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How do I get my resume to stand out so I can receive call backs ? ?
I am a 27 year old student who is struggling with experience in the corporate field.
14 answers
Updated
Simon’s Answer
As a hiring manager, I want to share some tips to help you stand out.
- Many resumes look similar, so use the opening statement and the "Other" section to show your personality. This helps interviewers get a sense of who you are.
- Make sure to include your LinkedIn profile and stay active on it. Sharing your passions there gives interviewers another way to connect with you.
Using the 16 Personalities test can also be a great way to describe yourself in resumes and interviews.
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
- Many resumes look similar, so use the opening statement and the "Other" section to show your personality. This helps interviewers get a sense of who you are.
- Make sure to include your LinkedIn profile and stay active on it. Sharing your passions there gives interviewers another way to connect with you.
Using the 16 Personalities test can also be a great way to describe yourself in resumes and interviews.
Simon recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Wyatt’s Answer
Hello Tamia,
With over 25 years of experience in the corporate business world at the management level, I’ve reviewed a wide range of résumés and understand what makes a candidate stand out.
Lead with a strong summary statement. Even if you lack corporate experience, a well-written summary at the top of your resume can quickly capture attention.
Example:
Motivated business student with hands-on experience in project coordination, event planning, and customer service. Skilled in communication, time management, and team collaboration. Eager to apply a strong work ethic and growth mindset to an entry-level business or marketing role.
Use a skills-first or hybrid resume format. Instead of the traditional chronological layout, highlight your transferable skills up front, especially if your experience is from non-corporate jobs (retail, food service, gig work, etc.).
Skill-based sections to include:
Project Management
Customer Engagement
Social Media or Marketing Tools
Communication and Teamwork
Time Management
Translate your experience into business language. Even if your past jobs weren’t in an office, they taught you useful skills. Frame them in terms employers value.
Retail Example:
Managed point-of-sale transactions and resolved customer issues, contributing to 98% satisfaction scores.
Event Work Example:
Coordinated logistics for student events with 100+ attendees, managing setup, vendor communication, and promotion.
Highlight school, volunteer, and side projects. Employers don’t just look for paid experience — they want evidence of effort and initiative.
Include:
Relevant coursework or class projects
Volunteer roles
Leadership positions (clubs, sports, student orgs)
Freelance or side hustles
Add keywords from job descriptions. Tailor each resume to the job you’re applying for. Use keywords from the job posting, especially skills or software tools mentioned. This helps you pass applicant tracking systems.
Use a clean, professional format.
Stick to:
One page (for now)
Clear section headings
Modern fonts (like Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica)
Bullet points, not paragraphs
Include a customized cover letter. It shows you care and gives you a chance to explain your path (e.g., being a student, career goals, and why you’re passionate about the field). It can make a huge difference.
Best Wishes,
Wyatt
With over 25 years of experience in the corporate business world at the management level, I’ve reviewed a wide range of résumés and understand what makes a candidate stand out.
Lead with a strong summary statement. Even if you lack corporate experience, a well-written summary at the top of your resume can quickly capture attention.
Example:
Motivated business student with hands-on experience in project coordination, event planning, and customer service. Skilled in communication, time management, and team collaboration. Eager to apply a strong work ethic and growth mindset to an entry-level business or marketing role.
Use a skills-first or hybrid resume format. Instead of the traditional chronological layout, highlight your transferable skills up front, especially if your experience is from non-corporate jobs (retail, food service, gig work, etc.).
Skill-based sections to include:
Project Management
Customer Engagement
Social Media or Marketing Tools
Communication and Teamwork
Time Management
Translate your experience into business language. Even if your past jobs weren’t in an office, they taught you useful skills. Frame them in terms employers value.
Retail Example:
Managed point-of-sale transactions and resolved customer issues, contributing to 98% satisfaction scores.
Event Work Example:
Coordinated logistics for student events with 100+ attendees, managing setup, vendor communication, and promotion.
Highlight school, volunteer, and side projects. Employers don’t just look for paid experience — they want evidence of effort and initiative.
Include:
Relevant coursework or class projects
Volunteer roles
Leadership positions (clubs, sports, student orgs)
Freelance or side hustles
Add keywords from job descriptions. Tailor each resume to the job you’re applying for. Use keywords from the job posting, especially skills or software tools mentioned. This helps you pass applicant tracking systems.
Use a clean, professional format.
Stick to:
One page (for now)
Clear section headings
Modern fonts (like Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica)
Bullet points, not paragraphs
Include a customized cover letter. It shows you care and gives you a chance to explain your path (e.g., being a student, career goals, and why you’re passionate about the field). It can make a huge difference.
Best Wishes,
Wyatt
Updated
Citi’s Answer
If I were hiring, I'd look for a proven ability to deliver results in any setting, being highly adaptable and embracing change, and detail oriented.
