Building an Effective CV For College

Introduction-

As a high-school student, we are sure you are excited for your college journey to begin. So, while you prepare by enrolling in extracurricular activities or working on your SAT scores, start crafting a standout resume summarising these experiences, skills, and achievements. The following tips can help you frame a result-oriented resume and increase your chances of getting accepted by your dream college:

Important Things To Include In Your College Resume –

Keep it Concise – Use bullet points while summarising your accomplishments and do not use flowery language. Additionally, the resume should be limited to one page. If you must use an additional page, ensure you have enough content to cover at least half of it.
Be Specific –Use specific achievements such as -learnt Python and Data Analysis at XYZ firm to author a paper on Alzheimer’s, over a general statement such as writing a research paper on Alzheimer’s disease.
Proofread it at least 3 times – Proofread your resume thoroughly to catch typos and errors.A good resume is free from grammatical and spelling errors.
Use Action verbs and Active voice– Start your sentence with an action word like- educated team members on marketing strategies, prepared monthly reports for stakeholders, etc., and avoid sounding repetitive. Additionally, use active voice over passive, like- ‘designed social media advertisements for raising funds’ over ‘social media advertisements for fundraising were designed by me’ to give a clear understanding to the reader.
Follow Chronology & a Consistent format – Stick with the same format and font style between sections or while using title case capitalization, commas, and abbreviations to make your resume look clean and organized. Additionally, arrange your credentials in descending order.

Steps To Remember While Building Your College Resume-

Contact Information– Include your name, address, phone number, e-mail, and personal website (if any).
2.Professional summary– A brief statement summarises your resume, the latest skills you have learned, and your professional goal in two to three lines.
Academic qualification– Include your 10th and 12th certificate, the name of the institution you studied in, the year of completion, and your grades.
Work experience/ volunteer experience- Talk about internships, research papers, community service, or any freelance work that you undertook to upskill yourself.
Soft and Hard skills– Mention relevant soft skills like- time management, communication, leadership skills, etc., and hard skills such as proficiency in Python, SEO writing, etc.
Awards & Achievements- Include details about your non-academic endeavors such as laurels you won during inter or intra-school competitions or volunteering activities.
Hobbies/Interests –Talk about your hobbies or interests if they are relevant to the program you are seeking.