Leave some white space

Ninety percent of employers recruiting at USC this fall expect to review a one page resume. How do you describe all your accomplishments in a single page? Prioritize, customize and leave some white space.

Before you develop or update your resume take a minute to list three things about you that are unique. Not your GPA, not your major; other folks have the same grades or will graduate with the same degree. When you talk to people, what do they find most intriguing about you? Think about it. What do you end up talking about the most?

Use these three things to set the priorities for what you should include in your resume. Now, look at the job description. How do you customize these three things to match what an employer’s requirements?

OK, so it’s not a simple as creating a chronological list of education, awards, involvement and experience.

Academia rewards reflective, deep thought. Employers who may be reviewing 100 resumes are looking for a concise summary of accomplishment. If you started an organization, what was the result? If you worked to support yourself through college, what does this communicate about your work ethic? Are you competing in a club sport? Think about how you attracted team members and raised funds to support your activity. Have you traveled, studied or worked abroad? In a global workplace, this understanding of cultures may be an asset. Your descriptions should be short and to the point, quantifying when possible

Now, the challenge: fit it all on one page. Customize your resume for each position. Leave enough white space on the page. Even in our ‘high tech’ world, a recruiter may want to make notes in the margin.The idea of the single page resume is not to find the smallest font, covering the page top to bottom, side to side. Select from your inventory of experience the most relevant to the position. You do not need a description for each job or internship.

Once you have a draft, have people review it for you. Utilize the walk in hours of the CPPC between 12 and 3 daily to get a career advisor perspective. If you know someone in the field you are planning to enter, ask them to give you feedback with and industry perspective.

Identifying your top three key qualities provides a focus to your resume. It is also provides an outline for a cover letter and a guide to prepare for an interview. Prioritize, customize and leave some white space.