Creating a quality resume takes time, hard work, and a little bit of insider knowledge. Even the smallest of mistakes or errors could disqualify you for internship and jobs, so t’s important to reread, reread, and reread before you submit. If it seems nitpicky- that’s because it is! Your resume is an employer’s first impression of you, so taking the time to make sure it’s free of spelling and grammatical errors, factually correct, formatted in an appealing way, and easy to scan is important. Keep reading to find out five common mistakes students make on their resumes- and how to avoid them!
Spell Out Your Education
Often times students will simply put B.S. CptS as the degree they are getting under their education section. While this technically is correct, it’s important to spell it out fully: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. First of all, this helps if the company uses a computer program or scanner to screen resumes, since they may have key words they’re looking for such as “Bachelor” or “Computer Science”. Additionally, this makes it easy to identify your level of education for someone quickly looking at your resume. Make sure to also spell out the school fully i.e. Washington State University and include what campus you are part of by saying the location (Pullman, WA or Vancouver, WA, etc.).
Include your GPA
Students with a 3.0 or higher GPA are encouraged to include their GPA on their resume. Simply put it next to your education. Example: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering; GPA 3.7. It is important to note that if you are applying to an internship that has a minimum GPA requirement, you must list your GPA on your resume (assuming you meet the qualifications of the position). Failure to do so could result in you not being considered for the internship.
Skills
Having a skills section is a great way to highlight software, programs, and certifications you have knowledge about. Your skills section is not a great place to list soft skills you believe you have such as time management, organization, team leadership, and responsibility. Stating soft skills is really just your opinion of yourself. Instead, incorporate soft skills into your experience and projects sections when you are describing what you did in certain roles or projects. For example, instead of saying outright that you “work well in a team environment” you could include a group project you were a member of and say, for example, “worked on a diverse team to….”. SHOWING you have a skill is way more valuable than telling that you have the skill.
Address
Often times students include their address alongside their contact information at the top of their resume. While this can be helpful if you are applying to a local position or the position requires you to live in a certain town or city, it can sometimes be used as a limiting factor for applicants. For example, if you list a Tacoma address on your resume but are applying for a position in downtown Seattle, an employer may think your commute would be too long with traffic and eliminate you from consideration- even if you were willing to make the drive or relocate. Conversations about where you live are often discussed in an interview situation, so save that information for then, if possible.
Objective Statements
Objective statements used to be recommended for inclusion at the top of resumes- but not anymore! Think about it: if you put an objective statement about wanting to get a Chemical Engineering internship and you use the resume to apply for a Chemical Engineering internship- of course that’s your objective, otherwise you wouldn’t be applying. Since undergraduate resumes really should only be 1- page long, it’s a waste of space to include an objective statement. Instead, consider a Summary of Qualifications section that summarizes the main points of why you are a great fit for the position. Not only will this set you apart from other applicants, but it makes it easy for the employer to quickly skim your strengths.
Check out major-specific resume examples on the VCEA Internships & Career Services website under Resources. Want some personalized resume assistance? The VCEA Internships & Career Services office is happy to meet with you. Join our Daily Drop-In Career Coaching hours Monday-Friday 11am-4pm via Zoom or schedule a 30-minute appointment with one of our Career Coaches by following the links below:
Taylor Shewchuk, Graduate Career Coach