Your Resume Is Part of Your Career Development Journey

A resume is more than a document. It is a tool that helps you communicate your experiences, skills, interests, and accomplishments to employers, graduate schools, and fellowship committees.

At the Washington College Career Center, we work with students at all levels, whether you are building your first resume or preparing for your next internship, graduate program, fellowship, or full-time position.

Use our tool, HIRATION, to help you develop a strong, comprehensive resume. Two of our most commonly used samples (which are also on the website under resources) are pre-loaded to help you.

You do not need previous internships or professional experience to get started. We help students identify and communicate the value of experiences from:

• Coursework and class projects
• Research
• Student organizations and clubs
• Athletics
• Volunteer service
• Campus employment
• Leadership roles
• Internships and externships
• Study abroad
• Creative projects
• Experiential learning opportunities

Every student has experiences that can contribute to a strong resume.

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Resume Structure

Header

Include:

• Full Name
• Phone Number
• Professional Email Address
• LinkedIn URL (optional)
• Portfolio of GitHub (Computer Science)

Do not include:

• Street address
• City and state
• Birth date
• Photograph
• Social Security Number

Education

For current students, education should appear near the top of the resume.

Consider including:

• Degree and major
• Expected graduation date
• Minor(s)
• GPA (if appropriate)
• Academic honors
• Relevant coursework
• Capstone projects
• Research experiences

Experience

Include experiences that demonstrate skills, growth, and impact, not just paid employment.

Relevant experiences may include:

• Internships
• Campus employment
• Volunteer work
• Research assistantships
• Leadership positions
• Club involvement
• Significant academic projects
• Experiential learning opportunities

For each experience, include:

• Position title
• Organization
• Dates
• Accomplishment-focused bullet points

Writing Strong Bullet Points

Focus on:

• What you did
• How you did it
• The outcome or impact

Use the formula:

Action Verb + Task + Result (Yale University Action Verb list link)

Begin each bullet with a strong action verb and focus on accomplishments rather than responsibilities.

Quantify Your Impact

Whenever possible, include measurable results to demonstrate your contributions.

Consider:

• Number of people served
• Budget amounts managed
• Events organized
• Projects completed
• Research conducted
• Participation levels
• Growth, improvements, or efficiencies achieved

Numbers help employers better understand the scope of your work.

Common Resume Sections

Choose sections that best reflect your experiences:

• Education
• Experience
• Leadership
• Campus Involvement
• Research
• Internships
• Projects
• Community Service
• Skills
• Honors and Awards

Not every resume needs every section.

Skills Section

Focus on technical, language, and specialized skills. STEM students should include a separate section for Laboratory Skills & Qualifications and list all their skills.

Examples include:

• Software programs
• Industry-specific tools
• Data analysis platforms
• Design programs
• Foreign languages
• Lab Skills in a separate section

Avoid listing generic personal qualities. Your experiences and accomplishments should demonstrate those strengths.

The Liberal Arts Advantage

As a Washington College student, you are developing skills that employers consistently value:

• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Research
• Problem solving
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Leadership

Your resume should show how you have developed and applied these skills through your academic, co-curricular, and experiential learning experiences.

Formatting Tips

• Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
• Use a simple, professional font.
• Maintain consistent formatting throughout.
• Use clear section headings.
• Leave enough white space for readability.
• Save and submit your resume as a PDF unless instructed otherwise.

ATS-Friendly Resume Tips

Many organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to review resumes. It is critical that your resume is tailored to the employer’s job description for each role reflecting the key attributes of the opportunity.

To improve compatibility:

• Use standard section headings.
• Incorporate relevant keywords from the position description.
• Keep formatting simple and easy to read.
• Prioritize content over design.

Avoid:

• Graphics
• Tables
• Photos
• Excessive colors
• Complex formatting

Common Mistakes

• Listing duties instead of accomplishments
• Using the same resume for every opportunity
• Including outdated or irrelevant information
• Failing to proofread
• Underestimating the value of academic and co-curricular experiences
• Waiting until senior year to begin career development

Resume Checklist

Before submitting your resume:

☐ Tailored to the opportunity

☐ Highlights accomplishments and impact

☐ Includes relevant experiences

☐ Uses strong action verbs

☐ Demonstrates transferable skills

☐ Quantifies achievements where possible

☐ Free from spelling and grammar errors

☐ Consistent formatting throughout. Document is clearly labeled with your name, the word resume, and year

☐ Saved as a PDF

We’re Here to Help

Career development begins the day you arrive on campus, not during your senior year.

Whether your experience comes from a classroom project, research, student organization, leadership role, campus job, internship, athletics, study abroad, or community service, the Career Center can help you communicate its value effectively.

Your resume is a living document that will grow with you throughout your time at Washington College. We encourage you to update it regularly and meet with the Career Center for personalized feedback and support as you explore opportunities and pursue your goals.