How to Make a College Resume

Today’s college students must start preparing for their future early to stay ahead of the game. One of the challenges students face is resume building. Because college students lack employment history, sometimes it could be difficult for them to put together a competitive resume.

In this article, we will help you

  • Find the proper tool to use
  • Understand what to include in your resume
  • Learn to communicate with the recruiter using your resume

Use a CV Builder

Always use a reliable resume generator. Many of these have templates specifically designed for college students. Sometimes, your institution’s career center may provide you a recommended builder.

Once you’ve chosen your template, go section by section and add in the necessary information. Always export your resume into a popular format, such as .pdf or .docx, to make sure your hiring manager won’t have any issue opening it.

Things to Include in a College Resume

A college resume is different from a regular job-hunting resume. You definitely won’t have enough employment experience, and that’s why you need to include other information to make up for that insufficiency.

Academic Success

Include any academic success in your resume because, as a college student, your job is to study. Academic successes could be

  • Dean’s honor scroll
  • Publication, academic seminars and symposiums
  • Research projects or portfolios

Courses Taken

Format your resume more like a CV by providing a list of courses you’ve taken. List the ones that are related to the position you’re applying for first and include the GPAs.

Generally speaking, avoid including any courses with a low GPA unless you’re in a highly technical major such as STEM majors. Then, a lower GPA is usually understandable and acceptable.

Extracurricular Activities

Include any volunteering, student council activities, contest participation, or internships you have. Extracurricular activities are as valuable as employment history for a regular job seeker. Focus on showcasing your diverse abilities and community engagement. That will make you a valuable candidate for most companies.

Hard and Soft Skills

Always include both hard (technical) skills and soft (people) skills.

For hard skills, make sure you put the ones you’re most proficient down first. Also, try to keep these skills relevant to the position you want to get.

For soft skills, focus on how you’re a good team player and make decisions independently. Some options are:

  • Team management
  • Critical thinking
  • Leadership
  • Communication and negotiation

Add a Summary Block

Be smart with your resume summary section and talk about your professional and personal development goals. Most companies don’t expect college students to perform at the same level as people with more employment history. However, they care more about how they can help the students grow. In other words, they want to see why you like this position and how they fit into your bigger plans for yourself.

Some Final Tips

Do you know how to make a college resume now? The key here is to be confident and flexible. Use a CV builder and choose a professional-looking template. Fill in all necessary information and keep in mind your job as a college student is to study and excel academically. If possible, try to tailor your resume according to the position you want and the company you’re after. Talk about why you want to work with them and how they align with your goals.