Be Specific!

Highlighting your educational background, past work experiences, major accomplishments and skills and translating that into words on paper can seem overwhelming. Resume writing can be tedious, but if done correctly, it can have an impact on employers. When it comes to resume writing, the most basic advice is to be specific.

Employers look through several resumes from candidates with a variety of backgrounds and work experiences. In listing their work experience, most candidates stick to the vague verb and noun structure (i.e. drafted press releases). While that job responsibility may seem important to the candidate, the employer may not be so interested. That description tells the employer nothing about the job task. Drafting press releases is important, but more important than that is describing them. Add details. Quantify your experiences where possible. Cite numerical figures. How many press releases? What kinds of press releases? For what purpose?

The best way to describe a particular job task is to add as many relevant details as possible. Instead of saying “drafted press releases,” you could say “drafted 50 press releases for the Governor’s office.” This reveals more about your past experiences and makes you seem more credible.

Similarly, tailor your resume for specific jobs and employers. Tweak each resume you submit to the specific job you are seeking or to the specific employer.

Being specific makes a significant difference not only in your resume, but in how you are perceived. The more concrete details you provide, the more credible you appear. Keep in mind that general and vague statements often lead to suspicion.

Career Question: How Can I Write A Resume If I Don't Have Any Experience?

Question: I am a recent graduate (master's degree) without much experience, because I attended grad school a year after undergrad without working in between. What should I put on a resume? --Sherra, DeKalb, IL

Answer: This is a common dilemma, and some might say it’s a good argument for delaying grad school in favor of gaining some real-world work experience. But you’ve chosen to go pretty much straight from undergrad to grad school, and I have to applaud your stamina. Now, what can you put on your resume?

Presumably, you’ve gained a lot of professional skills over the past several years in school—start thinking about what they include. For instance, writing would be a skill, as would computer programming, as would research, as would “soft” skills like good communication, teamwork, etc. Maybe you know some computer applications? Put those on there too.

Then, you need to think about the things you’ve done that could qualify as professional experience. For instance, did you work as a TA or an assistant to a professor? What did you do with your summers? Ever have an internship or work with an academic mentor? All of this can go on your resume.

Did you attend any conferences, publish any papers, learn to speak any languages? These can all go on there too.

The best thing to do, once you’ve had a chance to brainstorm all the experience you do have, is to make an appointment or set up a phone call with the career services office at the university where you got your master’s degree. They can help you format a resume, decide what to include, and give you some tips on cover letters too. Good luck!

Any additional advice for Sherra? Please leave a comment.