As my senior year rounds into its final semester, I begin the lovely job search. Finding jobs, especially as an English major, has proven to be difficult. There is limited availability and loads of people applying. The competition is fierce, but one way I know I can make myself stand out among the crowd is to have a extraordinary and polished resume, but how? So I pulled out an old textbook, grabbed my laptop, and started researching how to build a better resume. Some tips just did not work for me, others fit perfectly, and some I just had to make my own. Either way there is definitely a process that one must go through to build a resume that displays just why it is you are the person for the job, at least on paper.
1. Review Job Description Thoroughly
It is important to know and understand exactly what the company you are applying to wants in an employee. Review the job description so you can tailor your descriptions of experience to mimic the employers desires. Even if your current job seems completely irrelevant, you can still find similarities, especially in work ethics.
2. Make it Stand Out
Mess around with various layouts. There is no written rule that you have to use a template already loaded to Microsoft. If you are applying to a graphic design job, make your layout interesting, let it show you ability to be creative. Have your name stand out in bold, but do not make it to big. You want to grab their attention since they are staring at papers all day, make sure yours is one that makes them want to read it.
3. Arrangement is Key
Put your best foot forward. If you have work experience that relates perfectly to the desired position make sure you place that at the top of your resume. If education is your biggest asset then place that above work experience. Maybe start with an objective that mimics something mentioned in the company's mission statement to demonstrate that you have looked into the company and want things that are similar.
4. References are not Necessary
References can be helpful, but can also take up space. Since resumes need to be kept to one page, references can cause you to run over. Try listing references and noting, "Available Upon Request" or something similar. Many applications already have a special location for references anyways.
5. Be Yourself
Do not try to over glorify yourself to where you sound arrogant, but don't down play yourself either. The easiest thing to do is keep it professional, yet real. Resumes are formal, but that does not mean they cannot have any personality. Be more than just a name on a paper.
