How to Write a Resume that Rocks

Global: An Extraordinary Guide for Ordinary Heroes

Now is the time to be getting your resume in shape. Your resume is the first thing that a potential employer will learn about you. So how are you going to nail it? Let’s start with the obvious stuff.

Looks Matter

First, presentation matters. That’s because the person reading it will make a snap judgment about you in 30 seconds or less. Make sure that someone can skim your resume very quickly and pull out relevant information (i.e. all those details that make you perfect for the job). Great formatting helps, but only if it doesn’t get in the way of the content. A quick internet search for ‘resume template’ will give you plenty of inspiration. List your professional experience first, and, as much as you can, tailor how you write about each job to the specifics of the job opening. If being a waitress in a busy restaurant meant you fine-tuned the multi-tasking skills required for a potential new job, then say so. List your academic experience after your professional experience (even if you’re still in school). Mention your IT and language skills, where relevant, and volunteer experience. You can either include your volunteer experience in your professional experience section or have it as a separate section. I’ve integrated mine into my professional experience section, but either way is fine. If you’re short on space, then integrating is the better option.

Keep it Brief

Which leads me to my next point – make sure that your resume isn’t too long. Even with 20 years of experience, I keep mine to only two pages. Remember, your resume will be in a huge pile, and whoever picks it up isn’t going to read to the end if it’s too long. I advocate for not including a summary paragraph at the beginning of your resume. Some people like to include it because they feel like it gives a nice overview of their professional qualifications and connects the dots for employers. Whereas, I feel like the information should be accessible enough in your resume that this paragraph isn’t necessary and that your resume isn’t the place for this sort of summary narrative – it should be in your cover letter. Remember you don’t have to include every single thing you’ve worked on, keep it high-level and descriptive – your resume should be an overview not a list of tasks.

No Jargon Allowed

Avoid jargon, but do use the vocabulary of the field you’re applying for a job in. I suggest that you look on LinkedIn for people who have jobs that you want and see the language on their resumes. If you’re trying to break into the field of international relations, see the language that these people use—how they describe their experience and mimic the language for positions you’ve had that could be relevant.

Edit like your Job Depends on it

Finally, make sure that you don’t lose points for inconsistency, sloppy spelling or poor punctuation. I can’t think of any job where attention to detail isn’t important. This includes spelling out acronyms for the first time, avoiding jargon and making sure you’re clear in your explanation of your tasks. Have someone you trust (your parent, friend, professor, supervisor, swim coach) proofread your resume and cover letter.

Now that you’ve got your resume all set, get out there and start applying for jobs!

Leave a comment if you have any questions.

Views expressed are my own and not necessarily those of the U.S. Government

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