Most people skip the most important step in resume preparation — tailoring their resume to the job — and pay for it later. This mistake can lead to a resume that gets lost in a sea of applicants, never to be seen by the hiring manager. A well-prepared resume, on the other hand, can make all the difference in getting an interview and landing a job.
Step 1: Understand the Purpose of a Resume
A resume is a document that outlines your experiences—professional, academic, extracurricular —and the skills you have acquired as a result. According to the University of Illinois Career Center, a strong resume should demonstrate your excellent written communication skills and make the reader want to interview you. For example, if you are applying for a teaching job, you might include a section on “Teaching Experience” and a section on “Other Work Experience” to clearly highlight relevant experience using section titles in addition to job descriptions.
Step 2: Tailor Your Resume to the Job
Tailoring your resume to the job is crucial to getting noticed by the hiring manager. The University of Pennsylvania Career Services suggests using a Targeted Resume to emulate an Applicant Tracking System and compare your resume to a specific job description. This involves using strong action verbs that reflect the part of the project that you worked on, such as "managed," "created," or "developed." For instance, if the job description requires experience in project management, you can use verbs like "managed" or "coordinated" to describe your experience.
Step 3: Keep Your Resume Updated and Concise
It is good to keep your resume updated regularly to reflect new experiences, ensuring that an up-to-date resume is available whenever necessary. According to the State of California Department of General Services, a resume should be as short as possible while showing your value, ideally one page if you have less than 7–10 years of experience. Focus on customizing your resume to the job offer and prove you fit the job by showing related accomplishments.
Step 4: Use Clear and Easy-to-Read Format
Make it easy for a recruiter or hiring manager to scan your resume for valuable information about your skills and experience by labeling the sections. The Harvard College Guide to Creating a Strong Resume suggests creating a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. Use a clear and easy-to-read format, with bullet points and white space to make your resume easy to scan.
Step 5: Get Feedback and Revise
Before submitting your resume, get feedback from career advisors or mentors to ensure that it is effective. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center suggests having your resume reviewed by a career advisor or mentor to get feedback on content, format, and overall effectiveness. Revise your resume based on the feedback you receive to ensure that it is the best it can be.
What to do right now: Open a new document or template, such as the 4 Undergraduate Resume Templates provided by the University of Pennsylvania Career Services, and start creating a tailored resume that highlights your skills and experience.