Updated
Deborah’s Answer
You're not alone; many students of all ages struggle with that same challenge. The key to creating a standout resume is to present your strengths, transferable skills, and potential in a way that connects with what employers are looking for.
You may not have corporate experience, but you can highlight your transferable skills, such as:
* Leadership and Customer Service - student organizations, volunteering, part-time jobs
* Problem Solving - relevant class projects, resolving issues at work
* Communications - presentations, group work, tutoring
* Certifications or online courses - LinkedIn, Coursera
Create an objective or summary that stands out, indicating who you are and what makes you a good candidate. Remember to tailor your resume for each job using keywords and phrases from the job description and mirroring their language in your objective and bullet points. Good luck!
You may not have corporate experience, but you can highlight your transferable skills, such as:
* Leadership and Customer Service - student organizations, volunteering, part-time jobs
* Problem Solving - relevant class projects, resolving issues at work
* Communications - presentations, group work, tutoring
* Certifications or online courses - LinkedIn, Coursera
Create an objective or summary that stands out, indicating who you are and what makes you a good candidate. Remember to tailor your resume for each job using keywords and phrases from the job description and mirroring their language in your objective and bullet points. Good luck!
Updated
Martina’s Answer
Hi Tamia,
An extremely helpful tip that worked for me while applying for a job as well what stands out to me when I'm reviewing application of upcoming interns is to make your bullet points have numeric metrics to them. Such as if you volunteer somewhere saying "100 hours spent supporting people in the local community" or if you are a leader of any organization giving metrics such as "Grown the organization by 40 students in 2 years" or "Successful lead and executed 20 projects during term". I hope you find this helpful and good luck on your journey.
An extremely helpful tip that worked for me while applying for a job as well what stands out to me when I'm reviewing application of upcoming interns is to make your bullet points have numeric metrics to them. Such as if you volunteer somewhere saying "100 hours spent supporting people in the local community" or if you are a leader of any organization giving metrics such as "Grown the organization by 40 students in 2 years" or "Successful lead and executed 20 projects during term". I hope you find this helpful and good luck on your journey.
I appreciate your support, Martina
Tamia
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Good question! My suggestion would be to highlight a variety of volunteer experiences and include the skills you gained from them. If you haven't yet volunteered or haven't branched out to try new things, this is a great time to do that. Look for where you can offer a minimum amount of time. Here are a few ideas:
* Serve a meal at a homeless shelter
* Spend time at a food pantry
* Offer to come into a living assisted facility to visit a person who has no visitors for an hour
* Mentor a child once a month
* Volunteer at a marathon or walk to hand out water bottles, set up or clean up
* Check out needs at a local church, perhaps a day at a bible camp
* Consider random acts of kindness such as cleaning up your neighbor's yard or offering to run an errand for them
Try to include opportunities where you might also gain exposure to various cultures and/or beliefs. Your resume can showcase what a well-rounded person you are, your flexibility, and your willingness to try new things.
With every good wish and many blessings,
Karen
* Serve a meal at a homeless shelter
* Spend time at a food pantry
* Offer to come into a living assisted facility to visit a person who has no visitors for an hour
* Mentor a child once a month
* Volunteer at a marathon or walk to hand out water bottles, set up or clean up
* Check out needs at a local church, perhaps a day at a bible camp
* Consider random acts of kindness such as cleaning up your neighbor's yard or offering to run an errand for them
Try to include opportunities where you might also gain exposure to various cultures and/or beliefs. Your resume can showcase what a well-rounded person you are, your flexibility, and your willingness to try new things.
With every good wish and many blessings,
Karen
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Tamia
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Tamla !
I think that it would be great for you to receive in person employment services so that someone can help you create a resume that reflects your actual skills and experience. This would require you to meet with someone in person and be interviewed so that a resume can be written that shows exactly what you are qualified to do. No one can actually tell you, Tamla, who is going to hire you or choose you for an interview and you will need student-centered assistance with this as everyone's employment needs are different.
I am not sure what you mean by "struggling with experience in the corporate world". Are you finding the work to be a struggle or are you seeking experience in the Business field ? This is something that can easily be talked out with someone at a service like the New York City Department of Labor or local community services that offers employment assistance. The New York City Employment and Training Coalition, New York Cares at which you can receive employment services as well as explore volunteer work to get more experience, and The Community Service Society of New York can be useful to you for employment services, too.
A good way to obtain experience is to apply for a Work Study job while you are a college student. You can apply for it on your Federal Student Financial Aid form. Once you are granted Work Study, you can seek a work study job in the comptroller's office, or any office on campus that deals with any aspect of business. Visit your on campus Financial Aid office for more information about Work Study jobs as you would be guaranteed to get one if you are granted financial aid.
