by Kelli Robinson
“I’m only a freshman. I don’t need a resume, and wouldn’t have anything to list on a resume anyway. Right?”
Wrong.
Contrary to popular belief, a resume isn’t a summary of your past experiences, but rather a document that is a work in progress, listing your goals and accomplishments as they develop. There’s no better time than your first year on campus to begin writing this document that you’ll be rewriting before (and after) you earn your degree.
Below are three myths about resumes, followed by categories to help you write your resume, and a sample resume to help you in the process.
Myth #1: “I just started college; I don’t have anything to list on a resume yet.”
Listing high school experience is permitted. Coursework, clubs, and part-time jobs are fair game. Use your high school events as building blocks for your college accomplishments. Next year, the high school information is dropped in favor of fresh college material.
Myth #2: “Only people applying for full-time jobs need resumes.”
It’s true that your full-time job search doesn’t start for a few years. And it’s also true that many part-time jobs have standard forms for job seekers to complete. But imagine the positive, professional appearance you’ll give by attaching a resume to that form. You’ve just leaped ahead of other applicants who don’t take this extra step.
Myth #3: “I’m not applying for any jobs right now, so I don’t need a resume.”
You might not be applying for paying jobs, but you may be applying for internships or volunteer positions. And you will be applying for jobs in the future. Remember, a resume is a work in progress. Many graduating students stress over their one page resume more than a 10-page project because summarizing four years of experience in retrospect is much more difficult than editing the paper as you go. Practice now makes for an easier time later.
Ready to Write?
Now that you know first-year students can write resumes, where should you start? Here is a list of categories commonly found on resumes that you can use to build your first resume.
Contact Information
Your name, your contact information (including e-mail address). If your personal account has an “edgy” name, consider opening another account solely for the resume. (In other words, JSmith@hotmail.com is good for a resume; beerpongchamp@hotmail.com is not.)
Education
Reverse chronological order is the rule. Start with the most recent degree you’re working on and work your way back. List a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Employment
Again, reverse chronological order. List your current or most recent job, followed by past positions. It’s okay if this category is sparse. Traditionally, first-year students have one or a few jobs to speak of.
Activities
What activities are you involved in on campus? What clubs and organizations did you participate in during high school? Write them down.
Volunteer Work
If you volunteered for any organizations or participated in any charitable events in high school, talk about your experiences. Community outreach is highly favored in the world of work.
Coursework
What classes are you taking this semester? Did you take Advanced Placement classes in high school? You don’t need to list every class, but hit the highlights.
Skills
Skills are abilities you’ve had the opportunity to develop through your work, activities, and classes. Public speaking, computer knowledge, writing skills, customer service: All are examples of aptitudes to list in this category. The following skills checklist can help you compile your list. Highlight any you believe apply to your experiences.
Public speaking skills
Computer knowledge
Writing skills
Goal orientation
Creativity
Ability to function as part of a team
Decision making
Leadership skills
Problem solving abilities
Research skills
Analyzing skills
Ability to see more than one solution to a problem
Organizational skills
Attention to detail
Initiative
Ability to see “the big picture” regarding goals
Time management skills
Listening skills
Ability to “think outside the box”
Appreciation of diverse cultures
Ability to follow through
Supervisory skills
Foreign language
Flexibility – can easily adapt to change
So what should your first-year resume look like? Take a look!