Writing Your First Professional Resume

For many new graduates, writing a professional resume can be tricky. In school, your career counselor probably gave you the same advice that has been given for decades. It may have worked well back in the day, but these days, resumes have changed and with an entry-level resume, the rules are a little different.

If you are looking for your first job, here are 5 tips that can help:

Keep your resume down to one page - I don't think that this should be a hard and fast rule. Some people only like one-page resumes, while others don't really care. Because no one has a preference for two pagers, it's a safe bet to keep it at one page. However, if the one page means leaving out important information, then go ahead on and do two pages.

Put the education section first - But only if you don't have any related work history. If you have an internship or other work experience, list that first. The point here is to do what works best for your situation. You don't have to keep things in a certain order, just because the template you downloaded lists them that way. Most resume templates are targeted for people who are in the middle of their careers.

Include experience that was unpaid - Just because you weren't paid for a job, doesn't mean you didn't learn any new skills from it. Be sure to list any volunteer experience as well and any unpaid internships. Babysitting jobs and other odd jobs can be listed, but they only help if you don't have any other work experience.

Tell a story - A resume is a way for an employer to find out a little about you. Spend some time thinking about your experiences and where you want to be in five years. Make your resume show a clear pattern of study and work that is leading you toward your goals. Employers who are hiring entry level people aren't looking for an impressive work history. They want to see that you are motivated and capable, so show them.



Your resume should be a marketing tool to let a prospective employer know what you are all about. With that in mind, you can customize your resume to show of your unique skills and abilities. With any luck, you'll have more work experience to put on your resume soon.

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