TeamSugar member htric is a recent college graduate in need of a job, so she posted her résumé in my Résumé Remedy group for some advice on how it could be improved. Htric is hoping to get an IT job, which is smart thinking because it's thought to be one of the few recession-proof fields out there.

  1. Remove unnecessary details: You want employers to get a clear picture of why you might be qualified by skimming though your résumé, and if they only catch the unnecessary stuff your candidacy loses strength. At minimum, consider taking out the objective (it's stating the obvious), your University's address, and your lifeguarding experience.
  2. Focus on what is important: It makes sense that you've had several different experiences during college, but you've only listed one responsibility next to a few of them. Either elaborate on these jobs, indicating the skills you learned that will help you in another job you might get, or delete them.

See my other recommendations and share your own in the comments — just read more.

  1. Consider including a summary of qualifications: I don't typically recommend this, but for an IT job it may be a good idea to introduce your résumé (after personal details) with the systems you're familiar with, especially since you're applying for an entry-level job. Potential employers will know from the start what type of training you've had.
  2. Clean up tenses and edit your action words: If your job ended in 2007, you're not "assisting students," you assisted them. While you're at it, review the other action words that you've used and make sure they are compelling. One of the sentences begins with "duties included" — swap this out for an action word.