Building Your College

Resume
Benefits of a Résumé
• What is a resume?
• A brief written account of personal, educational, and professional
qualifications and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job.
• Share what is unique and memorable about you.
• How does a resume help a college?
• Explains who you are in a snapshot.
• Conveys how you fill a need of the organization
to which you are applying.
What are colleges looking for?
• Colleges are looking for students who will enhance the campus’ sense
of community.
• Any activity that you engage in is likely going to enhance their campus
community.
• Examine your activities for what has been meaningful experiences to you.
• This will help your passion shine.
• Depth in a limited number of activities
• Dedication and quality over time.
• Colleges are looking to see if you have strong time management skills.
• What makes you unique and interesting?
• This may take some digging for you to realize...
 The Dynamic Duo:
Content and Formatting
Content
• Brainstorm all of the things you have done…
What would you like to highlight?
• Explain in great detail
• Mindful balance of too little vs. too much
• Helpful Categories
• School activities
• Short descriptions, strong active verbs.
• Leadership positions
• Community involvement/service opportunities
• Awards, honors & achievements: a simple laundry
list
• You should explain any awards that do not have an
obvious title) or may include more detailed descriptions
depending on the amount of awards you have received
• Work experience
• Can include one-time special projects
Format
• Format sets you a part as a polished professional
• First impressions count
• Must be easy to read
• Consistency is key
• Maintain the same font and size
• Creativity
• Your ability to be creative is dependent on your
program of study
• Resume Templates
• Word or Canva are free
• Graphic design tool
• Pinterest vs. buying a template
Format Rules of Thumb
• Clearly identified sections/headings/categories
• Order needs to be logical
• Highlight what you are most invested in first
• Chronological order beginning with most recent
• Use bullet points
• No more than three under any heading/category
• Specific title, duration, and location
• Quantify when possible
• Ex. Completed 400 community service hours at Hope at Hand
• NEVER GO OVER ONE PAGE!!!
Word Choice
• Ensure that you are using powerful action verbs
• Action verbs help to bring life to your resume
• Begin bullet points with strong action verb
• Strong action verbs change tone of resume
• Example 1: Worked with kids at a summer camp.
• Example 2: Supervised thirty ten year olds at the Cummer Art Museum summer camp.
• Use the past tense
• Even if you are still currently employed, involved, or continuing
• Edit, Edit, Edit
• Read your resume out loud to find grammar mistakes
 Additional Tips
• Create a Google Drive folder specifically for resumes
• You must tailor your resume for each job
• Save files to continue to update over time
• Pull information together to fit skills
• Rule of Seven
• Find buzzwords on college or company’s website
• Use synonyms of those buzzwords seven times throughout resume
• Objective statement
• Do not use for your college application
• Only needed when someone is changing industries
• Skills employers want on your resume
• Communication, leadership, planning/organization, and teamwork
Where to begin
• Brainstorm everything you have ever done.
• Rank the items that are the most important to
your values and passions
• This will help you to refine what is the most
important for colleges to know about you.
• Find/create a template that best fits you