Selecting an Internship that Aligns with Your Strength and Interests

Lori Depace, Program Manager at Publicis Health, has shared specific tips for those wishing to land their dream internship, and the first thing mentioned is to spend time discovering your passions—don’t just apply to an agency because it’s successful or to simply add the internship to your resume. Talk to your professors and ask them for suggestions. They know you best and can suggest areas where you could really shine, not just during your internship but also in the future. 

Write a Resume That Stands Out

Top media companies receive thousands of applications. This means that if your resume looks just like most documents they will be viewing, it will most likely get passed over. Don’t worry if you don’t have too much professional experience; no company will be expecting you to have completed work experience anywhere else. Aim to stand out in two ways: by showing how you are involved in extracurricular activities, and by including samples of applicable projects you’ve worked on in class or another company. For instance, if you are interested in brand strategy and identity and you’ve created an RFP that is well-articulated, clearly drafted, and detailed, enclose it. Doing so demonstrates that you are willing to do research and that you know how to summarize and clearly articulate complex ideas. Ensure your project includes case studies, creative references, and market data showing you know how to reach customers.

Start Networking Now

Don’t wait until you’re already working to build your network. Attend business events, exhibitions, and workshops. You never know who you might meet there. If you do come across influential figures in your sectors, request their business card and send them previous work. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to success as an intern is the fear of rejection. Don’t limit yourself to in-person events. Join professional associations and use social media platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your sector. Consider volunteering for industry-related events, focusing on genuine interests and demonstrating a sincere desire to do your share for your community. 

Choose the Right Setting for Your Video Interview

Most top companies conduct video interviews to speed up the process. Acing this part of your application is vital, as it will give HR the first chance to see how you communicate. First, ensure you are filming in a quiet spot with a plain background and test all the technology you will be using (apps, microphone, lighting, etc) before the big day. At the interview, make sure you use professional but friendly verbal and non-verbal language. Ensure your shoulders are relaxed, sit up straight but not rigidly, place your arms to the side, and look at the camera in a friendly manner. Use your hands for emphasis but avoid overusing them. When you do use them, keep them at chest level to avoid blocking the view of your face. Bear in mind that subtle facial expressions can be difficult to understand on video. Smile with a full grin and nod to indicate that you understand. Keep your eyes focused on the camera so you look interested throughout the interview. Finally, dress in professional attire without looking overly formal.

Internships are an excellent way to get your foot in the door of one of the top media firms in the nation or abroad. Grab the recruiters’ attention by sending a professional-looking resume that shows what you are capable of. Ace the video interview stage by being friendly and relaxed, and by showing your interest in spending time in their company.

SEE ALSO: How to Write an Internship Resume That Will Get You Hired

The post How to Land an Internship at a Top Media Agency appeared first on College News.

Creating a strong internship resume demonstrates your qualifications and makes you stand out as a great candidate for the position. Additionally, it is important to tailor your resume to the specific internship you are applying for. Professional paper writing service can be a useful in this process, as they can help you improve your resume’s formatting, grammar and language, but should not be used as a replacement for your own skills and experiences.

This guide will provide tips and strategies on how to write an internship resume that will help you stand out and get hired.

Tailor Your Resume to the Specific Internship

When applying for an internship, it’s important to tailor your resume to the specific opportunity you’re applying for. This means identifying the key skills and experiences that the internship requires and highlighting them in your resume.

For example, if the internship is in a marketing role, you should emphasize any marketing-related experiences you have. Such as social media management or event planning.

Use a Professional Format

To begin, use a professional format for your resume. A clean, easy-to-read format will make it easier for hiring managers to scan your resume and find the information they need. Use bullet points and clear headings to organize your information and make it easy to read.

Include a Strong Summary or Objective Statement

Next, include a strong summary or objective statement at the top of your resume. This is your chance to make a great first impression and showcase why you’re the best fit for the internship. Make sure to include relevant keywords that reflect the skills the internship requires.

