Resume-building is the most-used service at the Insalaco Center for Career Development.

   Director Bernadette Rushmer said there are always resources available for students who need help.

   “The resume appointment is our best seller here in the Insalaco Center. A lot of what we do individually with students is to help them create or refine their resume. We do offer workshops, but those are more general. We do recommend coming in and meeting with someone individually because everyone’s experiences are going to be different. “

   Rushmer said students should also seek help from faculty.

   “There’s also many faculty on campus who work with students on their resumes. Communications is a good example where the faculty are knowledgeable as to what information the student should put on their resumes.”

   She said students make one common mistake: They don’t have many sets of eyes glance review resumes for grammar and spelling errors.

   “I would also recommend, regardless of whoever helps you, have somebody else look it over before you submit it just to see if they can catch simple things, such as did you forget a period or to double-check spelling? So try to get someone who isn’t as familiar with it to go through it and see if they notice something that you might have overlooked.”

   Rushmer said students may get as creative as they would like with their resumes as long as that creativity is acceptable in their field.

   “If it’s one that tends to be a more creative major such as marketing or communications – you really need to know the industry and that would dictate what type of resume you may have.”

   Rushmer said it’s never too early to begin building a resume as it’s always a work in progress.

   “We recommend beginning the resume very early on in your college career. This is for a couple of reasons – one, a resume is an ever-evolving document, so at least creating one as a first year student or even as a sophomore, that gives you the backbone of the resume. Then as you gain experiences, you can continue to add it.”

   Students may be surprised to find all of the different uses for their resumes. Rusher said the resume is more than a marketing tool for job-seekers.

   “You also might need that resume for summer employment, internship experiences, even some volunteer work will ask to see your resume. So if you have one created, you can update it continuously, and that way you’re always ready if an opportunity arises,” said Rushmer.

   Students looking to separate themselves from others applying for the same job can also use their resumes as a tool to showcase their experiences.

   “One of the things is that your experiences will vary. Having some strong experiences on the resume, such as internships or meaningful summer experiences, will definitely stand out on a resume.”

   Another useful tip, according to Rushmer, is to tailor the resume to the job objectives.

   “We suggest, in terms of the formatting, is to start out strong. So if you choose to use an objective – make it an employer-focused objective. Instead of just saying what you are looking for, include a couple of pieces that the employer may be interested in.”

   Regardless of a student’s field, Rushmer suggests that students begin the document with an attention-grabber.

   “Many students choose to do a qualifications profile or professional summary right at the top of their resume, which is almost like a mini resume in itself. We read from top down so what are say the three highlights that you want an employer to know? If you can capture their interest right from the get-go then that’s going to make them want to read more.”

   But what works for one students may not work for another, and Rushmer said students should mold their resume according to standards of the discipline.