In today’s competitive job market, employers are looking for anything that sets a potential employee apart from the rest. A well-written and put together resume can be just the thing.

        One thing you need to understand is that when employers conduct a search, they are looking for candidates who best suit the job descriptions. That is why you need to clearly present your qualifications in your resume.

        When creating your resume there are a few things you need to keep in mind. You want to market your skills, but only the ones that apply to the job. You want to show potential employers you are the best fit for the job.

As for the content, use bulleted lists to show information such as job duties, skills, and other experiences. This helps to make the information easier to read and scan through.

When formatting your resume, keep a consistent fort and point size scheme. Also make sure your resume and your cover letter match in formatting and style.

        You should always have references on your resume. Unless it is specified in the job description, list 3-5 references. Make sure these references can speak highly of you. Also inform them, ahead of time, what positions you are applying for, and that they may receive a phone call.

        To find more information about creating your resume, contact the CSU Career Center.

Here are some quick tips to help you build your resume.

The Content

Include keywords from the job description

Use simple bulleted phrases

Include any skill that can be applied to the specific job

Avoid personal pronouns such as I, me, we, you, and they

Be consistent in your use of tense in a job description such as present tense or past tense

Be sure to include references, who are prepared to speak highly of you

Formatting

Arrange section and bullets by how important they will be to the prospective employer

Use reverse chronological order within sections such as ‘Work Experience’

List the most related experiences toward the top of your resume

Maintain formatting consistency from top to bottom

Make sure font and basic design matches your cover letter.

College Avenue reporter Joe Tiner can be reached at collegeavenue@collegian.com. Look for the Interviewing Guide issue of College Avenue on racks Mar. 12!