1. Understanding the Basics of a Resume

A Resume is your personal marketing tool that showcases your skills and experience to potential employers. In fact, the resume of newcomers targets education attained, skills possessed and any practice tasks such as internships, volunteerism and freelance jobs.

A basic resume includes the following sections:

• Contact Information: Your complete name, phone number, e-mail address, and if you do, your LinkedIn account.
• Resume Summary: A simple self-employment ad about the individual and his or her needs.
• Education: Details of your degree, School and any additional course work or academic accomplishment you possess.
• Skills: The technical skills that enable the undertaking of the tasks of the job together with other interpersonal attributes.
• Work Experience: Any off-campus experience, such as interning, working, summer jobs or working while attending classes part-time.
• Certifications: Any other relevant certificates or courses that you have taken apart from your education.
• References: This section may be included optionally, depending on the employer's requirements.

Using a resume builder or an AI resume builder can come in handy once you have gathered all these sections and want your resume to be neat and professional.

2. Choosing the Right Resume Format

The format of your resume is important. The right format allows employers to easily reference specific information when reviewing your resume. Choose a resume format that highlights your strengths and minimizes employment gaps.

A. Chronological Format

This format details your experience starting from the most recent job or education you have undergone. It’s well suited therefore for those with a stable work history. However, if you are a recent graduate with no formal work experience, it may not be advisable to use this format.

B. Functional Format

The functional format is a little less work-experience oriented than the chronological format. It is most suitable for freshers because it will enable you to showcase other skills that you have developed through school, internships or volunteering.

C. Combination Format

This format reflects certain features characteristic of both chronological and functional formats. This can be used to focus on your achievements as well as your experience of course within a company. For fresh graduates, this is often the best format particularly if you have some internships or volunteer work experience but no professional full-time work experience.

When in doubt whether to choose one of the formats, one can address the issue with the help of a resume maker.

3. Writing a Compelling Professional Summary

The professional summary section is definitely one of the most critical sections of your resume. Usually, it is just a line or two, placed right under your contact information but occasionally, it can be slightly longer – 3-5 lines maximum. This section should clearly define who you are, the position you’re applying for, and the value you bring to the role.

You should avoid the use of outdated long-tailed phrases, instead dedicate your attention to writing a new clean summary  that will be specific to the particular job you applied for, with skills and interest in the position.

For instance, if you are a recent graduate, then you should stress your desire to work, the course you studied, and any projects that you have worked on. Years of experience are not the only criteria that prospective employers look for; consequently, you should consider the aspects of your strengths when applying.

This process may be tricky if you can write the summary on your own. Therefore, You can use tools like the “AI Writer” in CareerAI to quickly generate a detailed and personalized summary, employing all the necessary skills without having to spend a lot of time doing so.

Example of a Strong Resume Summary:

Results-driven Marketing Coordinator with expertise in campaign execution, market research, and brand promotion. Skilled in content creation, social media management, and analytics to optimize engagement and drive growth. Strong project management abilities ensure seamless coordination of marketing initiatives, timelines, and budgets. Adept at supporting cross-functional teams and executing data-driven strategies to enhance brand visibility and audience reach.

This summary directly communicates to the employer what the graduate can offer and wants in terms of job opportunity hence saving time.

4. Highlighting Your Education and Achievements

In case as a fresh graduate, your ‘education’ section will remain as one of the most critical sections of your resume. This section informs the employer of your academic achievement and the portfolio that you are ready to offer them. Whether or not you have work experience in the field, your education will show hiring managers that you're ready to take on the challenges of the job.

What to include in your education section:

• Degree: Put down your degree, the name of the school you got it from and the year you graduated.
• Relevant Coursework: If you do, list them below together with the course description. The courses a person has taken that are relevant to the job.For instance, if you are seeking for an opportunity in the marketing department, your course choices include “Digital Marketing” or “Consumer Behavior”.
• Honors or Achievements: In case you received any awards, honors, or any kind of special recognition, be sure to include them.
• GPA: In case, if the candidate has scored a percentage more than 3.5, then he/she should include it to represent their academic performance.

