My Resume Sucks. Now What

My Resume Sucks. Now What Photo by onebuckresume via Flickr Now what? It can get discouraging, scanning through the extensive experience sections of your peers LinkedIn profiles while finding it hard to even complete whole sections of your own, but you are not alone (at least, thats what I tell myself). Actually, even though it may not seem like you’re in the same boat as everyone else, the majority of the student population do not have much to put on their resumes at first. Everyone needed a first internship at one point and it is not an uncommon occurrence for kids our age to apply with minimal job experience. Once soaked with a cold hard drowning of reality, I knew I had to jazz up my resume, but for real. I didn’t want to lie or exaggerate jobs that I’d done. I knew I needed to do something to boost my marketability if I was going to even be considered for any of the internships I wanted. If you’re worried that you’ll be left in the dust because of a weak resume, here are some tips on how to improve it and how to make yourself a better applicant for the job you want. 1. Get Involved.  This may sound awful, but I found myself writing a little white lie here a little white lie there to have something to put on my resume because I had zero to write that was true.  If youre nervous that you don’t have enough experience to apply at some of the places you want, then get experience.   I joined two school organizations this semester and I couldn’t be happier.   The extra responsibility makes me feel more accomplished at the end of the week, and if I can’t make it to a meeting once a week, what am I good for honestly? A commitment and effort towards a project that you weren’t obligated to do shows a possible employer you have responsibility and a passion for something other than just going through life motions.   I’ve met new people, people whom I might not never have crossed paths with if I had not joined these clubs and it turns out I’ve made some pretty great connections for possible internships this summer. 2. Weed Out the Fibs.    If you do end up getting a job or internship that is a little over your head because of a lie, your real skill level will come out within the first week most likely.   If you put under skills that youre an expert at photoshop, it’ll seem a little fishy when a project takes you ten times longer than its suppose to.   Employers will quickly see your real experience and you will come off as extremely unprofessional. Rather than lie, think about the skills you have, not the skills you need to be considered qualified. You may not have an ‘in-depth’ knowledge of Microsoft Office, but can you use it?   That’s a skill. 3. Do Something. Learn a Skill. From starting to sew to learning a new language, the more skills you have, the more versatile, marketable, and interesting you are. Not to mention, it makes you feel good.   Learning something new helps people to relieve stress and express themselves. Pick up a hobby, something that can help you pass time and learn about yourself. Start to paint or draw, learn  to cook Asian food, dabble into authentic Mexican cuisine.   Even if it doesn’t fit on your resume, chances are it’ll come up in conversation during an interview and employers like to hear that their potential employees are interesting and creative in other areas of their lives. Its never too late to add on to your resume. You have all the tools you need to succeed, but the extra effort is what makes all the difference.