9 Tips for Creating Your Resume

At Red Kite, our mission is for students to be able to afford college, but we’re also here to help prepare you for your dream career, too. When you sit across that desk from someone that might potentially be your new boss (or you see your Zoom interview pop up), a superstar resume can be the key that unlocks your ideal future!

Luckily, ya girl Jane is back with a few expert tips on how to craft a strong, professional resume – or even just refine your existing one. We’re looking to demonstrate your skills, experience and potential in a clear and compelling way.

Fun fact: my dad used to print his resume on a sheet of off-white (beige) paper, so it would stand out among the pile of resumes on an employer’s desk. Little details like that can help you not only stand out, but impress with your outside-the-box thinking skills!

The first and most important thing to keep in mind while writing your resume is…

1. Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Not all jobs are one-size-fits-all. In fact, some jobs may have very specific requirements for their applicants’ resume, so be sure to double-check what is expected of you.

And even if your resume requirement is open-ended, you should approach each submission with targeted strategies. Customize your resume for each position by highlighting the most relevant skills and experience.

Think of the job description as a guide to align your qualifications with what your potential employer is looking for. Built-in cheat code!

2. Use a Clear and Professional Format

I totally get the urge to want to spice things up with a little graphic design slay. But this is a resume, not an art project! Besides, finding the sweet spot between “unique” and “professional” can be an art form in itself.

Keeping your resume clean and organized is the first step. From there, you can play around with different combinations of professional fonts, bullet points, and sections that help keep the flow. You’ll want to use a simple layout with clear section headings and enough white space to make scanning easy for recruiters.

But don’t just stick to the ole “Times New Roman”! Do something a little different, so that you can stand out. The trick is not being too over-to-the-top, to the point where your resume looks more like a wedding invitation than a professional application.

Also, be sure to save your resume as a PDF, unless instructed otherwise. There’s nothing worse than losing all that beautiful formatting!

3. Start with a Strong Summary

A brief summary at the top of your resume should highlight everything that’s about to come. That way, employers get a quick snapshot of what you’re bringing to the table, without having to read through the entire resume first.

This summary should be very brief – one or two sentences, at most. After that, you’ll move on to a summative list of your key skills, experience, and career goals:

4. Highlight Your Key Skills

Include a dedicated skills section to showcase your most relevant abilities. Use keywords from the job description to help your resume get past applicant tracking systems (ATS).

And for my Kitelings that speak more than one language, this is the perfect section to mention that you’re multilingual!

5. Showcase Your Achievements

Rather than just listing your duties at past jobs, focus on your accomplishments. This is your time to really sell the idea of yourself!

Structure your work experience to reflect career growth and increasing responsibility over time. Action words are eye-grabbing, so start bullet points with strong action verbs like “developed,” “led,” “implemented,” and “achieved” to make your contributions sound more impactful.

6. Keep It Concise

Your resume should be no longer than one or two pages. Don’t get me wrong – I care that your dog won first place in that local frisbee competition. I really do. But for your resume, you’ll want to prioritize your most important and recent experiences, which means removing outdated or irrelevant information.

And unless you’re applying for a highly technical role, you’ll want to balance technical terms with clear descriptions that any recruiter can understand. No word salad!

7. Be Honest

I know, I know… the temptation to exaggerate your resume can be super powerful, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience. But trust me, honesty is always the best policy!

You may remember that in my own college essay, I lowkey overshared about my life in order to make a compelling argument for my case: me! The same principle applies here.

So… never lie about (or even exaggerate!) your experience or qualifications. Besides, employers can verify information, and dishonesty can cost you the job entirely.

8. Use Numbers and Data Where Possible

Quantify your accomplishments with statistics, percentages, and specific numbers to demonstrate your impact. For example: “Increased sales by 20%” or “Managed a team of 10.”

If applicable, you can also add links to your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or personal website to provide more context about your work and skills. You can use tinyurl.com to shorten any larger links, but if you’re submitting an electronic copy of your resume, it’s possible for employers to simply click on your hyperlinks.