Always remember that a resume is built gradually and there's no need to rush things. There's no guarantee no matter how your resume is written or what it says that yours will be chosen. We all eventually come to a comfort zone about not getting every job we apply to. But in a huge city such a NYC, you'll eventually have lots to apply to. And remember to read the employment notices carefully to be sure that you 100% qualify for the work and know how to do all that is asked for, including having the stated credentials and college degree(s). Most importantly, don't give up !
Keep in mind that some colleges in NYC offer or place students in Internships in their Junior and Senior years. I know Baruch does this for Business students, but you didn't mention what college you're attending and what your degree would be in. Check with your professors to see if your college places Junior and Senior year students in Internships.
I hope that this is useful for you and I wish you all the best !
I think that it would be great for you to receive in person employment services so that someone can help you create a resume that reflects your actual skills and experience. This would require you to meet with someone in person and be interviewed so that a resume can be written that shows exactly what you are qualified to do. No one can actually tell you, Tamla, who is going to hire you or choose you for an interview and you will need student-centered assistance with this as everyone's employment needs are different.
I am not sure what you mean by "struggling with experience in the corporate world". Are you finding the work to be a struggle or are you seeking experience in the Business field ? This is something that can easily be talked out with someone at a service like the New York City Department of Labor or local community services that offers employment assistance. The New York City Employment and Training Coalition, New York Cares at which you can receive employment services as well as explore volunteer work to get more experience, and The Community Service Society of New York can be useful to you for employment services, too.
A good way to obtain experience is to apply for a Work Study job while you are a college student. You can apply for it on your Federal Student Financial Aid form. Once you are granted Work Study, you can seek a work study job in the comptroller's office, or any office on campus that deals with any aspect of business. Visit your on campus Financial Aid office for more information about Work Study jobs as you would be guaranteed to get one if you are granted financial aid.
Always remember that a resume is built gradually and there's no need to rush things. There's no guarantee no matter how your resume is written or what it says that yours will be chosen. We all eventually come to a comfort zone about not getting every job we apply to. But in a huge city such a NYC, you'll eventually have lots to apply to. And remember to read the employment notices carefully to be sure that you 100% qualify for the work and know how to do all that is asked for, including having the stated credentials and college degree(s). Most importantly, don't give up !
Keep in mind that some colleges in NYC offer or place students in Internships in their Junior and Senior years. I know Baruch does this for Business students, but you didn't mention what college you're attending and what your degree would be in. Check with your professors to see if your college places Junior and Senior year students in Internships.
I hope that this is useful for you and I wish you all the best !
Updated
Lalia’s Answer
Hi Tamia,
Great question! And you’re not alone. So many people, not only students, struggle with breaking through the clutter and getting their resumes to the top of the pile when they don’t have much work experience yet. Here are a few tips that will hopefully help:
Lead with your strengths - If you don’t have much work experience yet, highlight the experiences you do have—like internships, volunteer work, class projects, leadership roles, or part-time jobs. These show skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and responsibility.
Make sure you have a strong summary section - Write a short summary (2–3 sentences) at the top that explains who you are, what you’re studying, and what you’re looking for. (E.g., “Detail-oriented ____________ student with strong skills in ____________, ____________, and ____________. Eager to bring problem-solving abilities and creativity to an entry-level ___________ role.”
Focus on skills, not just listing jobs - List technical and soft skills (like Microsoft Office, data analysis, teamwork, leadership, or time management). These are valuable even if you gained them in a non-work setting.
Show results whenever possible - If you worked on a project or held a leadership role, mention results. )E.g., “Led a team of 5 peer students to plan a fundraising event that raised $1,000 for XYZ charity.”
Customize for each job that you're applying for - Tailor your resume and cover letter for each role by using keywords from the job description. This will help your application get noticed by recruiters and applicant tracking systems.
And don't forget to use your school connections. This is the time to build your network with like-minded peers that you're working with. Attend career fairs and schedule informational interviews. Any opportunity you get to talk to someone live is a great practice round for job interviews.
Great question! And you’re not alone. So many people, not only students, struggle with breaking through the clutter and getting their resumes to the top of the pile when they don’t have much work experience yet. Here are a few tips that will hopefully help:
Lead with your strengths - If you don’t have much work experience yet, highlight the experiences you do have—like internships, volunteer work, class projects, leadership roles, or part-time jobs. These show skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and responsibility.
Make sure you have a strong summary section - Write a short summary (2–3 sentences) at the top that explains who you are, what you’re studying, and what you’re looking for. (E.g., “Detail-oriented ____________ student with strong skills in ____________, ____________, and ____________. Eager to bring problem-solving abilities and creativity to an entry-level ___________ role.”
Focus on skills, not just listing jobs - List technical and soft skills (like Microsoft Office, data analysis, teamwork, leadership, or time management). These are valuable even if you gained them in a non-work setting.
