Making your Resume Stand Out

By: Maureen Corbett

A person’s resume is by far and away the most important tool they can use to market themselves to potential employers. As current college students, I’m sure you have heard this statement more times than you could care to remember. The idea of putting your entire professional life on a single piece of paper can be daunting, and it can be even more intimidating knowing that you have to compete with every other person in the job market. However with the right resources and mind set, you can build a resume that will make you a shoe-in for any position you may want.

Power Verbs

These are key phrases in your resume that employers are looking for that will demonstrate the type of worker you are. Power verbs instill an image of you in a recruiter’s mind that makes them associate you with that word. Verbs such as “managed” “developed” and “organized” at the beginning of your sentences show that you have the necessary leadership experiences and qualifications that would make you the best candidate for the position.

Tailor Your Resume

The worst thing you can do is send the same generic resume to every company you apply at. Make sure you are reading the job descriptions carefully and highlight key traits about yourself that fit those expectations. You can also tailor your resume depending on the kind of job you are searching for. If you are an art and design major, for example, add some graphics that will help build your own personal brand. You can reference the Career Handbook for more information about how to organize the layout of your resume.

Use Your Resources

Have your resume read by many different people! You can schedule a meeting with the Liberal Arts Peer Partners, who are trained to critique student resumes. You can find their schedule information here, or find them in the liberal arts advising office throughout the day Monday through Thursday. The CCO will also review student resumes and provide professional advice as to how to make your resume highlight your skills in the best way possible.