Emphasize Your Education and Work Experience

After your summary statement, you can include sections like “Education,” “Work Experience,” and “Skills.” In the “Education” section, list your relevant degrees, majors, and any relevant coursework.

In the “Work Experience” section, include any relevant job or volunteer experience you have. If you don’t have much work experience, consider including any relevant extracurricular activities or volunteer work.

Finally, in the “Skills” section, list any relevant technical or soft skills you have, such as in a particular software or language.

Use Specific Examples and Metrics

When describing your experiences in the “Work Experience” or “Education” section, use specific examples and metrics to show the impact you made in your previous roles. Instead of listing your responsibilities, describe specific accomplishments. Also, describe how you added value to the organization.

This will help hiring managers see the concrete ways in which they can contribute to the internship.

Highlight Any Relevant Achievements or Awards

Another important aspect is to highlight any relevant achievements or awards you have received. This could include academic awards, leadership positions in extracurricular activities, or other recognitions.

These accomplishments show your skills and abilities and give the hiring manager a sense of your potential.

Include Relevant Projects

Besides traditional experiences, don’t forget to include any relevant online or offline projects that you have completed. For example, if you developed a website or app, include it in your resume.

This not only shows your technical skills but also your ability to complete projects.

Proofread and Get Feedback

In the end, make sure your resume is free of errors and easy to read. Use a spell checker and have a friend or mentor review your resume. Keep in mind that hiring managers often have to go through hundreds of resumes. So make sure yours is easy to read and stands out.

Internship resume template

Here is an example of an internship resume template:

Name: [Your Name]

Contact Information: [Email, Phone Number, LinkedIn Profile]

Objective Statement: [A brief statement outlining your qualifications and why you are a great fit for the internship]

Education:

• [Degree, Major, and Institution] (e.g. Bachelor of Science in Marketing, XYZ University)
• [Relevant coursework, e.g. “Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior, Digital Marketing”]

Work Experience:

• [Job Title and Company Name] (e.g. Marketing Intern, XYZ Corporation)
• [Job duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments in bullet points]
• [Dates of employment] (e.g. Jan 2020 – Present)

Skills:

• [List of relevant technical and soft skills]

Achievements:

• [List of any relevant achievements or awards]

Projects:

• [Name of project, e.g. “Developed a website for XYZ Non-Profit Organization”]
• [Brief description of the project and your role]

References:

• [Name, title, company, and contact information of at least two professional references]

Internship resume example

Name: Jane Doe

Contact Information: janedoe@email.com | 555-555-5555 | linkedin.com/in/janedoe

Objective: Detail-oriented and self-motivated marketing student. Experience in social media management and event planning. Seeking an internship opportunity in a fast-paced marketing environment to further develop my skills and gain hands-on experience.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Marketing, XYZ University (Expected graduation: May 2024)
• Relevant coursework: Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior, Digital Marketing

Work Experience:

• Marketing Intern, ABC Corporation (June 2022 – Present)
• Assisted in the development and implementation of marketing campaigns. Resulting in a 15% increase in website traffic
• Conducted market research and analyzed data to identify target audiences
• Managed the company’s social media accounts, resulting in a 20% increase in followers
• Volunteer Event Coordinator, DEF Non-Profit Organization (January 2021 – May 2022)
• Organized and executed successful fundraising events, resulting in a 30% increase in donations
• Coordinated with volunteers and vendors to ensure smooth event execution

Skills:

• Proficient in Google Analytics, Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with social media management and advertising

Achievements:

• Won first prize in the XYZ University Marketing Competition (2022)
• Received the XYZ University Marketing Scholarship (2021)

Projects:

• Developed a website for GHI Non-Profit Organization (2020)
• Created a responsive website using WordPress and managed a team of 3 individuals. Resulting in a 50% increase in online donations.