Example of A Marketing Student:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing
University of XYZ alum year 2024
Relevant Coursework: Market Research, Consumer Behavior, Digital Marketing, Brand Management, Advertising Strategies, Data Analytics and Strategic Marketing.
GPA: 3.7/4.0

It will also come in handy if you’ve done any academic projects or research papers showing how effectively you can apply everything that has been learned.

5. Showcasing Your Skills Effectively

Employers are always in search of the best-qualified candidates—the people who possess the  required skills for the job. This section of the resume should outline your skills, such as digital literacy, which is an understanding of the computer and any relevant tools that may be involved in the job, and your personal strengths that are desirable in the marketplace.

To enhance this section, leverage the power of “Resume Copilot” to identify and generate the ideal skills that employers are looking for and that align with your expertise. Similar to how you’d use ChatGPT, simply ask Copilot to provide a list of skills tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. This AI-based tool can help ensure your resume highlights the most relevant qualifications.

Technical Skills

These are the marketing-focused technical abilities that directly relate to the job.

Example of A Marketing Graduate:

• Marketing Tools: Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, Mailchimp, Canva.
• SEO & Analytics: SEMrush, Ahrefs, Google Analytics, Tableau.
• Content Management: WordPress, HubSpot CMS, Hootsuite.
• Data & Insights: Power BI, SQL, Excel (Advanced).
• Campaign Management: Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Marketo, Trello.

Soft Skills

These are personal traits that help you work well with others.

Example of A Marketing Graduate:

• Creativity: Developed innovative and visually compelling campaigns, resulting in measurable increases in brand engagement.
• Strategic Communication: Adept at crafting persuasive messaging that resonates with diverse audiences across digital and traditional platforms.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to excel in collaborative team environments, ensuring smooth coordination across departments to meet deadlines.
• Analytical Thinking: Leveraged consumer data and market insights to refine campaign strategies, boosting ROI and customer retention.
• Time Management: Successfully managed multiple campaigns simultaneously while maintaining high standards of quality and effectiveness.
• Adaptability: Thrived in fast-changing market conditions, quickly adjusting strategies to align with new objectives or trends.
• Leadership: Spearheaded a student marketing project that required mentoring team members, managing deliverables, and presenting results to stakeholders.
• Conflict Resolution: Effectively resolved differences within team settings, ensuring all voices were heard and collective goals were achieved.

Try to make the skills related to the job description when updating it. Some companies use ‘Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)’ that automatically filter resumes based on match to the job title as stated on the ad. Make your skills section relevant to the jobs by using keywords related to the jobs you are applying for.

Furthermore, CareerAI’s "Tailor My Resume" feature helps you optimize your resume for ATS systems by suggesting the right keywords and completely tailoring it to match a specific job opening. This ensures your resume aligns perfectly with the job requirements, making you the top choice for employers and increasing your chances of getting noticed in a competitive job market.

6. Demonstrate Relevant Experience, Certifications & Projects 

For fresh graduates or those with limited work experience, it’s essential to highlight relevant experiences like internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, group projects, and certifications. These demonstrate your initiative, adaptability, and eagerness to learn beyond formal education. Including certifications and relevant projects further demonstrates your commitment to developing key skills. Certifications show your dedication to expanding expertise, while projects highlight your ability to apply knowledge in real-world situations.

For each Professional Experience, list:

• Job Title or Role (Intern, Volunteer, Project Leader)
• Company or Organization Name
• Dates of Involvement (Month and Year)
• Responsibilities and Achievements: What actions have you taken in your role? Please ensure that numbers are used as much as possible (For example, I increased social media engagement by 20% during my internship).

If you have no idea about how it should be written, the Job Responsibilities and Achievements section (or job description) can be written with the help of  AI Writer too. By selecting your position level, years in a given profession, and competencies in a particular discipline, you can generate catchy phrases for the job description in less than a minute.

Example of A Marketing Student:

Professional Experience
Marketing Intern
XYZ Company, June 2023 – August 2023

• Supported in development of contents for the firm’s social media platforms, thus enhancing the firm’s engagement by 15%.
• Involved in market research to develop a good campaign that was useful in increasing sales by 10%.

