WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP, AND HOW DO YOU GET ONE?

A resume is like a passport to your career. An employer looks at the resume to get a brief picture of the applicant. They say the first impression is the best. Therefore, building a solid resume becomes crucial. However, as a fresher, you may face challenges in making a resume, like choosing a suitable template, adding relevant skills, etc. In this blog, we will navigate through various aspects of resume building to nail your first job. 

Understanding the basics of a resume 

A resume is a short formal document that a job applicant creates to illustrate skills, education, hobbies, etc. to send to an employer to land a job. This aids recruiters in identifying the right applicants and deciding whether to proceed with the next steps in the appointment process. A resume contains key components like headings, objectives, education and contact details, internship information if any, project work, pertinent skills, professional certifications, extracurricular activities, and achievements. Some common mistakes to avoid while making a resume as a fresher include:

• Writing a long resume
• Poor formatting
• Adding too much information 
• Including irrelevant skills
• Lying 
• Neglecting errors
• Inaccuracies about qualifications or previous experience
• Using informal English

Choosing the right resume format

Resume writing for freshers is slightly different from the resumes of experienced job applicants. Make sure you choose the right resume format, as it first catches the eye of a recruiter. Given below is one of the best resume formats that freshers can use as inspiration: 

1. Contact information
2. Resume objective
3. Relevant experience
4. Educational background
5. Pertinent skills
6. Additional sections like hobbies, achievements, project works, awards and honors, languages known, etc. 

Crafting a compelling objective statement

Since you have no work experience, writing a resume can be challenging. So begin your resume with an objective section that gives an overview of your skills and convinces the reader that you have what it takes to perform the job effectively. In this section, you can also mention your internship experience or the relevant courses you have completed. Keep it concise and highlight your goals. This grabs the attention of the recruiter, for sure.

Example:

Highlighting education and academic achievements 

When listing your educational qualifications on a resume, you can start with your basic education before proceeding to your graduation details. It should contain:

1. School: The name, location, and year of passing from the school, along with the percentage scored.
2. College: Name, location, year of passing, percentage
3. Graduation: Mention your college or university name, major course, CGPA, or percentage. 
4. Post-graduation: include its details, if any.

Followed by your educational background, list out your academic achievements like quizzes, project works, course certifications, etc. By highlighting this section, you are, in a way, showcasing your knowledge in that particular field and that you are capable of completing the work assigned.  

Example: 

Showcasing skills and competencies

Adding the right and revelant skills can land you a decent job if done correctly. Before you add, have a look at the job description. Understand what the recruiter is expecting from you. Accordingly, tailor your resume to show that you are eligible for the role. For instance, if you are applying for the role of content writer, skills like English communication, writing, creativity, originality, excellent grammar and punctuation, etc. are worth mentioning. If the role is that of a blog writer, then highlighting research and SEO skills become vital. 

Apart from mentioning hard skills, also list soft skills that you may have picked up in the course of your schooling, internship or project work, like effective communication skills, leadership qualities, teamwork, research and analytics, interpersonal skills, etc. Demonstrate these skills implicitly in other sections. Here’s a good example in the achievements section you can include:

This line highlights your collaboration skills, decision-making ability, and creativity. 

Including internships and volunteer experiences

When you mention the internships you have done or the workshops you attended associated with the specific course or field of study, it portrays your practical experience and leaves the impression that you are employable. It is beneficial as it gives your employer a glimpse of the knowledge and skills you possess, setting you apart from the rest. Internship information can be included in many ways. Add them to your work experience or feature them in your achievements section. You can even create a separate internship section. Highlight the tasks you performed and the responsibilities you took on as an intern.

Example:

Listing volunteer experiences demonstrates your soft skills like compassion, punctuality, and reliability. It is also a great way to showcase your contribution in accomplishing goals of your organization. This will enrich your resume and give you an edge. Include this section only if it is relevant to the job that you are applying for.