References:

• John Smith, Marketing Manager, ABC Corporation, (555) 555-5555, johnsmith@email.com
• Mary Johnson, Marketing Professor, XYZ University, (555) 555-5555, maryjohnson@email.com

Conclusion:

Tailoring your resume to the specific internship you are applying for and highlighting your relevant experiences, skills, and education can help you stand out from the competition.

SEE ALSO: Apply for an Internship

The post How to Write an Internship Resume That Will Get You Hired appeared first on College News.

Internships are slightly different to regular jobs. Typically, an internship has a set duration contract—this can be anything from two weeks to three months and up to a year. Sometimes you may not be compensated for your time spent interning. Of course a young student is looking to make money, but one reason why a pay cut may be worth the risk is because job experience is the main objective. The goal is to walk away with hands-on experience that a newcomer applying for an entry level permanent position may not have.

Use skills gained at college

A great way to set yourself apart from your competitors is to pull any experiences you have gained from your classes at college that could be tailored to your field of interest. For example, this may be writing and research skills that you have obtained from your studies that you can apply to a writing internship. Being in a space that you share with fellow like-minded classmates can create some dialogue or scenarios that may be relevant to landing an internship. The first thing people typically do in the application process is try to pull from past work environments at former jobs. You’re trying to grab your potential employers’ attention in a way that others aren’t, so just referencing old jobs won’t entirely work.

Your field of study should be a passion of yours. Going over your accomplishments and what you’ve individually taken from each course at college and putting it on your CV for when you apply for an internship can be a nice addition to any work experience you have.

Writing your resume

In an article for CV-Library, content writer for Rate My Placement and Rate My Apprenticeship Conor Reilley says that employers may not get to thoroughly read each application. Reilley goes on to say, “The general rule is that an employer will look at the top half of every CV, putting the best in one pile, and the rest in the trash with their half-eaten tuna sandwich. If you want to avoid the tuna sandwich focus on key employable skills, like organization, verbal and written communication. You can look at the information provided in job vacancies for inspiration.”

Use your interests

One other thing that will give you the upper hand when you apply for an internship is letting the employer know somewhere on your CV your interests outside of interning and school. If your hobbies and interests relate to the opportunity that’s being offered—such as reading and writing, if the job you’re applying for is editorial-driven—that’s an even better way to get noticed in the most organic way possible. Being a member of a university’s societies and extra-curricular activities show you are sociable, willing and comfortable in a team setting.

Think about your references

Finally, references can be that extra shot of vitamins that your CV needs for when you apply for an internship. References to back-up your employment history are great because it reinforces to potential employers that you have already laid a lot of ground work for the role. The last thing you need is a former employer contradicting information you’ve already stated. Have a conversation with past and current instructors and employers who you believe are in your corner and wouldn’t mind helping out if needed. Three references are plenty and you don’t need to list them when first sending in your CV. Writing “References provided upon the request” at the end of your resume will suffice. Hold on to them because if they are mesmerized by your application for employment, they will reach out to you for further details.

The post Apply for an Internship appeared first on College News.

Coding

Know your HTML from your Java? If you are looking to work in an industry that is tech-driven, then coding is a valuable asset to add to your resume. Codecademy.com offers a free course for beginners looking to get a basic understanding of coding and web development using HTML and CSS language. Alongside 4.5 million online students, you can crack the fundamentals of coding over 12 sessions.

Social Media

Businesses use social media to connect and communicate with their customer base. It’s also how they advertise, market their product or service and increase website traffic; nowadays, professional experience with social media is becoming increasingly important to hiring managers. While we all tinker around on our personal social media platforms every day, using it in a business environment is slightly different. Buffer.com offers a free email course that gives 25 daily “lessons” in under 10 minutes. Understand social media algorithms, brand-building and content creation to attract audiences.

SEO

SEO—or search engine optimization—is the act of optimizing website content to increase traffic and visibility. This competancy is vital for a wide range of industries from publishing to retail and it’s a nifty skill to help you brand yourself, too. Boost your resume and learn SEO with udemy.com in their free online course SEO Tutorial for Beginners. In this introduction you will learn keyword research, on page and off page optimization and you’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end.

