9 Resume Rules I Wish Someone Told Me Sooner
Your resume is your first impression.
When you’re job searching, in order to even get the chance to speak to a human being, you have to make a good impression on paper. But for some reason, new grads keep getting thrown into the workforce with zero real guidance on how to build one that actually works.
Here are the most important things to keep in mind when writing (or updating) yours.
9 Essential Resume Rules
1. Contact info goes at the top, and it needs to be current.
Name, phone, email, LinkedIn if you've got one - easy to find, easy to use, easy to remember (you want that name recognition as they’re sifting through who knows how many applications). Bonus points: format this header the same way as you do on your cover letter so they look like a cohesive set.
2. Update your email address.
Graduating seniors, if you're still using your school email (like, anything that ends in .edu), update it to some version of your name @ a commonly used domain. There’s a good chance your school email will expire after graduation. Never use your .edu email when applying/connecting with institutions you hope to stay in touch with long term. Otherwise you risk missing a belated job offer when they have an opening that suits you.
Exceptions for academics who are applying to jobs in the academic world and have confirmed with their school that their own email address will not expire.
3. Mirror the job description's language.
Pull key buzzwords straight from the posting and weave them naturally into your bullet points. A lot of resumes get filtered by software before a human ever sees them, and this is crucial for getting you past that first step. Also, the person sifting through the first round of applications often isn’t even someone who works in that department - if you use the exact keywords they’re skimming for, they’ll be able to recognize just how qualified you are regardless of their own familiarity with your field.
4. Keep it to one page.
If you’re early in your career, or even early-ish in your career, it’s best to keep your resume to just one single-sided page. The person reading through hundreds of applications will likely only spend a few seconds on yours before moving to the next one, so make sure all the lines they can skim are the best of the best. Exceptions can apply if you’re in a field like academia or the arts where portfolios and publications are expected. But none of you need to include that one day you volunteered five years ago (unless you’re sending this resume directly to that organization - more on that below).
5. Add a skills section near the top or on the side.
Make it easy for a recruiter skimming for 6 seconds to see exactly what you bring to the table without hunting for it. This simple list section is an awesome place to squeeze in some of those buzzwords from the job description that are relevant to you, without making them sound forced.
6. Only include your GPA if it's genuinely impressive.
If it's not a selling point, it doesn't need to be on the page. You know how hard your classes were, but you don’t want that hiring manager to wrongfully assume that you aren’t as smart as that other candidate who took a bunch of easy-A courses.
7. Update it! Every. Single. Time.
Yes, it’s annoying. But tailoring your resume to each specific job application will make a huge difference in how likely you are to get an interview. A generic resume sent to every job is a resume optimized for nothing. Adjust everything from your bullet points to your skills section to match what each specific employer actually cares about.
8. Name-drop.
If you’ve worked with a company or organization that your employer would recognize - such as a competitor or an institution they frequently partner with - say so. Though most of the experience on your resume should be recent (and paid work, if possible), it is worth highlighting your personal connection to the field/company even if that’s from older jobs, volunteer work, or extracurriculars. Showcase your direct, applicable experience every way you can.
9. Match your language to your audience.
Field-specific lingo is absolutely a plus if you're applying within that niche - it shows fluency. But, if you're applying somewhere unrelated to that community, translate it into plain language (or cut it entirely to save space) so it isn’t confusing for professionals outside your bubble to understand.
For example, did you work at a cultural resource center? Amazing! But if you’re applying to a software company, instead of naming each lesser-known holiday you planned an event for, you might want to summarize that to “holiday programs” and focus your description on the transferrable skills you practiced there like organizing, marketing, etc.
The Gist
Your resume isn't a list of everything you've ever done. It's a pitch for why this specific role should be yours. Every decision on the page, from formatting to word choice, should be working toward that goal.
Once your resume's solid, your cover letter is next. If you want an actual human to look at yours and tell you what's working and what's not, that's exactly what I'm here for. Book a quick call and let's get your resume interview-worthy.
Still feeling a little stuck?
No pressure, but if your brain is doing that thing where it spirals about your future at 11pm, a Career Clarity Call might save you a few sleepless nights. We’ve got you! Hop on a quick 30 min call with me for just $20, or grab a package of longer sessions for a deep dive into your next steps.
