The Resume.Com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes (31 page)

The student/entry-level resume is built primarily on academics and skills, as the majority of candidates who use this format have little professional experience. The essential elements of this type of resume include relevant course-work, extracurricular activities, internships, and memberships, highlighting specialized information to emphasize an applicant’s potential.

Whether you are completing high school, college, or graduate school or have only a few years of experience, this chapter will guide you through the process of creating a winning resume that translates classroom experience and entry-level skills into a successful job search.

Although other job candidates use professional experiences and job-related information to create their resumes, recent graduates, current students, and entry-level professionals must emphasize their skills and academic course-work as their main selling points. The first step in creating a professional resume is to organize a list that includes your academic background and extracurricular activities, as well as your paid and unpaid work experience. Compiling this information will help you determine your professional objective and assist you in targeting suitable positions and industries. To expedite this process, consult the worksheet in Appendix A.

Once you have this information, the next step is to assemble the data into a cohesive document and determine which format is best for you: the chronological, functional, or combination format (see Appendix B). The construction of the student resume (see below) uses the basic chronological format.

The first step in creating any professional resume is writing and formatting the contact information at the top of the page. Include your name, address, telephone numbers, and e-mail address. A fax or pager number can be included, but this information is optional. Remember, make sure to double-and triple-check this information, as a mistake in this section will result in elimination.

An essential aspect of every successful resume is an effective headline or objective. This simple one- or two-line sentence at the top of the resume should be a concise, powerful statement that combines your professional objective with the talent and skill you can bring to a potential employer. This promise can take the form of a certain skill set, your major, or your degree. It may be easier to create a headline after you have written and formatted your resume.

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Business administration student with exemplary research, writing, and communication skills and strong financial internship experience

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Dynamic student with outstanding academic track record seeks entry-level position in pharmaceutical sales

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Results-oriented entry-level business professional with exceptional academic success in accounting, finance, and business management

The headline should engage a hirer. Don’t include a period at the end.

As employers typically spend only 10 seconds reviewing a resume, your most attractive skills and accomplishments should be listed in the Summary of Qualifications section. Under a clear header create a list of five to eight bullets highlighting the experiences and abilities that would make you an ideal candidate in an employer’s eyes. Use your work history, coursework, and extracurricular activities as a guide. Scholarships, awards, and any academic success or specialized courses of study also should be listed here. Keep this section brief, highlighting just the essential areas that will allow you to stand out in a crowd.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

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BS in Engineering with strong technical background, including “real-world” mechanical engineering experience at leading cell phone manufacturing company.

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Lauded for keen design skills, earning American Society of Mechanical Engineering Award for senior design project in 2002.

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Skilled at utilizing mechanical engineering techniques in machinery development.

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Extensive knowledge and training in diverse computer tools and applications.

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Superior interpersonal and communication abilities. Bilingual in Spanish.

S
UMMARY OF
Q
UALIFICATIONS

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Successful marketing, sales, and account management experience, with focus on providing superior customer service.

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Adept at preparing and conducting individual and group presentations.

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Superior organizational, follow-through, and closing skills.

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Outstanding communicator; able to relate to all types of personalities.

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Talent for managing multiple accounts in high-volume atmosphere.

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Efficiently troubleshoot and resolve problems quickly and responsibly.

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Work well independently within teams; responsible, dependable, and loyal.

The education section is usually the most substantial section in a student resume. Begin this section with the college, location, degrees, and GPA if 3.0 or better.

E
DUCATION

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Bachelor of Arts, English Literature. GPA: 3.77

Next, in subcategories, list relevant coursework, scholarships, awards, activities, and memberships. For example, if you were a biology major and are seeking a position in research, you can list your coursework here (Biology 101, Elements of Human Life, etc.), but your paid/work-study lab experience, which should be considered employment even if it was for a scholarship, should be listed in your work history. This hands-on experience will be an attractive selling point to a potential employer and should be emphasized.

EDUCATION

University of New Brunswick, Fredericton Campus

2002

Bachelor of Business Administration

GPA 3.7; Dean’s List

HONORS

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Received Dr. Hemlick Everetson Prize in Economics for best research paper.

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Awarded University of New Brunswick scholarship for 2000 – 2001 academic year.

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Achieved Honor Roll 4 consecutive semesters.

List internships and professional jobs in this section, including company name, city and state, job title, and dates. If you worked during the summer, you can list the specific months or write “summer” followed by the year.

Write your daily job responsibilities in paragraph form below your job title. Next, write any achievements or honors you earned at this position in bullet form below the responsibility statement and discuss the skills you used to achieve a specific result. List hard facts and quantifiable results first (such as sales percentages or customers served) and then move on to other less pertinent accomplishments. If you do not have any professional or internship experience, you can skip this section and concentrate on strengthening your Education section as the primary selling point of your resume.

Work Experience