Highlighting extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities demonstrate your interests, hobbies or talents other than the regular ones. It also intrigues hiring managers to know more about your perspectives. For freshers, this is the best way to make your resume compelling and interesting. It can fill up the space on your resume since you lack work experience. Add these under the ‘hobbies’, ‘additional information’,’ or ‘extracurriculars’ section. List and describe them using bullet points along with details.

Example:

Creating a professional work experience 

Since you have no work experience before, under this section, you can list the courses you have taken, part-time time-jobs linked to the job description, or internship details. If you mention internship details here, then there is no need to create a dedicated internship section. If you have done freelancing or a part-time job, then mention your responsibilities and achievements. 

Example:

Customizing your resume for each job application

Every job is unique and demands certain skills. In such a case, you must customise your resume to suit a particular job description. It shows your attention to detail and how serious you are about cracking a job. When you add suitable skills and information, the chances of getting noticed and selected are high. It helps an employer to know who is the perfect fit for the job. A few tips for tailoring your resume:

• Read the job description carefully.
• Note down and understand what the employer is looking for.
• Use same language and keywords in your resume.
• Highlight relevant skills and achievements

Example: table below showcases a tailored ‘skills’ section of two job positions

Proofreading and editing your resume

Before submitting your resume, proofread it to eliminate mistakes. You cannot afford to make mistakes, as it highlights your negligence and lack of attention. An error-free resume is easy to read. Some common errors to lookout for are misspellings, punctuation marks and grammatical errors. Even small mistakes can leave a negative impression on the employer. Once you are done making a resume, get feedback from professionals, peers, or seniors in that field to improve your chances of getting the job. Take inspiration from online sources that teach you how to build a strong resume. Edit to incorporate the feedback received.

Conclusion

A resume is the ID card of a job applicant. The employer can sense your intention and objectives just by going through your resume. Start building a resume as early as possible. Take suggestions from peers, online tools, and experts to make a compelling resume. Make sure your resume follows formal language by opting for a decent template and maintaining the same font throughout the resume. Keep it concise and relevant to landing your first job.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are the most important sections to include in a fresher’s resume?

For a fresher, a resume is like an identity card. So try to make it as compelling and precise as possible. The major sections to be included are:

• Objective or summary
• Educational background
• Skills 
• Academic achievements and volunteer experience
• Internships, part-time jobs, freelance work, and projects
• Professional certifications
• Contact information
• Additional sections like hobbies, languages, etc

Along with this, proofread your resume and opt for a decent template to stand apart from the rest. 

How can I make my resume stand out without work experience?

If you are applying for a job as a fresher, then your resume is your crucial weapon. So build a strong resume by choosing an authentic, simple, and decent template. Add important sections like education qualifications, pertinent skills, extracurricular activities, internships, certifications, and contact information. Maintain a formal tone and be transparent, keeping the resume concise. If possible, include a cover letter to make it more impressive. The most important thing is to tailor your resume according to the job description. Before submission, proofread your resume for errors and seek feedback to enhance your chances of getting selected.

What are some common mistakes freshers make on their resumes?

Freshers often make some common mistakes while creating a resume, such as:

• Including irrelevant information
• Choosing the wrong format
• Creating a lengthy resume
• Grammatical errors and punctuation faults
• Using the same resume for every job application
• Inaccurate contact details
• Use of informal tone
• Exaggerating information

How should I format my resume to make it look professional?

In order to build a professional resume, follow these tips:

• Choose a decent template.
• Keep the resume short and to the point.
• Maintain same font size throughout.
• Highlight the headings in bold.
• Do not include personal information like marital status or photographs. 
• Use bullet points instead of paragraphs. 
• Add important sections like skills and qualifications without exaggeration.
• Make sure it is error-free.
• Use simple and formal language.

How can I tailor my resume for different job applications?

Before creating a resume, study the job description, the company, and the position you are applying for. Try to include relevant skills that show you are the perfect fit for the role. Use keywords throughout the resume, as mentioned in the job details. Highlight your achievements, internships, and part-time jobs that match the job description.