Learn German

Knowing multiple languages comes high on an employer’s list of desirable skills, and is especially valuable in international businesses. For example, did you know that Germany is one of the largest trading partners with the US? The ability to communicate effectively with your prospective employer’s partners may just push you ahead in the resume que. Learn German with duolingo.com for free in just five minutes a day with their fun and accessible game-like lessons. The website also offers bite-size lessons covering a wide range of other languages including Spanish, Italian and Dutch.

Photoshop

For most creative industries, basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop is vital. Thankfully, the creators of Photoshop (and other useful design applications including InDesign and Illustrator) teach beginners the rudimentary principles of the software with useful videos and (you guessed it) it doesn’t cost a penny. This free course to boost your resume can be completed in little over five hours over at adobeknowhow.com.

Further reading: How to Land a Job after College

The post Free Courses to Boost Your Resume appeared first on College News.

No Experience?

If you’re a recent graduate, you may not have much real life work experience for the position you are applying for. The perfect cover letter gives you the opportunity to explain your passion for the industry in question and to further detail some of the experience that you may not have included in your resume. For instance, I volunteered at SAG Bookpals where I read to underprivileged children in South Central Los Angeles and recently applied for a position with a church where I would be overseeing the youth program. It would behoove me to mention this experience in my cover letter. Volunteer work shows employers that you have passion and compassion. Steer clear of including experience that is not relevant to the position you are applying for. If you are applying for an internship at the William Morris Agency where you will be working in the mail room, for example, I wouldn’t mention my aspirations of being a filmmaker and my dreams of taking over Hollywood. I would instead stick to soft skills like strong attention to detail and my organizational ability evidenced in my stamp collection which consists of over 2,000 rare stamps that are all in mint condition—if you’re that way inclined!

While some HR managers may not be impressed with volunteer work or your hobbies they may be looking for evidence that you can do the job at hand. If the job requires writing, then mention your writing ability. Maybe this is the time to mention that you wrote for the school paper or that you published an award-winning article that was later picked up by a national publication. If the job requires handling social media, mention that you are familiar with Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook.

Honesty

Be honest when writing the perfect cover letter. You have to know yourself and what attributes that you have that would be good for the position to benefit both you and your future employer. Spending time on a job application is a time to really take into account if you’re the right fit for a position. Some places are not the right fit for you and that is an inevitability. I recently applied for a position and interviewed but the employees seemed depressed and stressed out. While another position I applied for in the same field the employees were happy and upbeat and seemed to enjoy working for the company. These are all important factors to think about. Research the company and use the cover letter to discuss of what kind of environment you would like to work in.

The most important thing that I think that makes a successful cover letter is that it shows your personality and what you can bring to the position you are applying for. So often when applying for a job, we recount our qualifications and experiences but leave the most important part out of the letter: This is who you are and what separates you from the other candidates for the position.

Don’t get weighed down by the formality of the job process that you leave any hint of you out of your cover letter. If you want to find the perfect job, you’re not going to get it pretending to be someone else. This is why so many adults are miserable at the jobs they have. Find your passion.

Ask for help

If you need assistance writing a cover letter, visit your career center at school for some guidance. Your local public library may have some resources that can demonstrate how to write the perfect cover letter. Remember that practice makes perfect. I look at it as something that could possibly sway you being hired for a position but not the end all and be all. Finding a job is about numbers. The more positions you apply for, the more likely you’re going to get an interview—so get writing that perfect cover letter!

Further reading: Nail a Successful Job Interview

The post Writing the Perfect Cover Letter appeared first on College News.

Searching for a job or internship isn’t exactly fun and writing an effective cover letter can be even less so. Many candidates bypass this essential feature to the application process, seeing it as a futile exercise. Writing a stellar cover letter or not, however, can be the difference between getting an interview and a resume thrown in the trash.