Certification: Google Analytics Certification, Digital marketing

Project: Developed a business plan for a start-up in a marketing course and successfully attracted funding.

7. Customizing Your Resume for Each Job Application

When applying for a specific job, it's crucial to tailor your resume to highlight skills and experiences that match the job description. This increases your chances of standing out to employers. Additionally, after customizing your resume, always proofread it for spelling and grammar errors, formatting issues, and clarity. Even small mistakes can leave a negative impression. To make this process easier, tools like Resume Copilot can help with both proofreading and tailoring your resume for each job application, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the job description and is error-free.

Applying this approach makes you the top choice for every employer. Tailoring your resume to each job is particularly effective since every position comes with unique responsibilities and requirements. However, doing this manually can be time-consuming so tools “Tailor My Resume” feature makes the process easier, allowing you to quickly customize your resume for each role with minimal effort, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the job description.

Tips for Customizing Your Resume:

• Match your skills with the job description: You will also need to look at job title and requirements mentioned in the job posting ad and ensure they are reflected somewhere in your resume. ATS is very popular among many companies, and the primary operation of these systems is keyword search of resumes.
• Highlight the most relevant experience: If the position is aimed at marketing, it is crucial to accent show marketing-related work experience you have.
  
  

Here are the 3 easy steps you need to follow:

CareerAI: Your Ultimate Resume-Building Companion

CareerAI is intended to simplify the process of searching for a job as well as recruitment for any institution. While we appreciate the value of hard work, determination, and dedication to one’s job search, we still know it is a process that can take a considerable amount of time and effort. That is why CareerAI exists: to make your process easier and to ensure that your CV will be seen in a world that is absolutely stuffed full of folks like you. Further, armed with our smart writing tools, you can write a resume and cover letter, which will get the attention of the best employers and get you the perfect job that you were longing for.

CareerAI Features

Tailor My Resume

CareerAI’s Tailor My Resume feature allows you to take your current resume and match it to a live job description. It scans the job description, picks out key keywords, and adds them to your resume, making sure the format looks more appealing to employers. This makes your resume stand out, improving your chances of it being reviewed—and hopefully landing you an interview. It is fast and efficient in making the resume match the job you are applying for and, therefore, recommendable.

Resume Copilot

It is an AI-powered tool that guides you step by step through the resume-building process. Whether you need help adding key skills or updating any section of your resume, it’s there to assist. You can copy and paste the job description, and Resume Copilot will recommend personalized skills that match the role. It helps you highlight the skills most relevant to the job you're applying for.

AI Writer

It can generate professional and well-worded resume phrases, which are made easy with the help of AI Writer. It is very simple – just input your experience or your responsibilities, and then it converts them into short but strong statements. Such a tool is especially useful for new graduates who may find it challenging to phrase their accomplishments properly, guaranteeing clarity and a professional tone to your resume.

Job Scan

The CareerAI Job Scan Feature is advisable in enhancing your resume by comparing it with the requirements of a specific position. Just upload your resume and put job details; you will be informed of how your resume must be formatted to match keywords to increase your chances of being identified by the filters, thus increasing your chances of being invited to an interview.

CareerAI Autofill Extension

The CareerAI Autofill Extension is used to simplify the process of completing job applications. One of them will help you complete application forms, thus avoiding much time and effort. In this way, you can apply to multiple jobs within a short span of time, and it becomes easier to apply for a job. Also, it helps you hunt for a job in a shorter time span. Download the Extension Now!

Key Takeaways

Writing your resume for your first job can be tough, but by following these steps, your resume will be neat, clean and professional. By enumerating your skills, education, and experiences, you will win the hearts of employers who believe in you to produce results. However, do not forget that a free resume builder is an excellent option for you to start with, and with individual resume creation for each job, you will greatly improve your chances to get an interview. I hope you get all the jobs you have applied for!

Create Your Job-Winning Resume Now – Try CareerAI for Free!