9. Keep It Updated

This is the hardest part! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat down to update my resume and been like, “wait… what did I do this past year?”

It can be difficult to keep track of your accomplishments and evolution. That’s why you should always regularly update your resume with new skills, achievements, and experiences to reflect your most current qualifications.

And of course, you’ll want to keep your contact information updated, too. Make sure that your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile are current so employers can easily reach you.

On a serious note, y’all, ceating an effective resume is the key that can open doors to new opportunities. You can keep these tips while crafting a document that helps you stand out in the job market.

A well-crafted resume is the foundation of your job search, giving employers a clear picture of what you’re bringing to the table. All it takes is a little TLC on your resume to significantly improve your chances of landing your ideal role!

Red Kite know how important it is to present yourself in the best light. Whether you’re new to the job market or looking to advance your career, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Be sure to check out our Career Center to get matched to your dream job today!

Visit www.myredkite.com for more career tips, resume-building resources, and expert advice to help you soar to new professional heights!

Tips for Balancing College and Work

Finding the balance between college and work can be one of the most demanding challenges students face, but it’s also one of the most rewarding.

For many students, working during college is a financial necessity to cover tuition, rent, or other expenses. It’s also a great way to gain valuable experience, build a network, and save for the future.

But it’s no easy feat to juggle personal life with a full-time, part-time, or multiple jobs at once. Once you add academic responsibilities on top of everything, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed.

However, finding the balance can equip you with time management and resilience skills that will serve you for the rest of your life.

The key to thriving in both areas lies, of course, in proper strategy and maintenance. i.e., planning in advance and regularly checking in with yourself to ensure you’re not burning out.

And it’s not just about meeting deadlines and showing up for shifts – the key is to maintain a healthy lifestyle while progressing toward your academic and career goals. That way, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: financial independence, real-world experience, and academic success.

Let’s go through just a few tips to help you manage it all, ensuring that neither your job nor your schoolwork takes a backseat.

Create a Realistic Schedule

The first step towards finding the balance is to ensure that you’re managing all your commitments without feeling overwhelmed. You’re not superhuman, so the most important part of this strategy lies in being honest with yourself.

Start by organizing your time in a way that ensures every aspect of your life is accounted for. Beyond just your planned personal activities, you should create a comprehensive schedule that includes your work shifts and class/study sessions. A planner or digital calendar is invaluable for this, helping you visualize how your days and weeks will unfold.

As mentioned, you should avoid the temptation to overestimate how quickly you can finish assignments or commute between work and school. By allowing adequate time for each task, you’ll reduce your stress load.

Be sure to include regular breaks throughout your day, whether it’s time to grab a meal, relax with friends, or simply take a walk. These moments of rest are essential for maintaining both your physical and mental well-being.

Creating a schedule isn’t just about filling every hour with tasks. It’s about allowing yourself to be productive while still maintaining a sense of personal freedom and relaxation. With a well-structured plan, you’ll feel more in control of your time and better able to meet the demands of both college and work.

Communicate with Your Employer

It will benefit you in any job to have an open, honest relationship with your boss. While you’re in college, you should be upfront with your employer about the fact that you’re juggling multiple commitments. This will help set realistic expectations from the start.

Let your employer know your class schedule in advance, so they understand when you’re available to work and when you’ll need time off for studies. Being transparent will allow your boss to plan accordingly.

And if your workload at school intensifies during midterms or finals, don’t hesitate to discuss the possibility of a more flexible arrangement. Many employers, especially those who frequently hire students, are open to adjusting schedules to accommodate academic responsibilities.

Whether it’s reducing your hours temporarily, switching shifts, or working remotely, a flexible approach will make a significant difference when deadlines start to pile up.

Some employers go a step further by offering benefits specifically tailored to students. Work-study programs or tuition assistance can help ease the financial burden of college while reducing the hours you need to work.

