Student & New Graduate Resume Answers
By Sue Campbell, 1st-Writer.com

keep in mind that employers are looking for "attitude," "character," "motivation," and "leadership" traits in the entry level positions they fill.

So even if your only job was flipping burgers at the local hamburger joint, if you showed up for work on time, applied your best efforts, treated the work like it mattered, were an asset to your employer and the customers you served, and you worked well with your co-workers - then you can show a prospective employer that you are the "type" of individual who is well suited for the job.

You can achieve this by leading your document with a summary section that highlights those skills and characteristics you possess that will allow you to excel in the position or industry you're targeting. These can include: communication or interpersonal skills, time management abilities, problem solving skills, analytical abilities, computer proficiencies, etc.

Look at the ads you're targeting - what types of characteristics are they hoping to secure?

Another very good way of helping to identify these natural abilities is to ask yourself "What made me choose this field? What is it about this type of work that appeals to me? What part of this work do I look forward to doing most? Why do I think I'm going to be well suited for this role or industry?"

People who hate working with numbers and calculations are unlikely to pursue an education or position as a Certified Public Accountant. There must be something about the field you chose, the education you pursued, and the type of work it encompasses that attracted you.

Most people excel by doing work they enjoy - work which encompasses some natural ability, interests or inclinations.

Educational achievements - including course lists.

If your primary selling feature is your education, then it makes sense to lead your document with your educational achievements, even if you have unrelated work history to include.

Including courses completed can give your reader a greater sense of the value of your education. Including your GPA, if high, can also add value.

Later, as you gain more relevant, valuable career experience, including this type of information will become less important.

Example:

Jobs, internships and all relevant experience.

This includes experience gained through internships and/or positions held where your primary responsibilities included skills directly relevant to the positions you're now targeting. Think about skills that may be considered "transferable."