Starting a professional resume can be tricky, especially when you have no clue where to begin. Even if you already have one, RESUMES ARE NOT STATIC DOCUMENTS, and they should be updated with every professional-oriented activity you take part in. If you’re like me, you made a resume for some class in high school, got a good grade on it, and tossed it aside. However, your resume is a walking, talking representation of yourself (okay, it doesn’t walk but it sure does tell a lot about you) and should never be put on the back burner. To find out how to create a professional resume that you can be proud of, read the tips below. Who knows, you may even land a new job!
Tip 1:
Start by
writing down your accomplishments (awards, training, presentations, etc.),
education, work/ intern experiences, volunteer work, military experiences,
athletic abilities, interests, skills, and any other information that you feel
adds value to your professional abilities. Remember, potential employers will
see this document, so although you may be proud of winning the contest for most
hot dogs eaten, it may not be something to include on your professional resume.
Tip 2:
Now that
you have a list of your achievements, organize the information in categories
like: “Education” and “Extracurricular Activities.” Within these categories,
list things so that your most recent achievements come first (for example, if I
joined Student Council in 2012 but I joined another club in 2014, I would list
the second club first because it is more recent). Organizing your information
like this will make the writing process much easier.
Tip 3:
Begin a
typed document with your name and personal information (address and contact
info) at the top of the page. Placing your name at the top will allow your name
to be the first thing the employer sees. Educational experience usually comes
after your name and will be the first thing the employer judges. Remember to
list in order of most recent- least recent.
Tip 4:
Continue
to list your accomplishments in the way that you organized your info, and try
to limit yourself to one page long. It’s not good to bog down the employer with
lots of little information. Being concise and clear will prove to be more
successful.
Tip 5:
If you
get stuck or would like to see a template according to your program, feel free
to check out our website. Just go to www.naz.edu à Quicklinks à Career Services à Services à Creating Resumes and Cover Letters. After you’ve
created your resume, come to the Career Service office, located in GAC 111, and
one of our career counselors can look over it with you and help you organize it
even further to ensure you’ll get the job every time!
