How to Create a Memorable Resume

Let’s be honest – after you apply for a job, your resume usually ends up amid a stack of paperwork on the hiring manager’s desk. It takes about six seconds for you to catch someone’s eye and make an impression so having a strong, unforgettable resume is vital. Below are a few tips to enhance your resume and place you in the running for the position you desire. 

A simple way to ensure your resume will be noticed by hiring managers is to use relevant keywords that relate to the position you are applying to. Significant keywords to include are related skills, languages, knowledge or areas of expertise that are applicable to the position. To determine which keywords would be the most effective, review the job description and seek similar job postings on various job sites to decide which terms are most used for the position.

Including your professional social media profiles on your resume allows the hiring manager to get a better idea of your personality, industry knowledge, and how you brand yourself. If you’re looking for a position in sales or marketing, displaying your expertise and knowledge and having a strong social media presence is essential. As students applying for jobs, we are constantly reminded to clean up our personal social media sites. You do not want to include your personal social media accounts on your resume – only list your professional accounts.

Generic phrases and cliché terms such as “hardworking, determined, or great communicator” need to be removed from your resume ASAP. Cut the fluff. No hiring manager has the time to read a resume over a page long. Determine which points of information you want to emphasize and focus on those areas. You can certainly go into detail about a previous job or related experience during the interview, but your resume should not be an essay of information. Make it short, simple, and easy to read.

These tips are only a few of many that should be considered when creating your resume. Ensure it represents your authenticity, knowledge, and applicable experience to create an unforgettable resume that sets you apart from other applicants.

Communication is KEY in an Interview

There is only so much a hiring manager is able to learn from a piece of paper. A candidate may have great grades, relevant experience and is fully qualified for the position but during the interview, the interviewer realizes this candidate has a dull, boring personality. You may only be partially qualified for the position but convince the interviewer you are the ideal candidate for the position. It is all about how you present yourself! Below are a few tips for job seekers on how to communicate effectively with the interviewer.

Break the Ice – Utilize the time at the beginning of an interview for small talk to release some of the tension and stress. Instead of diving right into business and questions, chat about the weather, any recent news or any interesting information you came about in your research about the organization. By engaging in small talk, the interviewer can gain a better understanding of your personality and how you communicate with others.

Engage – Once the conversation is going strong, engage with the interviewer by incorporating your research and knowledge of the company into your answer. Show the interviewer you are serious about the position by sharing information you learned about the company’s culture, competition or any recent news released about the organization. Use the opportunity to engage with the interviewer and prove you are more than competent for the position.

Be Professional – Although your interviewer will try to make you feel as comfortable as possible and you have engaged in calming conversation prior to the question portion of the interview, you cannot forget to remain professional. You must remember that you are in a professional business setting and speak in a professional, polished way.

These tips are important to keep in mind during your interview with a company. From my experience, the interviews that were more of a conversation rather than an interrogation were more successful and efficient. My responses to the questions asked were more confident and poised when I felt comfortable with the interviewer. Begin by breaking the ice, engage in conversation, and remain professional and poised throughout your interview and you will impress the interviewer and rise above the other candidates!

"The time is NOW, the person is YOU!" – Dr. Nido Qubein

"The time is NOW, the person is YOU!" is often heard by students of High Point University by our university president, Dr. Nido Qubein. As a graduating senior, I oftentimes reflect on Dr. Qubein's lectures and the strong pieces of advice he offers our students.

I started this blog with a well-known quote by Dr. Qubein because with graduation quickly approaching, it is time for seniors to crack down on their job searches. I will be the first to admit attempting to balance going to school full time and conducting a serious job search is difficult to balance at times; but I am making it happen.

According to career experts, it is extremely important to think about landing that first job well before graduation. Now I know all you graduating seniors probably just felt a large pit in your stomach thinking about the g-word and the real world but it is coming SO much faster than any of us are expecting. Let’s start planning now!

There are many advantages to beginning our job searches now. The earlier you begin applying for jobs in your industry, the more ambitious you look to hiring managers. We all know the competition between graduating college students across the nation is extremely high. Get your name and resume out there and begin building your network! Depending on your desired industry, many businesses prefer to hire early. Understand your industry, grow your network, and take risks to stay ahead of your competition.

Don’t worry if your friends have already secured a job after graduation and you haven’t even began to apply for jobs. It is not as hard to get started as you may fear. A great place to start is creating a strong resume tailored to your industry. Begin practicing those difficult interview questions so you are more than prepared when you schedule your first interview. Most importantly, be prepared to do a little juggling. Although your job search is extremely important, you cannot forget about your obligations to school, work, or extra-curricular activities.

The time is now to begin your job search and the person is you that companies desire to hire!

Network, Network, Network!

The concept of networking is drilled into our minds as college students approaching graduation. Networking is the single most powerful marketing tool for an individual or organization. Build connections and relationships with successful business professionals in your destined industry who can put you in contact with the right people to make your dream job a reality. Education, skills, and experience can only get you so far. Networking is key – it is all about who you know; better yet, who knows you.

The power of networking is so critical during your job search. I landed my summer internship by networking with family friends in my hometown. I applied for the position and fortunately knew someone that worked for the company who was able to put a good word in for me and helped me obtain the internship. I made so many valuable connections by networking with colleagues at company meetings, lunches and various other events. As graduation is approaching, I am reaching out to my current connections as well as building new ones.

In my social media marketing course at HPU, my professor instructed us to complete a social audit about our LinkedIn. This audit showed all of our connections by drawing out a diagram of how everyone was connected with one another. It was amazing to see how many people I was connected with and to see the mutual connections with others. My audit showed I had over 50,000 bridges of networking opportunities! This was an eye opener to me, emphasizing the importance of having a strong LinkedIn profile and fostering those connections and relationships.

High Point University’s Career and Internship Services office provides ample networking opportunities for students throughout the academic year. The Career and Internship Expo is typically held once a semester to encourage HPU students to network with representatives from companies across North Carolina. Representatives from various organizations visit HPU throughout the year and host a night in order to meet with students specifically interested in working for that company. There are even courses set up by the Office of Career and Internship Services that teach students how to network! As a student who has attended some of these networking events, I encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities while they have the chance.

Get yourself out there and network with professionals in your industry! Networking is vital and the perfect opportunity to market yourself and make yourself known. Remember, your net worth is only as good as your network!