Tell me everything about why you are awesome in one page. GO!

We are over halfway through the summer; therefore, whether you are a recent grad taking the bar (it will be over soon!) or a 2L looking for your next summer job (OCI is just around the corner), it is time to get your resumes and cover letters updated and polished. Take a fresh look at your resume, add achievements and experiences from last semester and this summer, and begin to think about how you can make yourself stand out from the crowd.  While you are taking another look at your resume, keep some things in mind:

1) Make it Easy on the Eye – Given that a resume is generally scanned rather than read, it is vital to make sure your resume is easy to follow and the most important information is placed prominently. For example, if you have a GPA 3.0 and above, you want to make that information distinct – even bold it – to make sure the employer will see it. Do not be afraid of bullet points when formatting your resume; since you will not be using full sentences, bullets are an easy way to indicate a new topic.

2) Be Specific in your Work Experience Descriptions – When reviewing a book, “specificity” is generally used as a term of praise, meaning that characters have a degree of believability and experience that reads as true. Likewise, specificity is what you need to aim for when describing your past work experience. Your goal is to convey to the potential employer that your past experiences have prepared for you for the role, while also showing your experiences were unique and understandable. You should never just say that you “researched case law and wrote memoranda.” This tells the employer nothing more than that you are a typical law student. Describe in detail the type of work you did and the areas in which you researched and wrote.

3) Tailor Your Resume to Each Employer – Not all jobs are the same and, therefore, employers are seeking specific types of experiences and strengths when looking for the best person for the job. You will increase your chances for success if you learn how to tailor your resume to address the particular traits and qualities that are a best fit for the position. For example, if you apply to the prosecutor’s office, you want to elaborate on any experience you have with criminal law, as opposed to your experience at a civil litigation firm, which would not be as valuable to the employer. This is not to say you need to remove experiences that seem “irrelevant.” Every past experience carries some weight; you simply need to learn how to leverage your skills. In the end, small changes to a resume can make a big difference.

4) Include the customized URL to your LinkedIn page (also HAVE a LinkedIn page) – A resume can only contain a page’s worth of information. Any more, and if you have lost your audience. On LinkedIn, however, you have an almost unconstrained ability to shape and project your image. Pay attention to and craft a LinkedIn page that expounds upon your experience, qualifications, and interests. Include a link to your LinkedIn page on your resume so employers can easily find it and take a more thorough look at who you are. It is easy and effective.  If you need to create a LinkedIn page, take a look at the CSO: Get LinkedIn Presentation available in your Resources section on Symplicity.

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