Your Resume: Write it Right
Your resume is one of your key marketing tools—invest the time to make yours clear and compelling. Great resumes go beyond listing accomplishments and contributions. Resumes help communicate the character of the person and the value you could add to the job. Above all, be authentic and honest.
First Impressions
Most likely, your resume will be the first contact you have with a potential employer. Use key words and phrases consistent with the role/level for which you are applying. Employers tend to do searches by those terms. Ensure that your resume has been proofread several times, free (absolutely 100% free) of grammatical errors and typos. When in doubt, the rule is LOOK IT UP.
Presentation Matters
Your resume should fit on one page. Do not try to squeeze too much information. White space (ample margins) and the right font size type (no smaller than 9pt) make the document readable. Avoid using colored paper (even light grey or taupe make photocopying challenging), colored inks (stick to black) and skip the fancy paper with markings/fibers, A nice white bond paper is ideal.
Summary
Your resume should open with a summary statement describing who you are as a professional and what you have to offer. The summary statement is your main selling point and the remainder of your resume supports this statement. Check out our Ready Links (located right above) for examples.
Education
As a recent college graduate, lead with your bachelor's degree information. List any relevant courses you have taken to support your qualifications, as well as any studies abroad. If you have a strong GPA, that should be reflected, along with any academic awards and scholarships.
Experience
Ensure that the experience you highlight is a fit for the available position. You might consider having different versions of your resume, based on the qualifications being sought and how your experience match with what they want. When describing your experiences, incorporate the qualities from the employer’s job description into your resume. Summarize your experience for each position using a maximum of four bullets. Begin each bullet with an action word, such as created, developed, collaborated, managed, led, implemented, etc.
As part of each job experience, highlight the value you delivered. Your accomplishments (and the way in which you communicate them) will set you apart from other candidates. As much as possible, try to quantify your accomplishments, citing relevant numbers, dollars, and percentages to give your resume added depth. For example, "Last year, donations increased by 15% and we were able to serve more children."
Activities
Your roles in volunteering and membership duties during your undergraduate years should be included as part of your resume. This information is an excellent way to underscore your community interests and team leadership skills. In addition, a reflection of your ability to balance school and extracurricular involvement—and a great way to stand apart.
Personal
This is another opportunity to show your unique but pertinent distinctions. List any language skills you have and outside interests that will add value to your resume.