Although a resume is only a short document, it can prove to be incredibly difficult to write. You may never have needed to write a resume before, which means you’re starting with a blank slate. The good news is when you know what to include, the task becomes less intimidating. You’ll be able to create a resume that stands out, no matter if you’re searching for a part-time job to earn extra spending money or you’re competing with other students for a top internship. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Add Your Basic Information at the Top

Make it immediately obvious who the resume belongs to by adding your name in a large font at the top of the page. Follow this with key contact information, such as your email address, your phone number, and the URL to your LinkedIn profile. It’s important to avoid making extra work for a hiring manager who likes your application and wants to contact you.

Note that it’s no longer standard to include your street address on your resume. There will likely be times when you need to upload your resume online — the last thing you want is to have your address published on the internet.

2. Include Your Education Near the Top

As a student, your education is a crucial part of your resume, especially while you lack work experience in your field. In addition to details like the name of your university, your major, and your expected graduation date, include any awards you’ve received, classes that particularly relate to the job, and top achievements.

As soon as you have enough information about your university education, it becomes unnecessary to include details about high school.

3. Detail Your Work Experience

Start with your most recent work experience and list the other positions you’ve held in reverse chronological order. Be specific about your duties and what you achieved for the company, using numbers whenever possible. To keep the word count to a minimum, avoid using the word “I” before verbs — it is already obvious you’re talking about yourself.

4. List Your Skills

Consider all the skills you possess that are necessary for the kinds of jobs you’re applying for. You may have acquired skills at other jobs, during internships, at school, or through volunteering. You may have also taught yourself some skills. List as many skills as you can — companies often use software to search resumes for keywords, meaning yours could go unread if it lacks a critical skill.

5. Summarize the Key Points

Pick out the most interesting or relevant aspects of who you are, what you’ve achieved, and what you have to offer to employers. Turn this information into a short summary section for the top of your resume.

6. Keep to One Page

Resumes should be a maximum of two pages — but one page is better. As a student, you should be able to fit everything within a single page. To stay concise, cut unnecessary words, avoid repetition, and leave out any obvious phrases such as, “References available upon request.”

7. Tailor Your Resume for the Position

Create a standard resume you’ll use as a starting point when applying to jobs, but tweak the information to make it more relevant for each individual position. For instance, it may be worth changing the words you use and skills you highlight to match those that appear in the job post.

You’ll want to have somewhere comfortable to return to after a long day working at your job or internship. You can find UOttawa off-campus housing at THEO. In addition to your spacious suite, you’ll be able to use our great onsite amenities, which include study areas, a gym, a basketball court, an art room, and a music room. Book a tour to see why you’ll love living here.