One of the many hurdles to overcome when searching for a new job is writing a resume, which can be both challenging and notorious for students. A resume, also known as a “CV” (curriculum vitae), may seem like a daunting task to create. It can be difficult to know where to start, as it essentially serves as a pitch for your professional life. What should you include? What format should you use? How can you differentiate yourself from other applicants? However, even with little or no experience, knowing how to write a well-structured resume can leave an impression on hiring managers and improve your chances of being called in for interviews.
So, what exactly is a resume?
A resume is a professional document that students can use to outline their qualifications, certifications, and skills. Despite having limited professional experience as a student, you can still demonstrate a wide range of extracurricular interests and abilities to potential employers. This may include related volunteer work, internship experiences, extracurricular activities, papers presented at conferences, or any other relevant experiences you have had throughout your career.
Why is a resume important?
When employers are inundated with applications and resumes, they often turn to the resume as a way to decide whom to invite for an interview. A resume provides a concise summary of your experiences and accomplishments. Keeping an updated and well-formatted resume on hand is essential in case it is needed. Your CV serves as a tool to effectively and confidently promote yourself, showcasing your expertise and skills while maximizing your chances of landing your ideal job.
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Key Strategies to Land Your Dream Job Interview: What to Include?
When crafting your resume, it’s important to list your professional experience and skills concisely. Aim for a resume that is no more than two pages long and easy to skim. Knowing how to write a straightforward resume will benefit both you and potential employers by eliminating unnecessary information and getting straight to the point of why you would be a great fit for the job. Read ahead to learn about the strategies you can follow when writing your resume:
1. Contact information: Include relevant phone numbers, emails, and your current address. These personal details make it easier for potential employers to reach out to you. If you have a website or personal blog, consider including a link in your CV as it can impress potential employers.
2. Career objective or Professional statement/summary: This is a brief paragraph that conveys your intent for a job, so make it engaging, welcoming, and assertive. Specifically, your career objective explains to potential employers why you are seeking work, while your summary highlights your most recent information and skills acquired during your college education. This section offers an opportunity to present yourself effectively.
3. Academic qualifications: List the name of the degree or qualification, the institution where you studied, the year of completion, and the grade or percentage earned for each entry in this section. If you hold a doctorate or another post-graduate degree, include a sentence or two about your research.
4. Work experience: A solid list of previous employment demonstrates dedication and commitment in your career progression. If you are a fresher and lack relevant work experience, you can include past activities and responsibilities completed during college. Potential employers often value the level of training you have received, and they want to see relevant experience and a strong educational background in your field. Additionally, including references is an easy way for employers to learn about your performance in different working environments.
5. Skills: Your technical and soft skills are your most valuable assets when job hunting. Technical skills are specific to the job you are applying for, such as proficiency in programming languages for a software developer position or familiarity with a content management system (CMS) for a writer position. Soft skills encompass personality traits and habits that you have developed throughout your life, such as time management, organizational abilities, communication skills, proficiency in different languages, and a strong work ethic. List these skills on your resume, especially if you lack professional experience.
6. Awards and Achievements: Don’t hesitate to highlight any awards and achievements you have received. This can include achievements earned during volunteering activities. Provide specific details about team sports achievements to demonstrate your effective collaboration skills. If you have won debate awards, mention them as it showcases your public speaking abilities.
7. Hobbies and interests: If your resume is concise, you can consider including a section on your hobbies and interests. However, if your hobbies are not relevant to the job role, you can omit this section. Ideally, align this section with the company’s culture when describing your hobbies.
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Tips
- Use action verbs: When describing your experiences, awards, and achievements, make sure to use action verbs and active language. Opt for verbs like “organized,” “detail-oriented,” “trained,” and “motivated.” This not only makes your resume easier to read but also adds impact to your accomplishments.
- Keep it short: While it’s important to include relevant details on your CV, aim to keep it concise. For college students, a one-page student resume is usually appropriate. Focus on highlighting the most relevant information and avoid unnecessary elaboration.
- Use a chronological format: Employ a chronological format for your resume, which allows hiring managers to easily review your most important and recent educational background, work experience, and achievements. This format ensures that your most recent accomplishments are given priority and can make a stronger impression.
College Student Resume Sample
Use this resume as an inspiration when creating your resume:
Sumitra Dhaiya
H 7/6, Block J and K
Koramangala, Bengaluru
[email protected], 9865678908
[email protected]
Career objective
A self-motivated and dedicated journalism graduate with excellent knowledge of SEO and writing techniques. Proven success in editing the work of others to deliver error-free content.
Educational qualification
BSc Journalism, 2019
Lady College of Mass Communication, 86%
HSC (CBSE), 2014
Valley International School, 97%
SSC (CBSE), 2012
Valley International School, 93%
Experience
Self-employed
Freelance writer, 2019–Present
- Wrote targeted content for technical websites
- Edited content contribution from other writers
- Developed tutorial scripts, communication briefs and emails
- Proposed a new content management system (CMS) that reduced content turnaround time by 30%
Skills
Technical skills
- Knowledge of CMS
- Proficiency in using different writing formats like APA, AP and Chicago
Soft skills
- Creativity
- Persistence
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Detailed-oriented
Awards and achievements
- Received the best research article for molecular structure in biology
- Won the best writer award of the city, 2019 and 2020
Hobbies and interests
- Making viral videos
- Creating writing tutorials on social media platforms
By incorporating these tips into your resume writing process, you can create a powerful and effective document that showcases your qualifications and increases your chances of landing your dream job interview. Remember to use action verbs, keep the resume concise, and use a chronological format to present your information in the most impactful way.
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