So you have decided to enter the labor market and look for a job or an internship. It’s a good start. But how do you go about creating your first resume? You may think you don’t have enough to say to fill a page, but you probably have more than you think. According to research, recruiters spend an average of five to ten seconds reading a resume. It goes without saying that your CV must attract the attention of recruiters at first glance. Preparing the perfect resume can be quite daunting for people with years of experience, let alone freshmen working on writing their first. Today, let’s break down some basic things you need to consider when writing your resume.
First of all, your CV should not exceed 1 or 2 pages. Keep information accurate and relevant. Now coming to the part of keeping information accurate, the concept of “accurate” can be subjective. You already don’t have enough space, use your words wisely. Using a header feature to include your name, address, and contact information (both an email address and phone number) saves space and makes it easier to find information for the recruiter. And remember, your resume is not your Insta story, don’t play around with font styles and sizes. Keep it simple and classic.
List your educational achievements in chronological order, starting with your most recent degree. If you haven’t received your results yet, note your predicted score or that it is “subject to review”. Because this is your first CV, it precedes any work experience. This section will move further down the page once you have a job or two under your belt.
A skills section is particularly useful for your first CV because it allows you to highlight skills that are not necessarily related to professional experience since you are starting your career. You can identify the key skills employers are looking for by carefully reading the job description.
And finally, when applying for a job, you will usually be asked to provide two references before you can be hired. Typically, this will be your former employer; however, if you are still studying, it may be your teacher or supervisor. Remember to respectfully ask someone before using them as a reference.
And a pro tip: make sure everything on your first resume is spelled correctly. Employers who receive a large number of applications will use spelling and grammatical errors to differentiate candidates, so make sure your CV is error-free. Use spelling and grammar checkers, or have someone else proofread it.