It’s actually very common for candidates to leave out the cover letter in an application, but the truth is, a resume is just not enough to cut the mustard.

Why writing a cover letter is important

Think of it like this: Potentially hundreds of candidates will apply for the same job. If, hypothetically, 80 percent do not include a cover letter, it’s the remaining 20 percent that will be taken notice of.

In her Linkedin post, Lauren Nelson, a principle consultant with Aesthetic Cogency, said “In most cases, it [a cover letter] can even help you overcome deficiencies in your resume or a lack of experience. I would rather have a determined, passionate individual with a strong work ethic on my team than an Ivy League degree without tenacity every single time.”

Writing a cover letter

The purpose of writing a cover letter is to highlight your ability, interest and curiosity for the role and to reflect your personality to the hiring manager. Using the cover letter as an opportunity to highlight the stand-out skills not already written in your resume will go a long way.

Research

Generic cover letters used for multiple applications is very obvious to a hiring manager, giving a sense that the candidate doesn’t actually care about the job. Each application, and therefore covering letter, should be treated and modified individually for optimum affect.

Starting a cover letter with “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To whomever it may concern” tends to convey a lack of research. Find out who you should be addressing within the company and if that information is unavailable to you, miss it out completely.

Research the industry and company you are trying to work for and sprinkle historical facts throughout the cover letter to highlight how well you know your industry. This emphasises curiosity and knowledge in your subject, deeming you appropriate for the role.

Read: How to Build a Resume the Right Way

What to include and what not to include

Omit sentences that say “My name is…” and “I am applying for the role of…”. Introducing yourself in the opening sentence of a paragraph not only wastes time, but indicates lack of experience. Get straight to the point—the hiring manager will already know your name and what role you are applying for.

A cover letter should be written with the intention of establishing a bond with the reader. Direct the letter to the company and discuss your specific skills and attributes emphasising your suitability for the role.

Avoid cliché buzzwords that everyone seems to write into their cover letter. These can include phrases like, “detail-oriented”, “hardworking” and “works well in a team”. Be creative and original. Think “enthusiastic” and “integrity”, for example.

Finally, don’t hesitate to follow up your application and cover letter with a call. Initiative is an attractive quality in a candidate, and you might be surprised to know that few candidates ever follow up in this way. Doing this puts you at the forefront of the hiring manager’s thoughts, and helps make you stand out as assertive, willing and right for the job.

For when you’ve landed that interview: 5 Invaluable Tips on Preparing for  Interviews 

The post How to Write a Cover Letter appeared first on College News.

We all dream of having the perfect job, one that lets us make time for family, pays well and gives us the ability to live life comfortably. However, with the struggling economy and high competition we’re facing, it can seem nearly impossible. This may cause recent college graduates to give up job searching entirely and turn to retail or working at a restaurant in order to pay their bills. But, graduates should not lose hope just yet. Follow our resume writing tips, and you’re sure to craft a resume that will secure that ever so coveted job.

Resumes have become the backbone to landing a job and are the most important way to show off your skills and experience. Without a resume, you’ll be unable to illustrate your abilities to potential employers. It is important to have a resume that stands out from all the others. With these resume writing tips, a college graduate should no longer fear the world of employment.

Resume writing tip #1

As you may already know, having a specific focus is vital for your resume. You should clearly state what you want to do in your career and how exactly you can make a difference to the company. Having an objective section is what will set your resume apart from the ones that do not have one. Sandy Marcus, career and educational service leader from the Illinois Institute of Technology, talked about the importance of an objective statement.

There are different avenues to stating an objective statement, but you want your resume to be a stand-alone document. You shouldn’t rely solely on a cover-letter because an employer may not even look at it. You can write an objective statement that is for your benefit, what you want to get out of the company and how you will contribute and use your skills. It is much more powerful and to the point to write an objective that is for the company’s benefit. You want to tail your objective statement directly to the company and the position you are applying for. Highlight ideas like “to increase sales, “to improve market shares” or “improve quality.” Also, as a recent graduate, employers will focus more on your educational background, rather than the job titles you’ve held.

