An important career skill you need is to learn how to write a resume. A resume is a formal document that highlights your education, work experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. Resumes should be well thought out and customized for each position you apply for. You should update your resume often to keep track of your achievements and experiences. Be honest about your skills and experience and do not embellish. Alternatively, don’t underestimate your skills! Making an appointment with a career coach can help you identify skills that you may be developing both professionally and in your volunteer work, classwork, and in your family and home life.
Employers want to know what you have to offer in the first 10-15 lines of your resume (about six seconds of reading), so show your strongest skills first. Tailor your resume for each job application but have a "master" resume, where you keep track of all of your experiences and accomplishments.
Download a resume template. This template will open in Google Docs and will need to be downloaded to your computer or added to your Google Drive to edit. Be wary of using downloadable templates from the internet. While they might look nice, employers prefer a simple resume format rather than one with sidebars and lots of colors and graphics. Also, software used for vetting resumes can’t discern text from images and you may be passed over for a job you’re qualified for!
Learn more resume tips from career experts and employers.