Resume Tips for College Students

A resume is a concise, written summary of the qualifications, skills, and accomplishments of an individual that is used to help gain employment. However, if you’re a student still earning a degree, how will you craft a professional document to impress potential employers?

As a student at the University of Kentucky or any school, you know that building a resume without work experience can be challenging. However, a quality resume will set you apart from other candidates and help create an impression of who you are as an applicant. We’ve compiled the top resume-building tips for college students to help you craft a compelling one. Read below!

Make It Look Professional

Your resume is a crucial first impression to employers. As you build your resume, pay attention to fonts (including the size), margins, formats, and strategic applications of bolding, italics, and caps. For fonts, stick to simple styles, such as Arial or Georgia, and 12 or 11 point for size.

Include a Header

At the top of your resume, include your name and contact information, along with a link to your professional profile or website if available. This will make it easy for hiring managers to contact you. If possible, use your university email address that contains your first and last name, or create a professional email address utilizing your name.

Emphasize the Position You’re Applying For

One of the best resume writing tips for college students is highlighting the position you intend to apply for — the objective aspect of your resume. You don’t want to come across as solely boasting about your past achievements. Instead, focus on the values you can bring to the table. Avoid irrelevant information or wording, and focus on facts about how you will help the company succeed.

Highlight Your Education

While you’re still working on your degree, building an education section on your profile shows that you’re being proactive about furthering your skills and knowledge. Here, you can list courses relevant to the job and your key areas of study. You can check the role’s eligibility to see if it corresponds with your education. In some cases, however, there might be exceptions.

Specify Work Experiences

Your skills will evolve over time and are developed through many experiences, such as internships, community work, and other extracurricular activities. If you include these experiences in your resume, it can show that you are well-rounded.

Include Relevant Skills and Achievements

Another resume tip for college students with no experience is to list your skills and achievements. Whether you can multitask, are tech-savvy, received awards or scholarships, or are proficient with various applications, this information can break through the crowd and stand out to a potential employer. Also, your multiple skills and achievements can demonstrate your capabilities in the workplace.

Double-Check Your Work

Before submitting your resume, make sure it’s error-free. Check for spelling, capitalization, and grammar mistakes. An error-free resume demonstrates professionalism and will help you make an incredible first impression on potential employers. Have someone proofread it for you, and also check your school to see if they have a department that can assist in resume-building and/or proofing. If you’re a UK student, learn more about how the Stuckert Career Center can help you.