Summer is a time when school employees, students, new graduates, and others find summer jobs and also when college students build their experience through internships. While it may seem that these short-term positions have no real impact on a resume, when presented correctly, they can add value and show an employer your potential. To make the most of these positions, there are a few questions to ask yourself as you create your resume content and work to market your skills:
What transferable skills have I gained or refined?
There are many skills that are transferable between various jobs. They are versatile and can be applied in many different situations. Some examples include:
- Time management
- Organization
- Problem solving
- Leadership
- Training
- Customer service
- Research
- Correspondence
Consider the projects and responsibilities that you have assumed. Were you driven by deadlines? Did you work as part of a team? Were you interacting with customers or clients? Understanding how to act professionally in these situations and stay on task is important.
Provide details about how you employed these transferable skills to better demonstrate your abilities and how you may benefit a future employer. Answering the phone may not seem like a skill, but efficiently addressing or resolving concerns or inquiries and directing calls to the correct department can add some value. Read through job openings to see what core skills employers are seeking.
How did you benefit the company? What was the result of your efforts?
Think about your role within the organization. How did your efforts impact the abilities of others to do their job, the products or services provided to customers, or the overall success of the organization? Look objectively at the projects you were part of. Were there any aspects that you spearheaded? Did you focus on a specific component?
Highlight any accomplishments and emphasize your contributions and role. As much as possible, try to tie these into relevant skills that you would use in future jobs that you are pursuing. Planning, organizing, training, execution, and follow up are just a few areas you may be able to touch upon.
What new skills did you learn?
There is a lot of learning that goes on in the workplace. You are constantly absorbing information from your surroundings. Were there any programs or devices that you learned how to use? Did you receive any training or certifications? Consider the skills necessary in your career path. If interacting with clients is a major component of the job, how does your experience fit into this? How did you refine your abilities? If you were responsible for sales at any level, did you learn any new sales techniques? Were you able to improve your performance throughout your time there and meet goals and objectives?
Make yourself shine
Your resume is a reflection of your experiences and abilities, so make the most of the space available. Present your strongest accomplishments and skills that appeal to what employers are looking for. Show them that you are a solid candidate for the position and have a track record of getting the job done. If you are struggling with how to most effectively present yourself on your resume and make the most of positions you have held, contact Chic Resumes today. Our team can help you to identify your abilities and highlight your achievements to make a positive impact. Call us at (803) 831-7444 or email resumewriting@grammarchic.net to get started.
