Many students mistakenly delay starting their resumes because they believe that they don’t have “real” or so-called “professional” experience. This can be a costly oversight, as many organizations and businesses (including offices at UMBC) hire students who don’t have a lot of paid work experience, but do have useful skills. They are willing to provide students with opportunities to work or volunteer with them, but often require a resume in the recruiting process. Those students with well-crafted, proof-read and interesting resumes can take advantage of these important opportunities. 

Career Center staff can help you present the highly relevant and marketable skills you may have already gained through part-time, summer, and volunteer positions (including those during high school). Students are often surprised that camp counseling positions, fast food jobs, and participation in athletics and community service have fostered “transferable” skills which employers’ value. 

Have you held leadership positions in a scout troop, musical group, or community service organization? Have you developed expertise through avid pursuit of a hobby (e.g., photography) or working in your parents’ business unpaid? Were you editor of your high school newspaper? Have you helped build something? Think “outside the box” about your skills, interests and aptitudes when you develop your resume. 

Many excellent on-campus and off-campus jobs for students are available right this very moment through UMBCworks.  But you need a resume to participate!

Internships also require resumes, thus getting yours started, edited, proof-read and into the hands of recruiters and hiring managers before key deadlines should be motivating you to get started now! The Career Center can help connect you to great internship opportunities and you may find others on your own. Ideally, you should be actively seeking and securing internships (opportunities to apply what you have learned in the classroom in real world settings) for your junior and senior years. Did you know that the most competitive summer internships require applications nearly a year in advance? Delaying the development of your resume now may sideline your ability to take advantage of these career-related opportunities.

Start your resume now and it will grow with you as you gain new skills and experience. Having a resume helps you be confident now and demonstrates your readiness to pursue competitive jobs and/or advanced education upon graduation. Having a resume that you are excited about and proud to share with others requires you to take ownership and take action.

Many Students Don’t Have the Resume and Interview Skills to Actually Get Hired by Sandy Malone on the Huff Post Business Blog, posted June 6, 2014.

What do you believe is your most marketable skill to highlight on your resume that might impress employers or graduate schools?  Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.