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expand on what value you added to the
organization,” noted Heady.
Those secondary school work and
part-time jobs in university such as
babysitting, food service, family farm,
retail, or pet sitting illustrate your work
ethic, flexibility, attention to detail,
willingness to learn, prioritization,
customer service, communication, and
time management skills.
Students can also emphasize
language fluency and certifications.
Reference certifications you’ve
obtained that are above and beyond
requirements for your field of study,
such as an occupational safety certificate,
CDL, A+ certification, or project
management certificate.
Students shouldn’t perceive their
limited experiences as a lack of skills;
many students could teach master
classes in balancing multiple
commitments between the classroom,
homework and projects, extracurricular
activities, volunteering, and family
commitments, plus searching for an in-
ternship/summer work experience or job.
Study abroad opportunities also build
students’ experience section, illustrating
the understanding of global and diverse
issues, language, and willingness to
explore.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Employers expect experienced
professionals to go beyond listing
duties on a resume and focus on
accomplishments with quantifiable
results. Students don’t have years of
on-the-job achievements to promote in
their resume. However, students may
weave recent and timely involvement
with organizations and associations
into their resume experience and skills
sections. Heady advises students that,
“Most recent is most relevant.” Baker
agrees that students should only list
secondary achievements if relevant.
“One of the most important
characteristics we look for in a student
resume is leadership potential,” said
Heady. This is illustrated by students
that have had leadership roles in school,
specifically elected roles. “If students will
practice their leadership skills on campus,
we believe that they will more likely
tackle a leadership role at our company,”
added Heady. Baker echoed the
importance of conveying leadership
skills on a resume, “Holding roles in
student organizations where they’ve
demonstrated leadership capabilities
makes a student’s resume stand out.”
Accomplishments from volunteer
involvement (especially measurable
achievements) are ideal student
resume builders. Students can enhance
their resume with extracurricular and
leadership work. Go beyond club
membership and volunteerism to
highlight the leadership roles you’ve
taken on for these organizations. This
involvement showcases your passions
and how you give back.
The student or new graduate resume
is often one of your last chances to brag
about scholarships, honour societies and
programs, and student awards. Take
advantage of the opportunity to
emphasize your student achievements as
resume builders; get a few years under
your belt and these student awards are
no longer applicable, nor appropriate.
AG
“One of the most important
characteristics we look for
in a student resume is
leadership potential.”
Kelsey Seidl, Christensen Farms
Tom Heady, Elanco
STUDENT
RESUME
BASICS
Required:
1. Contact Information
2. Education
3. Experience
Optional (select up to 3):
• Skills
• Profile or Summary
• Awards & Honours
• Volunteer Experience
• Extracurricular Activities
• Certifications/Training
• Languages
Limit optional sections to 3 max;
try to group several under the
same sub-head if possible, for
example: 1) “activities” may
encompass volunteerism &
extracurricular or 2) incorporate
“languages” into education or
experience.
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