How to write your first resume as a college student: Advice from Recruiters

woman in black long sleeve shirt sitting having interview

When you’re just starting out in your career, the process of creating a resume may seem daunting. Whether you’re applying for an internship or your first full-time job, resume writing is a crucial part of any career exploration process. In order to get the attention of potential employers and land that all-important interview, it’s important to know what elements to include in your resume, as well as what to leave off.

If you are not confident about writing the resume by yourself, consider working with a resume writing service. At cheappaperwriting.com, you’ll work with professionals who can help you craft a resume that showcases your skills, experience, and qualifications. These resume experts will know how to highlight the best aspects of your background and present them in a way that is sure to catch the eye of hiring managers. From formatting to content selection, they will guide you through the resume writing process, helping you create a resume that stands out from the crowd.

But if you decide to write the resume on your own, this step-by-step guide can help you get organized and craft a resume that is sure to catch the attention of hiring managers.

Resume header

The heading of the resume should reflect the basic information.

Title

In the title, write the desired position: “waiter”, “administrator”, or “assistant manager”. Avoid the phrases such as “summer job” or “weekend work”.

Photo

The first impression of the candidate is formed by his photograph. For a resume, choose a front-facing photo where the face is clearly visible. I do not advise you to choose a photo from a vacation or with several people in the frame. After uploading the file, make sure that the photo is not blurry.

Ideally, if the photo you post matches the spirit of the job. For example, a cheerful photo where you smile is suitable for the position of an animator. And for the post of secretary – a photo in business clothes and without bright makeup.

Personal data

This section includes your name and surname, age, city of residence and contacts. Specify several ways to contact you: phone number, instant messengers and email address. So the employer will be able to choose what is more convenient for him – write or call.

Work experience

Many students find it difficult to fill out this particular block of the resume. However, experience is not necessarily an official job with an entry in the work book. These are the skills and abilities mastered in the process of life itself. It is important to see them in yourself and correctly submit them in your resume.

Here’s what you can specify as an experience.

Volunteering

If you want to get a job as an assistant landscape designer, it is appropriate to say that you were engaged in landscaping a city park as a volunteer.

Social activity

For example, at school you were the head of the class – this experience will come in handy if you are looking for a job where organizational skills are important: assistant manager, administrator, or project coordinator.

Project work

Did you help to come up with and implement a theater production project on the school stage? If you are considering the work of an animator or organizer of holidays, be sure to tell us about it.

Ideally, for each vacancy you apply for, you write a separate resume and think about how to present your skills in it, depending on the desired position.

Employers are aware that they are hiring a person with no experience. His portfolio of professional skills is just beginning to take shape, and it is too early to demand mastery of a specialty. Therefore, do not hesitate to indicate as experience even those cases that at first glance seem insignificant to you.

Education

Indicate the university and faculty, even if you are looking for a job that is not related to your future specialty.

In addition to the higher or secondary specialized institution where you study, list the courses you took, as well as master classes, webinars, round tables in which you participated.

For example, a young man is looking for a job as a waiter or barista. In college, he received an education in the direction of “Hospitality”, and in the first year he prepared a report for a round table on the topic “Master of Hospitality”. If a young man writes about this in his resume, the potential employer will see that he has basic knowledge about the service.

Additional Information

At this point, you should indicate:

  • what type of work you are looking for – part-time or full-time, shift or remote;
  • tools that you own: for example, if you are looking for a job as a photographer, indicate what equipment you use for shooting and what graphic editors you work in;
  • personal qualities: for example, for a call center operator it is stress resistance, for a bartender it is sociability, for a children’s animator it is artistry.

Here you can also list achievements, and hobbies – the recruiter wants to understand what a person is like outside the business framework and add details to his image.

For example, the line that you run half marathons speaks of you as a purposeful, hardy person. The phrase “I receive a nominal scholarship for a successful session” shows that you are diligent and able to study.

Key 5 steps to write a student resume

  1. The header should consist of a title, a good photo and personal information.
  2. If you do not have formal work experience, write what project, research, volunteer or community work you have done and what skills and knowledge you have acquired during this time.
  3. In the “Education” column, tell us where you study and list the courses, master classes and webinars that you took.
  4. As additional information, note hobbies, achievements, personal qualities, work tools and type of employment.
  5. Use a neutral font and don’t get carried away with the visuals.