Does your resume need a checkup? Follow these principles

To thine own self be true. 
This advice from Shakespeare's Hamlet  really needs to be followed in the job search, starting with your resume. What kind of position are you after? What do you bring to an employer? Let an employer know this in an Objective (for those of you just getting started) or a Summary (for those of you who have some skills and experience to summarize) at the start of your resume. Check out the resume samples here to see examples of Objectives and a few Summaries. Our Career Planning Guide has a whole page of objectives on Page 38.

Keep It Simple, Stupid. The KISS Principle
I first learned this principle from my mother who was a physician, ending her career in an administrative role as a Regional Health Director for the state of Virginia. Often used in business, the principle applies here for your resume. The first glance an employer gives your resume lasts for 30 seconds or less. Make your resume easy to visually scan by avoiding paragraphs and sentences. Use bullets and start descriptions with Power Verbs on page 39 and 40 of our Career Planning Guide.

The only source of knowledge is experience.
Albert Einstein isn't the only man who knew how valuable experience is. What's the number one item an employer seeks as she reviews your resume? Relevant experience. As you share your experiences, be sure to quantify your descriptions if numbers apply to what you are sharing. For example, if you worked at Ben and Jerry's and trained new employees like my daughter, Maggie, did for a couple years, don't just list "trained new employees;" paint a clearer picture saying, "trained 5 new employees." If you need help with your experience descriptions, come see us in Career Services.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

These words of John Quincy Adams bring us to our next key point about resumes. Second to relevant experience, employers like to see leadership experience on resumes. If you have taken on leadership roles in organizations, list those titles and share results of your efforts. Some students have Leadership Experience sections on their resumes because they have so many to mention.

Skills have become the currency of 21st Century economies.

Andreas Schleicher, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Education Vice President, shared this sentiment about skills, and they really are essential. What skills will you contribute to an employer? When I was a college student I really didn't think I had any skills. Looking back now, I had a plethora of them: leadership, customer service, people, organizational, and writing skills. Advisors in Career Services can assist you in defining and describing the skills you bring to an employer. To zero in on the skills you want to share in a resume, review occupation descriptions in ONET or job listings for positions of interest.

Want more advice on your resume? Come see us for Walk-In Advising from 12 - 3pm, Monday through Friday. Can't make that time? Call 540-231-6241 to make an appointment.