How to Write a Student Resume
If you are a student, about to graduate, or fresh out of school, chances are you are trying to figure out how to write a student resume. Writing a good student resume is often seen as a daunting, frustrating task. Between part time jobs, long study sessions, and socializing with friends, you want to know how to produce a resume that will get you the job that you want.
Make Certain your Education is Right Out Front for the Reader
Most likely as a student your work experience is quite limited. Therefore, it is vital to place your education section right at the top of the resume. If you have a high grade point average (GPA), put that front and center. Because you lack real-world experience, any potential boss will have then go by how well you were able to apply yourself throughout your studies to determine how you will apply yourself at a job.
Showcase your Awards and Honors
While high school and university awards will hold no clout five to ten years down the line, right now, they do hold a bit of sway. If you have received awards like Dean’s List or awards from classes you have taken, write them down. It is another way to demonstrate to potential employers that you can apply yourself.
If you have Worked Part Time, Include it
Here is the part where you have to get a bit creative when trying to learn how to write a student resume…
If you have worked a part time job while in school, you need to demonstrate how the skills you learned at an afterschool job can be applied to a job you are applying for now. Do not list the actual job description, because if you were a coffee barista then most employers can gather that you poured coffee at a café.
Think about the responsibilities you had and how they can be relevant. If you are going for an accounting job and you totaled sales receipts from the day, mention that. If you want a marketing job and assisted in the development of a new menu, mention that. Translate what you did on the ‘small screen’ to the ‘big screen.’
Go Through your Extracurricular Activities
Most likely during your time at school, you were involved in extracurricular activities, including clubs and volunteer work. Figure out how to translate your experience into something good.
If you were in charge of the annual fundraiser even for your sorority or fraternity, do not just write that, but say, “Was able to raise more than 75 percent than what was raised at last year’s fundraising event.” If the employer is interested, they will ask you exactly how you did that and then you can go into details. If you were president of a club or group, translate what you did into something that demonstrates a concrete job-related ability.
Discuss all your Skills
There are two types of skills you should emphasize – hard and soft skills. Hard skills include computer or language related skills. Soft skills are things like interpersonal skills or teamwork skills. While you can list these on their own and hope the employer asks about them, it is effective to include a short sentence that describes why you have these skills.
Many students believe that because they are in fact a student, they will not get a job. However, this is not true; you pose a number of advantages over other potential hires. Not only are you younger, but you are a much quicker learner and your skills are much more malleable than that of someone who has been in the professional world for a lot longer. Students often demonstrate stronger motivation and the desire to gain experience.
Today, many more companies hire many students right out of school because they tend to stick with a job a lot longer and are sometimes even much better at it because of the inherent need to prove themselves. By knowing how to write a student resume that is captivating and flawless, students have the same chances as anyone else of landing a job.
