By KARA ALLEN, CSU Public Relations Assistant
Kyle Ritten sat down to talk about the DO’s and DON’T’s of resume writing and development.
Kyle is a second-year doctoral student at Minnesota State University, Mankato, studying Counselor Education and Supervision. He is currently serving as a career advisor at the Career Development Center, and shared very helpful insight into resume building for graduating Seniors!
What makes a resume stand out?
“Formatting, formatting, formatting. Because employers only look at resumes briefly, the way you format your information is necessary to be successful and to stand out. The next piece would be the job descriptors and overall content. You want to utilize the language that the employers use and incorporate it (accurately) with your past position descriptors.”
What is the best way to develop your resume as you approach graduation?
“I believe the best way to develop your resume as you approach graduation would be to take it in small chunks. For instance, one day you may develop the outline or format of the resume, then the next you fill out your work experiences, then the next your volunteer experience, etc. Doing so will make it more manageable and allow you to target any areas where you may need some assistance in.”
How long does the average employer look at a resume?
“Only about 5-7 seconds. Scary, yes, that is why formatting is so key when it comes to resumes.”
What are your top DO’S and DON’T’s on a resume?
“Great question. I am going to break them down:
DO’s
- Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying to rather than putting out a blanket resume. Utilize the same language they are using.
- Utilize proper sentence structure on your job descriptors.
- Have someone else that you trust review your resume. Another pair of eyes never hurts.
- List your work/related experiences in order from most recent to least recent
- Identify with your own resume. It may sound cliché, but be sure that your resume best reflects you, what you did, your accomplishments, and your skills.
DON’T’s
- Oversell or exaggerate your qualifications. Employers will find out one way or another.
- Use templates. They can be distracting and could look very similar to others applying for the same position.
- Use “I” or “My” in a resume. Focus on more objective language.
- List too many previous jobs that are not directly associated with your career path.
- Have any misspellings or poor grammar.”
What is your best piece of advice to graduating seniors when it comes to their resume?
“Resumes can be overwhelming to develop, and you may feel a lot of pressure to create the best document possible. To overcome these feelings, taking the resume in small chunks may assist you. Additionally, be sure to have your resumes prepared before graduating. Many companies and organizations are already posting open positions, so having one prepared before graduation will allow you to find that job before leaving MSU. Additionally, though some may be aware of the resource, we offer the Job Search Handbook that can be accessed through MSU’s Career Development Center website. This provides many examples of various resumes (and cover letters) to assist in your formatting, language, and how to create a resume. Also, come see us! We love working with seniors at the Career Development Center as it is exciting to celebrate with them as well as prepare them for their life after college.”
6. What is your best piece of advice to graduating Seniors (in general)?
During COVID-19, we are seeing an increase in delays of companies and organizations getting back to students that apply for internships or job positions. Some may be overwhelmed with the number of applications; some may be understaffed due to budget cuts. Be patient and do not hesitate to reach out to them if you have not heard back after an appropriate amount of time. However, on a lighter note, enjoy your time. Though the pandemic has thrown us for a loop, it is important to celebrate your accomplishments and to be proud of how you have navigated your college career.