Resume writing tip #2

As resume writing tips go it’s best to have someone review your resume for thirty seconds and then ask what parts jumped out to them the most. This will show you if you need to change the layout or add anything else that is important, and you want the employer to see it. Also, it is wise to stick to one page, so the company does not have to flip through pages among pages to find how you will benefit the company. But, always keep in mind to show what you can do for the company, and while you should tackle this in your objective statement, your experiences should also touch on the topic.

Companies look for qualities of energy, reliability, maturity, and commitment. If students don’t have much work experience, they can discuss activities or volunteer work within their resume to show the company that they do obtain these qualities. Make these aspects visible with different fonts and formatting but don’t over do it.

These resume writing tips should help you get started on creating the perfect resume. Remember to continue to follow up with possible future employers and send thank you e-mails or cards after an interview. This will make your resume stand out from all the others and prove you are dedicated to getting the job. Jobs do not grow on trees, so don’t be lazy and work hard!

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A resume is a very important item to have in the working industry and College is a very important time to build your resume. College is that awkward time where you aren’t sure what to put on your resume, is high school activities and awards still a smart thing to put on your resume? Well for your first year or two out of high school, yes that is a good idea. But if you are applying for a career in say the publishing industry or working for a business firm, they may not be too impressed that you won MVP of your Varsity Volleyball team.

Here are some tips and things to take advantage of while you are in college so you can build your resume, and give you a leg up on your competition.

1) Join a club or an organization. College clubs and organizations can be very prestigious and impressive on a resume. Your University has plenty of organizations that you can join, from a Greek org to Associated Students. Make sure to take advantage of all the opportunities these clubs have to offer.

2) Hold a chair or board position in your organization. If you are a person in power or one that has responsibilities, it will jump off the page. Being president of your club or even a small position like public relations, can only help you and make you stand out. Employers are looking for people who are accomplished and have shown that they do well with responsibilities.

3) Hold a job or be in a club for over a year. Employers do not want to know if you worked at a movie theatre for five months. Only put information on your resume that helps you and makes you stand out, and staying at a job or belonging to an organization for over a year will make you stand out.

4) Get close with a Professor or Administrator. Getting close with a professor or administrator can be useful in a number of ways. Your professor has been through exactly what you are going through, use their advice and knowledge. They can possibly even help you with your career or give you advice, especially if they are in the field that you are in. If your professor is willing you can also ask them to write a letter of recommendation that will help you immensely when you are applying for jobs and using your new and improved resume.

If you use these tips you can build your resume while you are in college and it will help you when you graduate and go into the career you have always wanted.
 

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This past weekend I took to learning PHP on Code Academy. I run my own blog through WordPress with GoDaddy hosting, and find that most of the themes I work in run on PHP. I began coding back in the early 2000s through a summer camp for kids (I was around 12), and I taught myself a great deal about HTML and CSS. However, given that my knowledge on coding is so dated, I figured it was well past time to update my current knowledge and learn some new languages.

I won’t lie, I didn’t major in computer science in college. I’m incredibly savvy when it comes to technology, but don’t ask me how the whole thing works. My Mass Communications degree only tuned me in to the history of the Internet–not the guts and gears that make it run. 

Code Academy is a wonderful solution to that.

Firstly, it’s completely interactive. You’ll see the code and edit it through their interface, earning badges as you complete lessons. Thus far I’ve learned basic PHP strings and commands, and I’m currently learning control and flow. You’ll get a handle on if/else statements and commands like echo (probably the most basic, but hey, it’s something).

Code Academy is completely free and teaches languages like HTML, PHP, JavaScript and Ruby. You can also create a myriad of APIs, which are crucial in developing.

