Resume Tips for College Students

If you’re a college student making your first resume ever, it’s easy to be disheartened over the lack of work experience you can include. However, don’t let that thought keep you from taking a stab at job hunting.

With the right tweaks and tips, you can still make a strong resume that will get you noticed by HR professionals and recruiters. Check out five of our best resume tips for college students with no experience below and start building a top-notch resume today.

Start With a Resume Summary

Not everyone includes a summary in their resume, so this is a great way to get yours noticed! The resume summary is essentially a quick overview of your relevant qualifications and skills. Place your summary at the very top of your resume, just below your name and contact information.

Your summary can be in narrative form or in bullets. If you’re writing it in narrative form, try not to go beyond three to four lines of text.

Use an Eye-Catching Resume Template

As a college student or fresh graduate, it’s best to choose resume formats that de-emphasize work history and experience. Look for aesthetically pleasing templates that place education and professional skills above the work experience section.

Additionally, be mindful of the design you choose and the position you’re applying for. Make sure the design fits the industry and makes it easier to understand all the information you’ve included.

Showcase Relevant Skills and Experience

One of the most important resume building tips for college students is to highlight all the skills you may have that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, especially soft skills. Teamwork, good communication, and people skills are all selling points for most employers.

You should also showcase the experience and achievements you’ve already earned. This can include a high GPA, unpaid internships, college extracurriculars, volunteer work, and any certifications or training you may have completed.

Have Reliable References

Good references are doubly crucial for college students or graduates with no experience. Make sure the references you put down are all trustworthy and can be considered experts or professionals. It’s also better to have references that work well for your preferred industry.

Some ideal options for references include your professors, college dean, organization head, coach, and professional contacts from volunteer work.

Short, Simple, and Specific

Don’t be tempted to overload your resume with information, especially if it’s just for the sake of making it look more impressive. In most cases, it’s actually better to have your resume take up only a single page.

However, you should also try to be as specific as you can be when highlighting relevant achievements or qualities. Instead of just writing “good communications skills,” you can give a specific scenario where you used your skills, such as as an intern, student assistant, or volunteer.

The Bottom Line

These resume writing tips for college students are just the tip of the iceberg. However, these five basic tips can really level up your resume and help you get noticed by more recruiters or HR managers.