How to Make a Resume for a First Job

Landing Your First Job: A Resume Guide

Getting your first job can be scary. But a great resume can really help. This guide will show you how to make one, even if you don't have much work experience.

Why Your First Resume is Different

Experienced people show off years of work. You? You show off your potential. Recruiters want to see if you're a good worker. They look for skills from volunteer work or school. Your resume needs to say, "Hire me!"

What Makes a Winning Resume?

1. Contact Info: Name, phone number, email – that's it! Maybe a LinkedIn link too.
2. Summary/Objective (Optional): A short sentence or two. Instead of talking about experience, talk about your skills and goals. Example: "Hardworking recent grad looking for a marketing job. I'm great at communication and numbers, and I'm a team player."
3. Skills: This is huge. List both hard skills (like knowing how to use software) and soft skills (like teamwork or problem-solving). Look at the job description – what skills do they want?
4. Education: High school and college info (name, degree, GPA if it's good, graduation date). Any awards? List them!
5. Experience: You've done things! Volunteer work? Clubs? Part-time jobs? Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Show how great you are with numbers! For example, instead of saying "I helped at the animal shelter," say "I organized the animal shelter's supplies, which saved them time and money."
6. Projects/Portfolio (Optional): If you built a website or wrote a story, show it off!

Making Your Experiences Shine

Let's make those experiences sound amazing:

• Volunteer Work: Don't say "I volunteered." Say "I improved the animal shelter's system, making things 15% more efficient."
• Extracurriculars: Don't say "I was on the debate team." Say "I led the debate team to the regional finals! I'm a great leader and communicator."
• Personal Projects: Don't say "I made a website." Say "I built a website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It even increased sales by 20%!"

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Recruiters

Many companies use computers to scan resumes for keywords. Use words from the job description. Don't just stuff them in – use them naturally! Start each bullet point with an action verb (like "Managed," "Developed," "Created").

Making it Look Good

Keep it simple and clean. Use a nice font (like Arial or Calibri). Use headings and bullet points. One page is best for a first resume. Use a template if you want!

Tailor it to Each Job

This is key! Don't send the same resume everywhere. Read the job description carefully. Change your summary, skills, and experience to match what they want. This shows you're interested.

Proofread!

Check for typos and grammar mistakes. Ask a friend to look it over too. A clean resume shows you care about details.

Network!

Talk to people! Friends, family, teachers – anyone who might know someone hiring. They might have advice or even job leads!

Use Online Job Boards

Use sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor. Some have resume tools too. Your school might have career services – use them!

Don't Forget the Cover Letter!

Your resume is a quick overview. Your cover letter explains why you're perfect for this job. It shows you're enthusiastic and a good fit for the company.

Keep it Updated

As you get more experience, update your resume! It's a living document.

Your First Impression Matters

Your first resume is important. Put in the time – it will pay off! Make it count!