When I started my freshmen year at college, I thought everything was a major accomplishment on my part. I went from being at home with my parents doing my laundry, making me meals, and acting as my backup alarm clock when I hit “snooze” a few too many times, to getting myself on time to an 8am class 3 times a week, shopping for necessary snacks to tide me over until dining hall times, and learning to sort my laundry so my whites weren’t turned to every other color. I didn’t work my first semester-I couldn’t even fathom it with all the new responsibilities I had! As I have progressed through my college career, I realize that I am learning skills all the time that can enhance my resume and show why I will be a dedicated employee once I am seeking a job.

The second half of freshmen year, I had established some proficiency at taking care of myself and I was able to look beyond the present moment. One of my writing professors gave a lecture on keeping our resumes up to date, so we were ready for those summer internships or other opportunities, and that we shouldn’t be handing out high school focused accomplishments at that point. Some tips to keeping your resume up to date are:

• Give your old resume a new look. There are plenty of free online resources and templates for making your resume look professional. You want to stand out from other applicants, and your resume is the first introduction you can make to a potential employer.
• If you choose to include a picture, make sure it is a recent one. I have looked at a few of my friends’ resumes that incorporate a picture, and couldn’t believe that they were using their high school senior picture. Most people change a lot in the first couple of years of college, and take on a more mature look; don’t hand out a picture that doesn’t represent you well today.
• Volunteer and keep track of your hours. Volunteering shows a lot about your character; you are willing to give your time doing something that others will benefit from, and should be included on your resume. Days of Service and other campus activities qualify as experiences. There are also plenty of websites that will direct you to a number of possibilities that are close by your college.
• Keep your skills list up to date. Skills like learning to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint may seem like “something you had to learn”, but they can be very useful tools to for an internship or other employment. If you have them listed on your resume and another candidate doesn’t, guess who looks more prepared?
• Include your part time job at College. To you that job may be just a means to some “fast cash”, but to a potential internship or other employer it can show your ability to multitask, prioritize and stay organized.

Think about your college goals: Do you want an internship? Do you want to study abroad? Are you ready to graduate and get that dream job? Align your efforts toward acquiring the skills and experiences you need to prove you are the best candidate and keep your resume up to date. You never know when opportunity will knock!