More and more educational programs require some form of volunteer work from students these days. If your school is one of them, you have an advantage when writing your resume. Even if you didn’t earn money from your job, you can still list volunteer work on your resume, if only to show that you have some experience working with others. If you’ve worked with a specific organization long-term, you might want to emphasize that point: Many employers worry about first-time employees’ ability to commit to a position.
3 easy steps to an effective resume
You should take a close look at the job requirements and then emphasize those same skills on your resume.
keep it short
Keep your resume short and easy to understand; after all, you will give a detailed explanation during your personal interview. Employers have to sift through a lot of resumes to find the ones they find interesting, so make yours stand out from the crowd. This is how you can optimize your resume.
A typical employer is likely to spend just over half a minute on each resume. That’s why perfecting yours is a must; It should be short, flashy, and promising enough to get you a call.
Clearly state your goals
Your objective is your ‘goal statement’: it should be short, but strong enough to keep the reader interested in reading further. Objectives should be written from the employers’ perspective, detailing how your past experience, skills, and educational qualifications will benefit their organization.
Highlight your skills
Describe your skills broadly; Being brief will allow you to put your strongest points first. Include soft skills like effective communication, being a team player, and leadership qualities. Also include your technical skills, mentioning how you acquired them.
Highlight your functional area of expertise. Mention any special skills and certifications earned. All your computer skills are important as they indicate how versatile you are. However, please list your skill sets in the order that meets the profile of the position you are seeking.
What if your resume is running out of space?
Other activities can also provide a good starting point for a resume. If you’ve been involved in group activities, whether in school or outside of school, some of those activities can show an employer that you have potential as an employee. The best activities to include on a resume are those that demonstrate leadership and commitment.
With your first resume, your cover letter sample takes on greater importance. The cover letter is your chance to convince a potential employer to take a chance on you: that despite his inexperience, he’ll make a good employee. While your resume is just a list of skills, your cover letter should be persuasive. Explain what aspects of your skills set you apart from all other applicants. If you’re trying to get hired for more than an entry-level position, you’ll also need to justify your application and show the employer that your lack of experience won’t make it difficult for you to do a job.
If you have any relationship with your school, you may be able to get help writing or revising your resume through your school’s careers department. Most schools help current students with job placement issues, such as resume writing, and may extend the courtesy to past students as well.
Of course, any career or educational achievement you mention must be supported by documentation. Be prepared to bring proof of everything on your resume if you are granted a personal interview.