Writing your very first resume can be a daunting process. And it doesn't help to know that recruiters spend an average of six seconds reviewing a resume before they make the initial decision on candidates, according to research conducted by TheLadders, an online job-matching service for professionals.
"Many students don't know what should and should not be included in their first resume," says Amanda Augustine, a career-advice expert and spokesperson for TopRésumé. "While there are no hard and fast rules when writing a resume, it really depends on what content you have to work with, there are some preliminary guidelines all students or new professionals should follow."
She says the most important things to think about when you're creating your first resume are your job goals and your audience. "Ask yourself: If I handed the resume to someone who knew nothing about my college major or career direction, could they easily identify the type of role I'm targeting and why within the first 30 seconds?"
To get a clearer picture of what makes a resume great, we asked Augustine to create a sample of an excellent one for someone with little to no experience.
While your resume may look different, depending on the industry you're in, the one below should serve as a useful guide for entry-level professionals with very little work experience:
What makes this an excellent resume for someone with no experience? Augustine outlines the following reasons: