Let Your Student Resume Reflect You

Resume for First Job

With job application living in the digital world, your resume is going to look very different than the resume your parents used to get their first job. Here are some helpful tips as well as key words to assist you in landing on the top of the pile:

1. A Simple Resume no Longer has an Objective

Listing an objective at the top of your resume is no longer valid. The key to the objective was to list your goals in finding a job or career. Now a days an employer is more interested in what you can offer them than where your headed in life.

2. Avoid Empty Words When Making a Resume

There are too many buzzwords that are meaningless to employers, so avoid these terms: self-motivated, proactive, fast learner, self-starter, etc. These words don’t add anything to your resume, so be creative and craft a resume that describes who you are and what you have to offer your potential employer.

3. Formatting is Essential on a Resume for Teens

People used to use bullet points to format information about their experience. Formatting has changed, where it’s now accepted to have a short blurb about your accomplishments, role and responsibilities with your results listed as bullets. List key contributions, achievements and awards that demonstrate how you’ve used your relevant skills and experience.

4. Use Words Wisely to Build My Resume

With prescreening software used by HR resources, bullet points, italics, underlined and bold areas are where you need to highlight the skills you have that the employer is looking for. Read through the job description and add some of the text listed. These are the skills they’ve programmed their software to look for, so if you have those skills, include them in your resume using the same or similar terminology. If there are certain terms that are repeated frequently, then find a place for them in your resume.

5. Be a Triple Threat by Looking Good Online, In Person and on Paper

These days, you can’t just look good online. You have to present yourself well on paper and in person as well. It’s easy to doctor your online presence, but you have to be consistent. Google yourself as you appear on your resume. What comes up? Monitor your social media sites, employers will look them up. Consider adding a link at the top of your resume to where you want to direct employers. When you’re ready to start networking for higher profile jobs, start a LinkedIn Profile.

Make sure your resume is clean, well-organized, one page and easy to review. Present yourself well on paper through a personal cover letter and thoughtful job application. When it’s time to present yourself to the potential employer, make sure your outer appearance fits the look that an employer is seeking. Be cordial, polite and well-spoken.

6. Use their Language to Create a Resume

No matter what job you’re looking for, you need to start speaking your employer’s language. Since you’ve never been in the business world before, it’s hard to know what these key terms might be. Here’s a list of powerful, active words that can be used throughout your resume to attract employers and set yourself up as a winning candidate: