By Jennifer Mellor, Chief Innovation Officer, Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation
September is recognized as International Update Your Resume Month, a perfect time for students to refine their resumes and prepare for future job opportunities. Whether you’re entering the job market soon or just gearing up for internships, a polished and updated resume is essential.
“Many high school students don’t think they have much experience to include on a first resume,” said Jennifer Mellor, chief innovation officer, Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation. But they can include things like leadership roles in a club or captain of a sports team, leading a group project or babysitting to demonstrate how they are qualified and will be an asset to a company.”
ElevateEdAZ, an initiative of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, prepares individuals for college and career with services like internship placements, job shadows, and resume workshops for students. Below are some tips to help students make the most of revising their resume this month:
- Start with a Strong Format – Choose a clean, professional layout and list experiences in reverse chronological order. Use headings, bullet points, and consistent fonts to enhance readability. Use black font only and pick an easy font like (Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica). Consider utilizing templates available through platforms like Canva or Google Docs.
- Tailor Your Content – Customize your resume for each position you apply for. Highlight relevant coursework, projects, and skills that align with the job description. Use keywords from the job listing to improve your chances of passing through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
- Highlight Education and Skills – As a student, your education is key. List your school’s name, diploma, expected graduation date, and GPA. List any awards or scholarships you have received, and relevant coursework or projects related to the job. Include both hard skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency) and soft skills, better known as people skills (e.g., communication and teamwork).
- Showcase Experience – Include internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and relevant projects. Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements. Quantify your accomplishments wherever possible (e.g., “Increased social media engagement by 30%”).
- Incorporate Extracurricular Activities – Highlight leadership roles, clubs, sports or organizations that demonstrate your skills and interests. This shows initiative and a well-rounded character. Focus on experiences that illustrate teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership.
- Keep It Concise – Ideally, your resume should be one page. Be selective about what to include and avoid unnecessary details. Use concise language and eliminate fluff—focus on what truly matters. Save it as a PDF, and it’s easy to email or upload to apply for jobs.
- Proofread and Edit – Spelling and grammar mistakes can create a poor impression. Always proofread your resume multiple times. Consider asking a friend, mentor, or career services for feedback.
- Add a Professional Summary (Optional) – A brief professional summary at the top can provide context about your aspirations and key qualifications. Tailor this to reflect your career goals and highlight your most relevant experience. This section is written in third person and should have a personal tone.
- Update Regularly – Make it a habit to update your resume regularly, especially after completing projects, gaining new skills, or taking on new roles. This ensures you don’t forget important details.
- Leverage Online Resources – Utilize online tools and resources, such as LinkedIn, to research industry standards and see how peers present their experiences.
International Update Your Resume Month serves as a timely reminder for students to invest in their future. By following these tips, you can create a compelling resume that stands out to potential employers. Remember, your resume is often your first impression—make it count!
About ElevateEdAZ
Launched in 2020, ElevateEdAZ, an initiative of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, prepares individuals for college and career through stronger alignment between education, business, and the community. ElevateEdAZ is focused on increasing the number of students completing high-quality education to workforce learning pathways that align with the needs of industry and supports students in completing industry-recognized credentials, attaining early post-secondary credit, and participating in capstone work-based learning experiences, such as internships and job shadows. For more information, visit https://elevateedaz.com.
Bio:
Jennifer Mellor currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Phoenix Chamber. In this role, Jennifer oversees the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, which convenes and catalyzes business, education, and community to enhance college and career readiness, develop a stronger workforce, and build healthier communities throughout Arizona.