Resume Tips for High School Students and Recent Grads

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Would you walk into an interview after just rolling out of bed and putting on wrinkly clothes? No, of course not (or so we hope!). Your resume—also sometimes referred to as a CV (curriculum vitae)—is usually the first impression you’ll get to make with a potential employer. We’re here to help make sure your resume is just as professional-looking as your freshly pressed suit.

• Key Information – Always include your name, contact information, education and work experience, and any skills you possess that are related to the job(s) you are applying for.
• Keep It Short – Your resume should not be longer than one page.
• Professional Font – Use a single font for the entire resume, and stick to a professional-looking, easy-to-read font, such as Times New Roman or Garamond.
• Use Bullet Points – Avoid lengthy paragraphs in your resume, and instead rely on bullet points to inform the reader of your skills and capabilities. Hiring managers want to be able to quickly skim a resume (they may be receiving hundreds), and bullet points break up information in easy-to-read sections.
• Focus on Achievements – Rather than including only your job duties, tell the reader about your accomplishments at work as well. Remember – hiring managers are more interested in success than effort. Did you help increase sales? Attract new customers? Solve a specific problem? Think about how to describe your experience in a way that will make hiring managers see how you can have a positive impact on their company.
• PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, AND PROOFREAD!!! – There is no worse turn-off for a hiring manager than spotting a typo or grammatical mistake in a resume. Errors suggest that an applicant doesn’t pay attention to detail and doesn’t care enough about the position to create a quality product.
• Leave the References Off – Don’t list any references on your resume. If references were requested by the hiring manager, attach them as a separate document.
• Save as a PDF – Always be sure to submit your resume in pdf format, unless specifically asked not to by the hiring manager. The formatting in your resume can change when opened on a new device, making it difficult to read and possibly reflecting poorly on your technical abilities. A PDF will keep your formatting looking sharp every time.

What if I don’t have any work experience?

Get creative! Promote accomplishments like perfect attendance, fluency in a second language, and competitive awards such as sports championships. Include any extracurricular activities, both in school and out of school (church activities are a great example), and volunteer work; be sure to highlight any leadership experience you have in these groups or activities.