How to Build A Professional Résumé in College
As you go through your college search process, and even as you begin your college career, your plans for life after college may seem far off and daunting. But the truth is it really will be here sooner than you think. Your résumé is a crucial tool for starting the career that you want. If done right, it will show your passion, skills, and why a company should hire you. If you have the ambition, and if your college offers you growth and opportunity, you will have a résumé together just from being involved on campus and doing things that you love.
You don’t want to graduate with nothing to show for it in the way of a résumé, since studies show that 95% of companies are looking for new hires who already have experience in their field. It’s also important to start getting opportunities that you can put on your résumé early on so that you can show that you have been working hard for a long time and not just the year before graduation. Again, it might seem intimidating to put this all together, but if you do everything right, it will fall into place and you will have a stellar résumé.
So what can you include in your résumé? A lot more than you think. When I was a first-year college student, I thought I could only put professional jobs and internships on my résumé. It is hugely important to have jobs and internships on your résumé; it shows that you’re able to conduct yourself well in a professional workplace while proving that you have skills for that field. However, the clubs and organizations that you are a part of also have a place in your résumé. After all, if you work hard to benefit the organizations that you are involved in, you should get to add that experience into your résumé as well. This can include executive or officer positions that you have held, on-campus committees that you have been a part of, and even skills that you have acquired from special interest clubs. At Florida Southern College, for example, clubs like Toastmasters teach speech skills, Video Game club can teach problem solving and how to think on the spot, and the Harry Potter Club’s Quidditch game requires organization and event-planning abilities. If you take part in any activities like these, it’s probably because you are interested in and have a passion for them. And that is why they are the perfect thing to include in your professional résumé.
Some of my favorite things that I have listed on my résumé are my involvement in my campus improv troupe, several honor societies, and my hosting position on my school’s web show. Since I am the current president of my improv troupe, I make sure to highlight the leadership and organization skills that I have acquired from my position as well as the performance and public speaking opportunities that have come with doing improv comedy. Though I haven’t held an executive position on any of the honor societies I have been inducted into, it is still great to have them listed, because employers know that honor societies are exclusive and only induct top-ranking students. As for the web series and talk show, called The Cado Show, my involvement proves that I am comfortable speaking in public or in front of a camera and that I can function well in the studio and other fast-paced work environments that require important problem-solving skills. My college does its part to encourage student involvement by holding an event where all campus organizations are present at the beginning of each semester. That was how I was able to find so many interesting things to be involved in that are now an integral part of my résumé and who I am. So go out, get involved, and build a résumé filled with things that you are passionate about and proud of!
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If you are interested in getting involved in our Student Ambassador program, contact Erin Pettus at erin@collegesofdistinction.com.
Learn More About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a rapidly rising star among the nation’s best private colleges. Located along Central Florida’s high-tech corridor, the College enrolls undergraduate students from 43 states and 39 countries on its scenic, 113-acre campus. Recognized for its focus on “engaged learning,” FSC guarantees every student an internship. An innovative new program, the Junior Journey, guarantees all entering students the opportunity to study abroad during their junior or senior year at no cost as part of one of their courses. The College has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, offers more than 50 majors, and is known for its vibrant student life culture and extraordinarily beautiful campus.
