Let’s Set the Scene…
You’re fresh out of college (or about to be), laptop open, oat milk latte in hand. You’ve applied to a lot of jobs—like, your resume probably has frequent flyer miles at this point.
And yet? Silence.
No interviews. No follow-ups. Just pure, uncut ghosting.
If you’re spiraling a little, you’re not alone—and you are definitely not doing anything “wrong.” But it might be time for a little resume glow-up. And don’t worry, this doesn’t involve turning into someone you’re not. We’re just going to make your experience shine in the way it deserves to.
Let’s fix that resume, babe.
Step 1: Your Resume Isn’t a Diary—It’s a Billboard
Real talk: recruiters don’t want your whole life story. They want a curated, punchy, to-the-point snapshot that screams, “This girl’s got it.”
If your resume is two pages long and lists your high school honor society, we need to scale back. Focus on your most recent and most relevant experiences.
Stick to 1 page (yes, even if you “did a lot”). Highlight the stuff that shows off the skills they’re hiring for, not just your list of jobs.
Step 2: Tailor It Like It’s a First Date Outfit
You wouldn’t wear the same outfit to a chill coffee date and a black-tie dinner, right? Same energy for resumes.
Every job application deserves a slightly tweaked version. You don’t need to rewrite your resume every time, but you do need to customize the top skills, keywords, and job descriptions to match the role.
Look at the job posting and mirror its language (without being a copy-paste robot). This not only helps you stand out—it also helps your resume get past the evil gatekeeper known as the ATS (Applicant Tracking System).
Step 3: The Bullet Point Formula That Works Every Time
Here’s your golden rule:
Action verb + what you did + how/why it mattered
Let’s look at an example:
• Meh: “Worked the front desk at campus gym”
• Glow-up: “Managed check-ins and class scheduling for 200+ weekly gym members, ensuring smooth operations and customer service excellence”
See the difference?
The second one is way more specific, uses numbers (always a win), and makes your work sound impactful—which it was. This kind of language builds credibility fast.
Try to do this for every bullet on your resume, especially under your most relevant experiences. And yes, babysitting, serving, working at a campus café—they all count if you present them the right way.
Step 4: Formatting = Your Secret Weapon
You could have the best resume in the world, but if it looks like a Word doc from 2008… it’s not giving “hire me.”
Keep it modern, clean, and easy to skim. Here’s the cheat sheet:
• Use one font (think: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial)
• Keep font size between 10.5–12 pt
• Headings should be bold and clear (Work Experience, Education, Skills, etc.)
• Use bullet points—not long paragraphs
• Leave some white space (no need to fill every inch)
Bonus tip: Save and send it as a PDF unless the job application says otherwise.
Step 5: Include a Summary (If You Want, but Make It Good)
A lot of resumes start with a summary or objective—but most of them are kind of boring.
If you’re going to include one, make it worth the space. This is your chance to show personality and confidence.
Try something like:
“Recent communications grad with a passion for digital storytelling, brand strategy, and making content that connects. Looking to bring creativity and strong writing chops to a collaborative marketing team.”
It’s short. It’s specific. It’s way better than “Hardworking student looking for a job in a fast-paced environment.”
Step 6: Sprinkle in Those Skills (The Real Ones)
You don’t need a whole “Skills” section with 25 buzzwords. You do need to highlight relevant hard skills and tools that match the job posting.
Examples:
• Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Excel, Notion
• Social media strategy, copywriting, email marketing
• Data analysis, coding languages, project management tools
And remember, soft skills (like communication, teamwork, or adaptability) are great—but they should show up in how you describe your experiences, not just in a list.
Step 7: Education, Honors, and the Extras
Your degree should absolutely be on there—school, degree, and graduation date. If you’re still in school, write “Expected May 2025.”
If you’ve got:
• Awards
• Dean’s list
• Relevant coursework
• Study abroad
• Honors programs
Step 8: Give It the Final Vibe Check
…you can include them! But only if you’ve got the space, and only if they help tell your story.
Once you’ve finished editing, read it like a recruiter. Ask:
• Is this easy to skim?
• Do my bullet points show impact?
• Does this feel like me, but polished?
Then have a friend look it over, or even better—read it out loud to yourself. Typos live in silence, but they scream when spoken.
Bonus Pep Talk: It’s Not Just the Resume, It’s the Whole Strategy
You can have the world’s most flawless resume and still get ghosted—and that’s okay. The job search is a numbers game and a timing game. But if you know your resume is tight, you’re setting yourself up for actual opportunities when they come.
So keep refining. Keep sending. Keep being unapologetically you. And know that the right opportunity is going to hit different when it does.
