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Whether you’re starting college life or seeking a job, the first action taken in any person’s career path is to create a resume! Resumes are the best way to showcase one’s experiences and skills— they are the first, and sometimes only, impression your recruiters will have of you! However, just plainly listing your impressive extracurriculars or achievements won’t get you far; it’s critical for resumes to display your skills and experiences effectively, and most importantly, be formatted so that your application is eye-catching— after all, most companies go through hundreds of resumes daily. Here are some tips to make your resume stand out!
Although experienced and flexible applicants are always sought for, it’s also important to keep in mind that every team wants different qualities—there is no “one-size-fits-all” resume because companies filter applications by keywords. So this brings up the question on which format is better; resumes that are centered around one area of expertise, or resumes with an extensive and diverse list of achievements? The best resume is a mix of both! An effective resume should always acknowledge the experiences best fit for the job being applied for; this means that less relevant skills and accomplishments should not be the center of attention. This is done through a cover letter.
Cover letters give a brief and more personal point of view of the applicant and are used to highlight specific qualifications on your resume. For example, they put a spotlight on any education, past work experience, and skills that the position requires. Most importantly, they let your employers know about the important details of you and your qualifications, why they are relevant, and why you are interested in the position. Ensuring that your cover letter presents your achievements in full appeals to companies— however, be concise and to the point; cover letters should be under a page long. Here is a traditional way to format a cover letter.
The first rule when writing your resume is to fix any incorrect grammar and spelling because they look unprofessional— small mistakes will more often lead to rejection than not. Overall, it’s important for your application to point out specific skills that you have. According to a recruiter at Google, a great formula for this is to explain the achievement in three parts: the accomplishment, circumstances in which it was done, and how it was done. For example, “Founder and Executive Director of Girls For Business” is a great leadership experience to mention on a resume, but it lacks description of the group’s successes. Instead, it would be more appealing to write “Founder of Girls For Business, a 501(c)(3) group with over 70 members. We have influence in over 60 countries because of our various events and mentorships.” This example is more effective because it not only highlights the high position of the applicant, it also clearly shows the group’s achievements and successes—all while being concise and to the point. Furthermore, the cover letter should go into more detail about Girls For Business (GFB), as well as how this position is an example of leadership experience that makes the applicant a great fit for the job. Without the background of GFB, the resume would probably be overlooked.
The three-part format is also useful when mentioning awards and competitions; it’s essential to include numbers and data when talking about any successes. Instead of “First Prize winner in Coding Competition,” it would be better to write “Awarded First Prize in Coding Competition out of 50 participants because of my program that improved effectiveness by 10%." Including numbers and details into your resume makes the accomplishment more impressive and lets your future supervisors know that you are comfortable in a competitive environment. Additionally, mentioning statistics shows growth and improvement, making it more likely to catch the eye of recruiters.
Resumes and cover letters are never ending and should always be altered to fit the qualifications of what you're applying for—make sure to always keep adding new achievements and experiences onto your list! Above all, your resume is an extension of you; write as if you are talking to your employer in person and present yourself in an appropriate and respectful tone. In the end, companies are looking for honest and flexible people to be new additions onto their team, so make sure that your resume and cover letter accurately presents you!