The Resume: a company’s first look into who you are and what you can offer. Studies show that recruiters view an average resume for just 6 seconds – precious little time to grab their attention and direct it towards the most relevant pieces of your professional life. No pressure, though.
Resumes can be tricky to format, and many people have made careers off of helping students and professionals fix their resumes. Here at TransparentCareer, we’ve compiled some free tips and formatting advice so you don’t have to shell out money for a career advisor.
General tips and guidelines:
Here is a sample resume for a recent undergraduate looking to apply for a starting financial analyst position.
Jane Smith
123 Fake Road, Fakeville, State, Zip Email: [email protected] Phone: (123)-456-7890
_____________________________________________________________________________
Finance Associate
2 Years of Financial Modelling Experience – President of University Investment Club – Treasurer of University Real Estate Club
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Fake University, Scranton, Pennsylvania – 2017
Achievements:
3.7 GPA – Dean’s List – 2013-2017
Member of Investment Club 2013-2017 – President 2016-2017 School Year
Member of Real Estate Club – Treasurer 2015-2016 School Year
____________________________________________________________________________
Professional Experience
XYZ Trading Firm – New York, New York
ABC Commercial Bank – Scranton, Pennsylvania
_____________________________________________________________________________
Other Skills and Interests
Experience with Microsoft Office Products – Proficiency with Stata, Data Analysis Software
_____________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information
After providing basic contact information, the next section should indicate the position to which you’re applying, followed by 3 experiences/skills you have related to that position. This gives the reader a quick reference point to your skills and how they translate to the job.
Education
Since this is an application for a recent college graduate, education was placed before experience. GPA is included, but matters less as you progress after graduation. College graduates obviously don’t have as much professional experience as those that have been in the workforce for a few years, so providing your education and a few key highlights from your college experience provides a quick glance to your ability to perform the job.
Experience
Professional experience should follow your college section, and should outline experiences relevant to the position. Even if your most recent job was waiting tables at a restaurant, it’s better to mention pertinent finance experience, using the above resume as an example. Provide a quick summary of the company and what they do, and then explain your day to day tasks and highlight any noteworthy experiences from the position. If you were awarded “Best Summer Intern 2016” or received other types of recognition, this is the place to mention it.
Wildcard
This section is up to you – do you want to list your hobbies, awards, interests, professional certifications, or a combination of all the above? The other skills and interests section was left somewhat blank in the sample resume, but only contained information that may be relevant to the position. If you were applying to work retail at a music shop, it’s perfectly fine to mention your years of guitar experience. Not all hobbies are related to your career, but if you’re certified in any other skills this is a great place to mention them. If you’re applying to work at a daycare center and are certified to perform CPR, this is the place to put it.
Looking for help writing a cover letter? Check out our article on cover letters!
Do you have your own resume tips? Comments? Questions? Reach out.
Another great way to improve your chances of nailing a great job is to have the right info to back you up. TransparentCareer offers free data on compensation, career paths, and salary negotiation, all for free. Sign up here.
Sources:
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/you-only-get-6-seconds-of-fame-make-it-count/