1. Be yourself.
Think of your résumé as a more tidy, paper version of yourself. This is a chance to strut your stuff across the desks of potential bosses, so cite your most relevant experience with confidence, but don’t exaggerate. (If you whipped up lattes at Starbucks… Yes: Starbucks barista. No: Starbucks manager. Definitely not: supreme ruler of the coffee empire.)
2. Look good.
Now’s the time to answer that existential question: Are you Times New Roman or Arial? (Notice we didn’t say Comic Sans.) Temple’s Career Center recommends using a consistent font, font size, margin size, etc. And no one wants to look at an 8.5 x 11 inch block of text, so use bullets for easier reading. If you’re wondering what your résumé should look like and how to best format it, check out the center’s list of sample résumés by field.
3. Speak the language.
Résumés have a language of their own. Avoid personal pronouns (Instead of "I binge-watched," just "Binge-watched." Get it?). Omit the obvious (“references available upon request”). Use action verbs (e.g., assess, develop, activate) to enliven your experience—see Page 8 of the Career Center’s Career Guide for a handy list of verbs. List accomplishments, not mundane tasks, at your previous jobs.
4. Quantify.
While the hiring gods shouldn’t have to count your résumé pages (generally stick to one), they’d like to see numbers when possible. Quantify those volunteer hours, the employees you managed, the budget you oversaw, etc. Oh, and a rule of thumb for your education section: If you want to list your GPA, it should be 3.0 or higher.
5. Tailor it.
When you find the right job opportunity—and we’ll have more on helping you do just that in the weeks ahead—relate your skills and experience to the position you’re seeking. If the prospective job requires managing people, emphasize any experience you have doing that (attention, Starbucks barista: In this case, your customer service skills are more relevant than how well you can make a caramel macchiato). Nix the irrelevant experience (unless you’re pursuing work in the animal-control business, leave the squirrel bit out).
6. Put a letter on it.
Your cover letter is a chance to say the things you couldn’t in your résumé. Note your best qualities and experience relevant to the job, and address why you want to work for the company. Don’t repeat your résumé; instead use the letter to grab the employer’s attention and to connect your top two or three skills to the responsibilities of the job you’re seeking. Keep it to about three to four paragraphs. The Career Guide has sample cover letters and additional tips.
7. Get it read.
You want to stand out, but not for atrocious grammatical errors or addressing the wrong employer. Everyone needs a proofreader; why not use the pros? On Feb. 11 and 12, the Career Center’s Resumania! event brings employers to campus specifically to provide feedback on students’ résumés; sign up through OwlNetwork. And you can always make an appointment with the center or stop in during drop-in hours to have your résumé reviewed. Or recruit an English major buddy to lend an eye—we’re pretty sure they’ll do it for pizza.
