RESUME GUIDE
🎓 Resume Resource Hub for College Students
✨ Welcome!
Whether you're preparing to enter college, return to the workforce, shift careers, or transition from military to civilian life, your resume is your first opportunity to make a powerful impression.
This complete guide gives you the tools, templates, keywords, and algorithm-beating strategies to create a resume that works—for internships, part-time jobs, scholarships, and full-time careers.
🧭 Why Your Resume Matters (Now More Than Ever)
Most employers today use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)—software that scans, scores, and filters resumes before a human even sees them. If your resume isn’t formatted and optimized properly, it could be rejected before it's reviewed.
This guide teaches you how to beat the bots and impress the hiring manager.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Resume Guides for All Backgrounds
(Each guide includes what to include, 🔗 action verbs, templates, and external examples)
1. High School Students (Juniors & Seniors)
GPA, honors, AP/IB classes
Clubs, sports, or band
Volunteer work & part-time jobs
Leadership roles
Action Words: “Organized,” “Led,” “Managed”
Template: High School Resume
Example: 🔗 Zety’s High School Guide
2. New College Freshmen
High school activities + early college involvement
Career goals, relevant coursework
🔗Action Verbs: “Developed,” “Assisted,” “Achieved”
Template: Freshman Resume
Example: 🔗 Canva Resume Templates
3. Current College Students
Internships, campus leadership, projects
Technical and soft skills
Action Words: “Collaborated,” “Designed,” “Analyzed”
Template: College Student Resume
Example: 🔗 The Balance Careers
4. Returning Adults
Transferable skills from previous jobs
Certifications or new education
Action Words: “Implemented,” “Optimized,” “Adapted”
Template: Adult Learner Resume
Example: 🔗 JobScan Resume Examples
5. Veterans
Civilian descriptions of military roles
Leadership, logistics, certifications
Action Words: “Directed,” “Supervised,” “Achieved”
Template: Veteran Resume
Example: 🔗 Hire Heroes USA
6. International Students
Language skills, work authorization, cultural experience
Academic projects and internships
Action Words: “Translated,” “Adapted,” “Communicated”
Template: International Resume
Example: 🔗 Indeed International Resume
🧬 Best Practices for Building an ATS-Friendly Resume
1. Use a Clean, Simple Format
Standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman
Bold headings, bullet points, left alignment
Save as PDF (unless otherwise stated)
Avoid: Text boxes, columns, graphics, headers/footers
2. Visual Layout (Example)
3. Optimize for Keywords
Pull terms directly from job descriptions
Use both technical and soft skills
Example: “Provided bilingual support using CRM (Salesforce)”
Tool: Jobscan.co
4. Use 🔗 Action Verbs for a strong and exact desciption
5. Quantify Your Achievements
Numbers show impact: "Managed $3,000 budget and cut expenses by 20%"
6. Tailor Every Resume
Customize for each job
Include relevant job title and terms
💵 Integrate Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is a transferable, valuable skill.
Examples to Add:
“Managed personal budget using Mint; saved $1,200/semester”
“Treasurer for club; oversaw $10,000 budget”
“Organized fundraiser, raised $5,000, tracked spending”
Keywords: Budgeted, Allocated, Monitored, Reduced
Explore the 🔗 Financial Literacy page for more.
📂 Resume Tools & Resources
✅ Final Resume Checklist
One-page length (for students/early professionals)
Clear format, no design clutter
Customized for each role
Keywords from job descriptions
Action verbs + quantifiable results
Shows financial/leadership skills
Proofread thoroughly
Saved as PDF
File named: FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf
🚀 Take the Next Step
📲 Sign up for SMS reminders to stay on top of:
Job deadlines
Financial aid dates
Career tips & resume updates
🎯 Conclusion
Your resume is your story—your skills, growth, and goals. No matter where you're starting, this guide gives you the strategy, language, and confidence to build a resume that wins interviews and opens doors.
