Hi everyone! I haven't posted here in a very long time, and I am not going to lie; I'm in a bit of a rut. I took some time off of school for personal reasons and am set to graduate next semester as a first-generation student.

Hi everyone! I haven't posted here in a very long time, and I am not going to lie; I'm in a bit of a rut. I took some time off of school for personal reasons and am set to graduate next semester as a first-generation student. I have been applying to internships since November 2024 (not too long, I know), but I have only gotten one call back for an interview. I thought it went well, but I haven't heard from anyone in a week, and I just feel lost and disheartened. I understand the job market isn't the best either, so I know I'm not the only one feeling this way. My resume might not be the best, but I am such a hard-working and eager person, and I am not sure how to translate that on paper. I don't know if anyone is going to take the time to read this, but does anyone have any advice on how to build a stronger resume? I am a Psychology major and minoring in professional selling & business relationships. I also currently have a 3.8 GPA. I'm interested in so much, but would ideally go into HR or marketing. Thank in advance to anyone who is willing to help!

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  1. Erin Ramirez

    check out ripplematch.com

  2. Anonymous

    Are you utilizing services at your school at all? They should be the ones to help you with your search and review your resume.

  3. Laura

    Definitely inquire into career services at your school! Also, if you are interested in marketing or HR find people who work in those fields and ask to chat with them to get a better idea of what a day to day is like.

    Also, I'm in no way affiliated with this YouTube channel but I've found that Self Made Millennial has great content and has videos specifically on resumes. Good luck!!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp9mFLtgRB4&list=PL30MQiePH_cP1sohnoXzol7MV7FBFw4Hv&index=10

  4. OLIVIA JOHNSON

    Hi Michelle!

    Thanks for contributing your thoughts and challenges as I am sure this is on the minds of others.

    Congrats on your accomplishments so far and I am excited about your next phase. Things look challenging but your mindset and confidence can be helpmates in reaching your goals.

    A few things to unpack here...resources for resumes, career assistance, and potential opportunities AND resume advice on how to build a stronger resume;

    For Resources

    There are several accessible options.

    Career Services Center - Visiting the career services center at your school can be very helpful. I recall when coaching in this space and college recruiting it was always surprising how many students were not aware where the building even was or what they offered. Most offer help with your resume, interviewing and internships.

    Online Help - There are tons of resources to obtain free guidance and advice. This is sticky area has you do have to be able to decipher what advice works best for your specific circumstances but can be helpful if you are able to sort through and find what works best for you.

    Use your network - The degrees of separation are even less than it used to be. I am certain that there is someone already within your network or even your parents and family's network that either works in HR, has a professional career that requires hiring people, etc. Once you have a draft resume, shop it around and obtain feedback. You may even be able to find someone that you can job shadow or would willing to take you under their wing and mentor.

    You could always hire a professional as well if you don't want to get involved in the process but this may or may not be feasible for you.

    Regarding Resumes

    Building a strong resume can be relative. YES, there are some foundational components that you want to be sure you include, like forgetting to add your contact information can be detrimental but I think you can find those in most articles. The things that I think will be important for you and this phase of your career would be:

    Highlighting courses you have taken in the field.
    It's never too early for enrolling in outside training opportunities for free or minimal cost if you haven't completed classes that support your goal. i.e. LinkedIn Marketing, Coursera, etc.
    Don't forget to add projects you have completed if they directly relate to the roles of interest.
    Obtaining and Including internships or outside jobs.
    Don't oversell it. We can see how many years of experience you have so refrain from using common leading words or phrases like "extensive" or "expertise in", etc.

    I hope this was helpful. Again, this is an area that could be based solely on the individual and circumstances, so regardless of what advice you get, including mine, be sure to assess what makes sense for you.

    Resume Self-Assessment Activity:
    What you'll need - Your resume, a timer, blank document to capture notes and an open mind!

    When complete with your resume draft, save it separately and clearly identify the file as a test resume or resume for review and change your name at the top to something fun like Bunny Rabbit or Donald Duck. Step away from your resume and schedule a time to revisit. When circling back pretend that you are an HR Recruiter reviewing resumes of candidates for the role(s) you would be interested in. Set your timer to 10 seconds and start the clock when you begin to review the test resume. When the 10 seconds is complete, decide if you would want to reach out to this candidate or place it in the no pile. Jot down your why's for both sides and make any adjustments accordingly.

    Best regards,

    Coach Olivia

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