The 10 Golden Rules for Writing a Resume

For international internships, a resume or CV is often the first contact you will have with a hiring manager. In a saturated job market, when thousands of applications are being made for top positions, it is important to be impressive at first glance. Follow these simple guidelines to create a clean and professional resume that stands out.

1.The One-Page Rule

Hiring managers spend an average of 6 seconds to create an initial impression or decision on a candidate. Having a 1-page resume while you’re still completing university is best practice, and makes it easy for employers to scan your resume to find the information they’re looking for.

2. Firstname_Lastname_resume.pdf

This mistake is all too common. Sifting through hundreds of applications labeled ‘resume’ can create headaches for a hiring manager, especially for international internships. Your resume should be easy to recognize.  By titling your document correctly, you will make it easier for the employer to re-visit your resume at any time.

3. PDF Format

You have worked hard to make a clean cut and meticulously formatted resume for international internships and jobs alike. The recruiter pulls it up on their computer and can only see a jumbled mess of words and shapes. It happens too often that the different configurations of writing applications change the formatting to make your resume unreadable. Make sure this doesn’t happen to you by converting your resume to PDF format.

4. Spell Check

Spelling and grammar errors can discount your resume from the get go. Use the spell check tool, read and reread your resume, then give it to a friend for peer editing. Although it can be painful to go over what you have written for the umpteenth time, it will be worth it.

5. Format Appropriately

Times New Roman or Arial in no smaller than size 10 is what you are looking for. Unless you are looking for roles in creative or design fields, it is safe to not stray from this formula.

6. Prioritize Your Experience for the Target Job

What is your most relevant and impressive accomplishment? Depending on the role you are applying for, sometimes an internship in the industry is more important than the school you attended. It is time to take a long hard look at all your selling points and think “If I was HR what would I want to see.”  Find it, put it at the top.

7. Don’t Include References

You have precious little space in your one-page resume. You are looking for recruiters to talk to you, not your references. Speaking to references is further into the process and when it gets to that point they will reach out to you and ask for those names.

8. Quantify Your Accomplishments

Numbers are king when it comes to listing your accomplishments. Even if your job doesn’t involve ‘hard numbers’, it is good to insert numbers and figures wherever possible. For example, “Managing a small marketing team” can be changed to “Leading a team of 4 marketing specialists”. Eyes tend to gravitate towards numbers and convey meaning and scope to the employer.

9. Identify What Makes You Standout

Everyone has a unique story to tell. Taking time to find out what makes you unique can be imperative in finding the best internships abroad. Try to find what are your standout achievements or qualities and really emphasize them for maximum effect.

10. Keep The Reader In Mind

Remember that a real person is looking at these resumes. They are looking for awesome candidates to integrate into the team. You want to make this process as simple and easy as possible by making your resume the best fit for the international internship position. It is not their job to do you any favors. Let them know that you will be a seamless addition to the team.

Following these guides will help you complete an international resume that will be proficient for every industry and ensure that you receive the best internship abroad.