Guide To Writing Your First Resume

By Jessi Stickel on November 3, 2015

Many college students want or need some type of job while they are earning their degree. Whether it is for the experience at an internship or working a Taco Bell down the street to earn some extra cash, you will need a resume for your application and/or job interview.

Resumes are extremely critical to applying and interviewing for a potential job or career. Most college students have not created a resume since they have been in college or have never created one. Here are some important tips and essentials for creating your first resume.

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Resume Essentials:

*Personal Information

*Contact Information

*Goal (Optional)

*Education (Courses Optional)

*Skills

*Experience (Work, Internships, Volunteer)

*References

1. Personal & Contact Information

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At the top of your resume you should include your full name. You want to make your name big and noticeable. Below your name, you should have your contact information. This includes your phone number (cell and/or home), home address, and email. You provide this information to your employer of interest in case they want to contact you after your interview.

Example:

Jessi W. Student

1234 University Dr.

College Park, MD 22222

(123)-456-7890

collegestudent@college.com

2. Your Goal

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After you have stated your personal and contact information, you could provide the employer with a goal. This varies for everyone; however, it is normally a professional goal.

Temporary (still in college) example:

A position involving the use of literacy and writing skills to prepare myself for the journalism field.

Permanent (looking for a career) example:

A career in journalism that would involve literacy and writing skills.

3. Education

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In this section of your resume you should list the college(s) or university(s) you have attended and/or currently attend. After you name the place(s) of education you then should provide your intended degree and expected graduation date.

If you are minoring in a subject or if you have a high GPA these would also be positive details that can be added. You may also want to think about adding a list of courses you’ve taken that would contribute to the job you are perusing.

Example:

The Community College: Graduation, May 2015
Associate of Communication
University of Maryland: Expected graduation, May 2017 
Bachelor of Journalism 
Minor: Communications 
Overall GPA: 3.8 

4. Skills

http://www.careerealism.com

The skills category of your resume is also an important aspect that employers will take into consideration. You should only list serious and useful skills that would enhance your potential job. For example, if you want to be an accountant at a bank, listing “cosmetology” as a skill is not necessary. You want the employer to know what you have to offer the position you are interviewing for.

Example: 
  • Organized 
  • Technically savvy 
  • Customer service

5. Experience

http://www.mass.gov

The experience section is where you would list any jobs you have had, community service and anything you may have volunteered for. These all do not have to benefit the job you are going for; however, if they do I suggest listing those experiences first.

Example:

  • Uloop National Writer (2015- Present)
  • Cashier at JC Penney (2012-Present) 
  • Volunteer at The Maryland House Animal Shelter (Weekly)  
  • NBC Intern (Summer of 2014) 
  • Volunteer at Maryland University Newspaper, The Diamond Back (2014)

6. References

http://www.sykesassistance.com

References should always be the last part of your resume or listed on a separate page to include with your resume. This is where you list at least three people that the employer can call to give you a job reference. Out of the three people you choose, at least one of them should be from a former employer; you can also choose a professor or adviser that knows you well, and a close family friend (no actual family members).

You want to choose a variety of people to list as references because it helps the employer get to know you in different views: professional, educational and personal. Make sure you pick people that like you and know you well. You should also give them a heads up that you are listing them, so they are prepared for a possible phone call in the future.

Example:

Robert White-Former JC Penney Manager- (###)-###-####
Jane Henson-Current English Professor- (###)-###-####
Phil Dunphey-Family Friend- (###)-###-####

You can seek further help with samples and instructions on the Resume Workshop at the OWL Purdue website.

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