If your employer offers these programs, take full advantage of them. Not only can they lighten your financial load, but they also demonstrate that your employer values your education and long-term success.

Effective communication with your employer creates a foundation of understanding and support, ensuring that both your job and your studies can coexist. It’s always better to be proactive, rather than waiting until you’re overwhelmed.

Use Financial Aid to Lighten the Load

By securing scholarships, grants, or work-study opportunities, you can ease the financial burden of tuition and other college expenses, allowing you to focus more on your studies.

This not only reduces the time you need to spend working but also helps alleviate stress, enabling you to maintain a healthier balance between school and life.

Platforms like Red Kite make it easier to find and apply for financial aid. With access to thousands of scholarships and grants, you can explore options tailored to your specific needs, academic performance, or personal background.

By investing time in applying for these opportunities, you could potentially cover a significant portion of your educational expenses, making it possible to cut back on work hours or take on a less demanding job.

Red Kite compiles over $25 BILLION in financial aid, so you can free up more time for what truly matters -excelling in your academic journey.

Prioritize Self-Care and Rest

As a student and worker, if you don’t take care of yourself, it’s easy to fall into burnout. The demands of your day-to-day life can leave little room for thinking about your well-being, but prioritizing self-care is essential for maintaining long-term success.

One of the most important aspects of self-care is ensuring that you get enough sleep. Sleeping consistently is crucial for staying focused, retaining information, and keeping your energy levels up throughout the day. When you’re sleep-deprived, both your academic performance and work productivity will suffer.

Equally important is engaging in activities that help you decompress and recharge. Stress-relieving practices like meditation, yoga, or mindfulness exercises can help clear your mind and improve your focus.

If meditation isn’t your style, you might try out different hobbies or creative outlets. These activities provide a much-needed break from your responsibilities and allow you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Ultimately, prioritizing self-care isn’t just about avoiding burnout – it’s about ensuring that you have the mental and physical stamina to succeed in both school and work. By taking care of yourself, you’re investing in your long-term health and productivity.

Evaluate and Adjust

During this time of your life, you must regularly assess your workload to ensure that you’re not becoming overwhelmed. You should check in with yourself frequently – whether it’s weekly, monthly, or at major academic milestones – to evaluate how well you’re handling your commitments.

Are you keeping up with your classes, assignments, and deadlines? Are your work responsibilities manageable, or are they beginning to encroach on your study time? Being honest with yourself about how things are going is the first step in preventing burnout.

If you find that your academic performance is suffering because of your work schedule, it’s okay to scale back on your job hours. Similarly, if your grades are strong but you’re feeling overworked, it might be time to reassess your study habits or the number of courses you’re taking.

It’s not a sign of failure to adjust your commitments – in fact, it’s a smart strategy for success in all areas of your life. Prioritizing your education doesn’t mean neglecting your work, and vice versa. It’s about finding a sustainable balance that works for you.

Flexibility is key throughout this process. Your needs will likely change as the semester progresses. For example, you might be able to handle more work hours early in the term when your course load is lighter, but as midterms or finals approach, you may need to reduce your hours to dedicate more time to studying.

Likewise, certain jobs may offer the option to work more during holiday breaks in the school year. If you find yourself in need of more shifts, don’t hesitate to discuss these options with your employer, and always be ready to adapt your schedule to match your current situation.

Remember, maintaining balance is an ongoing process. Staying flexible and open to change will help you manage the evolving demands of your student life.

Balancing both work and college is no easy task, but with a thoughtful approach and the right strategies, it’s entirely possible to excel in both areas. Good time management is at the core of this balancing act.

By carefully planning your schedule and setting realistic goals, you can stay on top of your responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed.

Be sure to stay in communication with your employer, professors, and loved ones. Keeping everyone in the loop ensures that your needs are understood and respected.

Remember to take things one step at a time. Stay patient with yourself, make use of all available resources, and keep moving forward. You’re doing great!

Be sure to check out www.myredkite.com to find scholarship opportunities today!

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