Resume Tips to Be an Instant Hire

Creating your resume is undoubtedly stressful. It's a constant effort to make yourself look so good on paper that employers can't help but hold onto your resume instead of someone else’s. But how does one go about creating such an eye-catching resume?

First, you have to decide what content to put on your resume. This step starts with getting involved! If you are a high school student, join clubs at your school or find a part-time job. High school has many opportunities such as Key Club, National Honor Society, student council, sports teams, Future Farmers of America, and 4H. On paper, these opportunities look very appealing to future colleges and jobs. If you are in college, see what your university has to offer its students. Many schools have a form of student government, men's and women's organizations, and Greek life. If those options don’t pique your interest, you could also apply for a job on or off-campus, to be a Resident Advisor, or a teaching assistant. All of these opportunities show involvement on top of being a student, which looks fantastic on a resume.

Second, the wording is one of the most crucial tools that will work in your favor. TikTok creator @erinmcgoff has some incredible tricks and tips on making prior experiences and jobs sound very professional. She takes jobs such as bartending, babysitting, and retail and puts a spin on their responsibilities. For bartenders, she asks: “Did you 'make drinks', or did you 'serve bar food and alcoholic beverages including wine, craft beer, and custom cocktails to 100-200+ patrons per night'?" It is wording choices such as these that will catch an employer's eye.

The third piece of advice is something I heard from my uncle, who hires for GSG Dallas: put a little snippet about yourself at the end of your resume. Looking at someone’s entire life on a page can be quite dehumanizing, so remind these employers that you are human. Being genuine about your passions shows possible employers that you work hard and would be a great addition to their workforce. This personality could push someone to hire you if they're on the fence. Also, be sure to include a thank you for their time and consideration in looking over your resume.

Yes, resumes can be very intimidating—there is no doubt. However, if you step back, breathe, and build it to represent the best version of yourself, you have already won half the battle.

Written by: Madison Corley, Photography: Angel Frando, Design: Dana Dang, Social Media: Lindsey Rogers