Each lesson varies in time, though the PHP course is estimated to take around 4 hours depending on how quickly you move.

Coding is a great skill to have on a resume, especially for writers.

If your resume is looking a little… well, bare, then coding may be just the ticket to boosting your chances at an interview. Given that most businesses operate in both a physical and online space, companies want to pick out candidates with a bit of knowledge that can benefit them in more than one area. Knowing popular languages can only help you.

If you’re looking for a career in copywriting, content creation, or even managing social media for a company, knowing code will make you stand out among other candidates. Technical knowledge in a more creative/editorial role is an ideal mixture for any content-focused company.

The post Want to Boost Your Resume? Try Learning to Code with Code Academy appeared first on College News.

Many students about to graduate are asking how to build a resume now that they are one the verge of entering the working world and leaving the classroom behind. Odds are those that graduate and find employment in their desired fields knew how to build a resume and did it well. Building a good resume revolves around three key areas: having a readable format, promoting yourself and being able to show experience and a work history. Think about if you were a hiring manager, would you hire someone who had their information all over the place, didn’t’ list their qualifications and had little to no past employment? Chances are no.

But, before you sit down and try to build your resume, you need to list all of the positive aspects of yourself, and we don’t mean things like “great at rollerblading” or “really likes being nice.” Employers have seen statements like this on numerous resumes and typically don’t take these candidates serious at all, which means their resumes end up in the garbage. Think of aspects such as, your ability to complete a task without being distracted, multitasking and being detail oriented.

Now that we have scratched the tip of the iceberg on how to build a resume, it’s time to sit down a start crafting a resume that will land you your dream job.

Format is king with a resume. Employers do not want to waste their time searching for the information they need the most. Your name and contact information, including address, contact number and email should appear at the top of the resume. Then beneath this should come your education experience, work history, skills and any special awards or certifications that you have received. Seeing that a candidate has received an award or additional training in a field is exceptional to a potential employer. It shows that you have gone above and beyond to further your knowledge or that you are so exceptional that you have been recognized by others for your work. All of your content needs be neat too. That means that your school name and the names of your past employers need to be in bold and the related information to these needs to be bullet pointed beneath. Also, remember past work experience should be in the past tense. If you were teller at a bank two years ago, then you need to write, “Assisted clients and dealt with their financial issues.” Do not write, “Assists clients and deals with financial issues.”

Many when they ask how to build a resume feel that they need to be modest when writing about their past experiences and accomplishments, but this is not the case at all. You need to be proud of what you have done. Even if you were a stock boy at a grocery store, you most likely did your job and did it to the best of your abilities. Coming out of college employers understand that candidates have little to no experience outside the classroom in their field of study, but they do expect some solid work experience. With this, you need to show that you were the best employee possible. Writing, “Unpacked box and placed goods on shelves” is quite negative. Instead, write something along the lines of, “Received shipments from vendors and then organized and displayed them in the store so that they were visually appealing.” The second example illustrates your job and shows that you actually put forth effort and cared about your duties, even if they seem menial to you. It promotes you as an employee and shows your potential employer that you can work hard for them.

Since you are just coming out of college, your work history is sparse. But, you should have some type of work history. Employers want to see that others have hired you, been impressed with your performance and kept you around for a while. The length of your employment also factors into an employer’s decision to bring you on as part of the team. Since you are just coming out of school, it does not necessarily matter that you have had experience with other unrelated fields, but it does matter on how long you had worked there. Listing multiple jobs that you were at for only a few months each shows a company that you may only work there for a little bit. Having multiple years of experience with a past employer shows that you are reliable and dependable.

With these basics, you should have a good springboard for tackling your question of how to build a resume. Remember to make sure that you resume should be visually appealing and professionally appealing. You are going after your first job out of college, so the road ahead may seem daunting. But, with tenacity and the right knowledge behind you about resume and cover letter writing, you should soon be starting the career that you have always wanted.

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