Every year, the Villanova University Career Center hosts workshops that aim to help students to acquire skills needed for future jobs. I attended one of their workshops, How to Write a Winning Resume, which was held in the Career Center on October 18, 2018. It was incredibly insightful, especially for freshmen who are not used to writing a resume
What does a winning resume consist of?
Our guide for the workshop, a VSB senior who works at the Career Center, asks us this question before getting started. There are a lot of components that make up an impressive resume. However, a standard format includes Identification (your name, email, LinkedIn address, etc), Objective (specify the position you desire and skills you possess), Education, Academic Project, Papers (list in chronological order), and Employment Experiences.
Getting Started
A lot of students have problems creating a resume for that they do not know what to start with. An easy way to start a resume is to identify your skills and abilities first. For example, what are your 3 greatest strengths? How do you know you have these attributes? Then, you should explore a variety of careers to determine the requirements of the occupations you are seeking. What skills are they looking for? After you finish assessing yourself, make a list of the experiences you have been involved in: jobs, volunteer work, activities, leadership roles, awards etc.
Do not be concerned about length for the first draft. For most undergraduates, one page is the most common length due to lack of experiences. Individuals with added experience/degrees may need a two-page resume to present their relevant experiences adequately. Resume length may also vary by career field.
How to write a winning resume?
The main function of a resume is to “sell yourselves to the employers”, so it is critical that you keep your resume well thought-out. Here are some of the general guidelines for a winning resume:
· Keep your resume easy to read, typed (quality print) and spaced neatly.
· A logical presentation of relevant information is required of a winning resume.
· "Marketable" according to the skills and qualifications your potential employer is seeking. “SELL DON’T TELL”
· Well organized and consistent with format and headings.
· Concise, but not at the expense of accuracy or completeness. A typical resume is one page in length but this depends on your particular background.
Conclusion
A good resume is the beginning of your career and your future ahead. However, not everyone gets the best resume the first time they write it. Step by step, you learn and accumulate skills and experiences throughout time to polish your resume. Down below are all resources you can go to start your resume. It is advisable that you consult your counselor or advisor about your resume before you submit it to any place.
For resume templates:
Tips for writing a winning resume offered by Villanova University’s Career Center:
er"] %
