Updating Your Resume

As the semester comes to a close, you probably have limited time left at your internship site.  Before you leave, you should document your experiences and all of the new skills you have learned on the job.  What better way to do this than by updating your resume? Because you have, at the very least, earned your first internship already, chances are you have a resume in place.  Consider these tips and tricks when updating the document before your internship ends.

1. Bullet Responsibilities--Jot down all of the projects you worked on as an intern in the simplest of terms.  Did you help organize an event?  Did you utilize Microsoft Office to create presentations or spreadsheets?  Did you conduct research?  You will probably be surprised by how much work you have completed in such a short period of time.  If you have limited space on your resume already, cut this list down to the top four or five most important accomplishments.

2. Action Words--After this list is complete, amp up your vocabulary by using "action words" like "researched," "constructed," "generated," or "created" when describing your responsibilities.  Using these verbs make you seem more active and engaged in your work.

3. Stay concise--Do not write a novel when describing a project or task that you have worked on.  Remember, a resume (arguably) should be no longer than a page in length, so you have limited space to work with.  Instead, keep each bullet short and to the point and be prepared to speak to the description in an interview setting.

4. Peer Edit--Ask your supervisor or a coworker to look over your updated resume. Most likely, they have updated resumes before and will have suggestions for valuable additions to your document. They can also help you proofread--resumes should ALWAYS be error free.  Another set of eyes never hurt!

5. Customize--When applying for a new internship or job, read and reread the description for the position.  If the internship spot is appealing, try to tailor your experiences in the workplace to the desired job.   For example, if the job requires a lot of work on Microsoft Excel, make sure any work you have done on that program is listed on your resume!