How to Adult: Resume Writing

Shikha Patel, Staff Writer

Most young adults look forward to starting a career but don’t realize the effort and reality of it all. One requirement for colleges and jobs is a resume with a brief explanation of your education, training and experiences.

Writing a resume can be a daunting task, and for most people writing an outstanding resume is tough. Your resume needs to be concise, clear and focused on what you are really trying to display. Here are some few simple and clear steps to write a exceptional resume.

1.  WHAT TO PUT:  When applying for a job or college, you are advertising yourself to the interviewer. List the things you are proud of, such as the level of education you’ve reached, volunteering, etc. Listing these things will help the job or college you are applying to really get a glimpse of what kind of person you are. A lot of employers or colleges are looking for hard workers who will stay dedicated to what they do. An important tip is to never lie on your resume, which leaves bad impressions and leads to dire consequences.

2. CREATE A HEADING: The heading is the section at the top of your template which gives your contact information. Depending on what the resume is for, the information needed varies. This could include your name, address, email, and/or phone number. First put your name, make it bold and large. Next put the other desired personal information. By doing this you are allowing the college or job to contact you if they have further questions or inquiries.

3. FORMATTING: A good resume needs to be designed in a way that is appealing to read. If you aren’t design inclined, use a template. Resume templates exist to make your life easier and reduce format errors. Picking the perfect type can be challenging but choose what fits your preference the best. Most word processors offer resume templates, allowing you to create a resume with little to no effort. Choose a template that you are comfortable with, as well as one that looks clean and professional.

4. EDIT THE RESUME: After you have finished putting together your resume, you should go over each part and make sure it makes sense. Editing your resume for mistakes and revising it to make sure it gives the impression you want is a very good idea. Another good idea is having others read it because other eyes notice things you blur over when you look at your own writing. Have others edit for mistakes and ask for general feedback.