9 Key Elements To Include On Your College Resume

As the job market increasingly gets more and more competitive, you must think of ways to better yourself and to stand out among thousands of other students looking for internships or jobs.  Consider including all of these elements, aside from your work and internship experience, when perfecting your resume.

1. Achievements.  You need to brag about yourself!  List any scholarships you have received.  List all of the semesters you made the Dean's List.  Share which honor society you have been inducted into or which Honors College program you are completing.  State any certifications you have obtained (ex. Hoot Suite University Certification).

2.  GPA.  If your GPA is higher than a 3.0, definitely put that at the top.  State your exact GPA.  For example, write 3.691, not 3.7.  Employers can read your transcripts if they complete a background check, so be sure to always update your resume with your most current GPA.  It's bound to fluctuate each semester.

3.  Awards.  If you have won any awards for outstanding achievement, participating in a club, for being a leader or from a contest at work or your internship, be sure to specify.  State the exact award won, the organization that awarded it to you and the date you received it.

4. Relevant Courses.  As you get further into your major, you will take more intense, relevant courses where things you learn will be applicable to an internship or job.  Choose at least 4 and up to 8 relevant courses to include and continue to update them as you get further into your coursework.

5. Sample Projects.  This is not totally necessary, but definitely something worth including if you don't have much relevant experience to list and want to fill space.  If you are a communication or business major and did a semester long advertising project that you got an A on, state the project title and a brief 1-2 sentence description of what it entailed.  Any successful campaigns completed for an internship would be great to showcase too.

6. Special Skills.  Basically everyone knows Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, so list skills that not everyone has.  If you are familiar with specific programs, software or social media platforms, list those.  Some examples are Cision, Adobe In Design, Photoshop, Illustrator, iMovie, Radian 6, Hoot Suite, and Bitly.

7. 'Creative Extras'.  If you have your own personal blog, author page on an online publication, website or online portfolio, you must provide these links.  These creative pieces differentiate you from others and show that you take pride in your work or are passionate about a specific topic.

8. Clubs and Activities.  State the clubs, teams or sorority or fraternity you have been a part of.  Include your dates of participation and a very brief sentence on how you were an active member.  If you held a leadership position, state that position along with your responsibilities and accomplishments.

9. Volunteer Experience.  If you are in a sorority or fraternity, I'm sure you are dedicated to at least one charity.  List that organization and what you have done to contribute.  If you do charitable work on your own, indicate which organization and why you are devoted to it.

Anything I left out that is essential to include?  Leave a comment and share with other readers!

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