience,
but this is not true at all. There are many ways to show you can
add value.
Student Resume Tip #1: Understand Your Target Companies
To
show that you can add value, you need to know what potential employers
are looking for. Start by researching
job postings
that
interest
you. Look for
frequently-mentioned requirements. Ask professionals in your
target field what they consider important.
Knowing what is important
to
employers
allows you to focus your resume effectively.
Student
Resume Tip #2: Create a Value Statement
Don't begin your resume
with an objective statement that describes what you're looking
for. Instead,
begin with a value statement
that describes what you can offer potential employers. The
difference is in focus. It's not about what you want - it's
about what employers
need.
Student Resume Tip #3: Create Strong Content
Your
resume content will come from your own unique experiences,
skills and background but – as a general
guideline – you
should include:
- Positive personal characteristics
- Technical and computer skills
- Coursework relevant to your desired profession
- Educational accomplishments (include your
GPA if it’s
over 3.0).
- Skills and experience gained during internships
or summer jobs
- Other related accomplishments (design awards, recognition,
winning competitions etc.)
- Work History.
The key is to emphasize those things that demonstrate value
given the needs of employers and leave out those things that
don’t.
Student Resume Tip #4: Work is work - even when
it's unpaid
Don't limit your resume only to paid employment. Include
other experience that shows your skills and qualifications.
- If
you've volunteered
in a related field, include that work.
- If you've taught yourself
skills in a certain field, include that work.
- If you help out
with a friend's
business - and the experience is relevant - include that
work.
Experience is just as valuable whether or not you receive
a pay check. Student Resume Tip #5: Design Matters
Many
people are surprised to learn that resume design
is just as important as content, but it’s absolutely
true.
Research suggests that your resume has
less than 20 seconds to make the right impression, so it
must
be eye-catching
and easy to read.
To get ideas for layout and structure,
check out our resume
samples.
Please don’t
use one of the pre-loaded MS Word templates. There is no
better way to make
sure you look like everyone else!
Student Resumes - Summary
As
you work on your resume, bear in mind your reader’s
basic concern: will this candidate add value? If you answer effectively
by highlighting relevant skills, personal characteristics and accomplishments,
your resume will open the right doors and generate
interviews.
Louise Fletcher is the President of Blue
Sky Resumes, and author of the eBook, The
Complete Guide to Resume Writing. Louise is also Managing
Editor and Co-founder of the preeminent careers blog, Career
Hub. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and
many of her resumes have been published in the JIST "Expert
Resumes" series. She has contributed to many online
publications including About.com, Monster.com, The Ladders,
and Net Temps.
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