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What are the next steps I should take to build my resume as a busy college student?

Hi! I am a first year college student looking to grow my resume. Right now I am studying finance and am looking into summer internships. Without much on my resume I am worried about finding a job.

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Marie’s Answer

Excellent query, and rest assured, you're not the only one pondering on this. Be sure to incorporate elements that demonstrate proactivity, creativity, a readiness to learn - essentially, embodying a growth mindset and leadership traits. This might involve roles such as being a captain or vice-captain in a university sport, holding an office in a club, leading a band, or engaging in volunteer work, even within a religious community, and so on. The key here is to reflect on the activities you're involved in outside your academic work. Consider how these experiences are equipping you for your future career - starting with an internship and, if it's a good match, progressing to full-time employment.
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Jeff’s Answer

As a hiring manager I see a lot of resumes. They tend to all have the standard stuff in terms of education. What I look for are examples of teamwork, leadership, speaking in public and evidence that you value something beyond a job. Charity work, sports, theatre, arts, volunteering, hobbies. By the time a resume makes it to me, the questions I have are, can this person work in a team, can they bring a unique perspective, can they value work towards a larger goal? I know I don’t have to remind a person who’s done a play, the importance of a deadline. If you are play soccer in a rec league I know you know scoring goals isn’t the most important role on the team. Those are just a couple examples. Of course internships and work experience is important as well, but don’t sleep on the extras a make spot for them on your resume. Good luck!
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Chinyere’s Answer

Hello Audrey,

Building your resume as a busy college student is definitely achievable! Here are some steps you can take to enhance your resume, especially as you pursue finance and look for summer internships:

1. Focus on Education
- Highlight Your Degree: Include your major, expected graduation date, and relevant coursework. If you’ve taken any finance-related classes that showcase your knowledge, list those.
- GPA: If it’s strong (typically 3.0 or above), include it to demonstrate your academic performance.

2. Gain Experience
- Internships: Actively search for summer internships in finance. Apply to a variety of positions, including those that might be less competitive.
- Part-time Jobs: Look for part-time jobs, even if they're not strictly finance-related. Positions in customer service or administration can help you build transferable skills.
- Volunteer Work: Consider volunteering for organizations that interest you. You can gain experience while also demonstrating commitment and work ethic.

3. Get Involved on Campus
- Join Clubs: Participate in finance or business clubs. Taking on leadership roles can add significant value to your resume.
- Attend Networking Events: Participate in workshops, career fairs, and networking events hosted by your college. These opportunities can help you connect with potential employers and learn more about the industry.

4. Develop Relevant Skills
- Technical Skills: Familiarize yourself with finance-related software (like Excel, financial modeling tools, or accounting software) and list these on your resume.
- Soft Skills: Highlight skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and time management. Provide examples of how you’ve used these skills in your experiences.

5. Create a Professional Online Presence
- LinkedIn Profile: Set up a LinkedIn profile to showcase your education, skills, and any work experience. Connect with classmates, professors, and industry professionals.
- Networking: Use LinkedIn to network with alumni from your program or professionals in the finance industry.

6. Tailor Your Resume
- Customize for Each Job: When applying for internships or jobs, tailor your resume to match the specific skills and experiences highlighted in the job description.

7. Seek Guidance
- Career Services: Utilize your college’s career services for resume reviews, interview prep, and job search assistance.
- Mentorship: Find a mentor in your field who can provide advice and guidance as you navigate your career path.

8. Start a Personal Project
- Finance Blog or Investment Portfolio: Consider starting a blog about finance topics or tracking your own investment portfolio. This can demonstrate your passion and knowledge in the field.

Example of Resume Sections
- Education
- Bachelor of Finance, [Your University], Expected Graduation: [Year]
- Relevant Coursework: [Course Names]
- GPA: [Your GPA]

- Experience
- [Job Title], [Company Name], [Location] (Dates)
- Responsibilities and achievements
- [Volunteer Position], [Organization Name], [Location] (Dates)
- Responsibilities and achievements

- Skills
- Technical: [List software or tools]
- Soft: [List interpersonal skills]

Taking these steps will help you create a solid foundation for your resume and increase your chances of securing internships and job opportunities in finance.

Remember, every small step you take toward building your resume and gaining experience is a step closer to your goals. It's completely normal to feel a bit anxious at this stage, but don't underestimate the value of your unique journey. You have the determination and passion needed to succeed, and each experience will contribute to your growth. Embrace the challenges, stay curious, and keep pushing forward. The opportunities will come, and you'll look back and be proud of how far you've come. You've got this!

Best wishes!
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Karen’s Answer

Great you are planning ahead! My best advice is to do some volunteering. You can find short-term opportunities by searching online and spend a few hours helping a nonprofit with set up or take-down at an event, serving meals to the homeless, visiting someone at a living assisted center, helping at a food shelf, etc. If none of these are possible, you can volunteer to help your neighbors run errands, rake leaves, do child care or ask what they need.

For your resume, include the skills you gained from these experiences such as teamwork, flexibility, understanding other cultures, communication, and other skills.

With every good wish!
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Greg’s Answer

I highly suggest getting involved in volunteer work with VITA. It's a great opportunity to gain substantial experience in preparing tax returns. Moreover, it provides exposure to a wide variety of tax scenarios, enhancing your understanding and interaction with diverse tax situations.
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Twilio’s Answer

That’s great you’re looking for summer internships! Having internships and some work experience definitely helps employers see you have that kind of experience once you graduate. Finance is a wonderfully large topic area- is there a specific focus in finance, or a type of job in the financial industry that excites you? Or is there an industry or company that you’re interested in working on the financial team of? I would recommend reaching out to those companies for informational interviews. A few random ideas that could be interesting for you to build up your resume while still in school- be the treasurer of a club! Start a “finance’ section of your school newspaper and own it! Find a startup on campus- or start a startup on campus- and take control of the finances. Get to know one of your favorite professors, and ask them for advice! They would love to talk with you I’m sure, it’s why they do their job. They also could have teaching assistant positions available for later in your college career!
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Twilio’s Answer

As a first year thinking of this, that is amazing and you are well ahead of the curve. In finance, there are specific 2nd year internships that allow young students like yourself to get their foot in the door. I highly recommend to look into these as the hopes Is to then get another internship 3/4th year in hopes to convert into full time. With that being said, there are various ways you can build your resume without internships.. Volunteerism, entrepreneurship etc, but the easiest and highest impact would be getting involved in school. Clubs, mentorships, even social orgs can all build towards your persona and create a well rounded resume. This + the possibilities of connecting with others in the same headspace as you can lead to tremendous professional gains.
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Twilio’s Answer

A great advice is to prioritize maintaining a high GPA, this indicates your dedication and expertise, especially in the competitive field of finance. Simultaneously, engage in extracurricular activities such as finance clubs or student organizations, where you can take on leadership roles and participate in projects that demonstrate your skills and initiative. These experiences provide valuable networking opportunities. Start preparing now by attending career fairs, connecting with alumni in the finance sector, don't be ashamed of asking questions to people that are already where you want to be, and if possible utilizing your college's career services to refine your resume and interview skills. And take advantage of AI to adapt your resume for the application.
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Twilio’s Answer

Build relationships with teachers so that they will be able to write informed letters of support on your behalf.
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Margaret’s Answer

Businesses typically have different expectations for interns instead of experienced hires. They take into account the fact you haven't had much time to have relevant work experience, so things like volunteering and leading campus efforts go a long way! Look for ways to highlight your leadership skills on campus and if there are opportunities to be a club treasurer or manage a budget for something, it can help you stand out!
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