Show results whenever possible - If you worked on a project or held a leadership role, mention results. )E.g., “Led a team of 5 peer students to plan a fundraising event that raised $1,000 for XYZ charity.”
Customize for each job that you're applying for - Tailor your resume and cover letter for each role by using keywords from the job description. This will help your application get noticed by recruiters and applicant tracking systems.
And don't forget to use your school connections. This is the time to build your network with like-minded peers that you're working with. Attend career fairs and schedule informational interviews. Any opportunity you get to talk to someone live is a great practice round for job interviews.
Thank you, Lalia!
Tamia
Updated
Sean’s Answer
Stick to outcomes and results and steer away from listing task. Write with passion and competitiveness. What differentiates you? What is under the hood that people don’t know about you.
You rock! This advice is very helpful.
Tamia
Updated
Manuel’s Answer
Assuming your education and some level of experience are adequate, I encourage to give 2 examples, if possible, that show the employer either of these 4 characteristics (often referred to soft skills), that in my opinion are not emphasized enough in the American education system: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, & communication. It can be either from a previous work experience or from some volunteering experience.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.
Tamia
Updated
Karl’s Answer
Great question! I've seen many resumes, and I believe the Summary section is one of the most important parts. It helps people understand not just your job history, but also who you are, what drives you, your strengths, and what you can offer to a new employer. Even if you don't have much work experience, your academic and life experiences have shaped you, so highlight those.
Focus on your achievements, highlight projects you've completed, and share what your work experience has taught you by including a skills and knowledge section.
Keep your resume to one page, and tailor it to the industry you're applying for. Good luck!
Focus on your achievements, highlight projects you've completed, and share what your work experience has taught you by including a skills and knowledge section.
Keep your resume to one page, and tailor it to the industry you're applying for. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice.
Tamia
Updated
Rohit’s Answer
Build your network and gather recommendations and contacts. Your resume should highlight the results of tasks you've completed. Make sure every experience shows a clear outcome.
Resume Tip:
Experience: Worked on a supply chain project to improve lead time.
Outcome: Reduced wait time from 7 days to 5 days.
Resume Tip:
Experience: Worked on a supply chain project to improve lead time.
Outcome: Reduced wait time from 7 days to 5 days.
Thank you so much!
Tamia
Updated
Richard A. (Tony)’s Answer
Tamia,
Perhaps you're approaching this all wrong?
Without knowing what it is you're looking for, my first caution is that you are one of thousands submitting a piece of paper to a "Mill" that grinds it through to match some AI driven pattern - a cattle call by any other name - before it ever reaches a human who will read it once they get a minute to contemplate anything; it is designed to minimize interaction with hiring managers.
Try picking out companies that you want to work for and targeting individuals at those companies (gently and respectfully). Showing a company that you are interested in that company, over a specific job you want, may get you in, which will then allow you to actually shift into something you want to do, once in the door. Just remember to know the company before doing that, nothing like a boneheaded or clueless answer to learn where the exit door is!
These usually show up as customer service or assistant positions that may seem below your expectations, or even outside your skillset; just get in the door and keep the prize in sight!
Tony
Perhaps you're approaching this all wrong?
Without knowing what it is you're looking for, my first caution is that you are one of thousands submitting a piece of paper to a "Mill" that grinds it through to match some AI driven pattern - a cattle call by any other name - before it ever reaches a human who will read it once they get a minute to contemplate anything; it is designed to minimize interaction with hiring managers.
Try picking out companies that you want to work for and targeting individuals at those companies (gently and respectfully). Showing a company that you are interested in that company, over a specific job you want, may get you in, which will then allow you to actually shift into something you want to do, once in the door. Just remember to know the company before doing that, nothing like a boneheaded or clueless answer to learn where the exit door is!
These usually show up as customer service or assistant positions that may seem below your expectations, or even outside your skillset; just get in the door and keep the prize in sight!
Tony
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Tamia
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Hi Tamia,
I have several ideas that could be helpful to you. Make a long resume 3-5 pages and make it detail heavy. Work, school projects, volunteer stuff and lots of key words. This resume should match what is on your linkedin profile. Post the long resume on sites like indeed, careerbuilder, monster, dice or any other you can think of. Recruiters will find you easier that way. Next make a short resume 1-2 pages and include it in your job applications if they require a short resume. Be sure to update your resume everytime you apply to a new job to emphasize things they are specifically looking for. If you are applying to 10 jobs a day and getting no results, start applying to 20-40 a day. The market is tough right now. Make sure you are specific as to what you are expecting for a job or you make get spammed for low paying or positions you are not interested in. For example (REMOTE ONLY) or (Full Time only, no contract roles). Practice the STAR interview method so you can ace the interview as well.
I have several ideas that could be helpful to you. Make a long resume 3-5 pages and make it detail heavy. Work, school projects, volunteer stuff and lots of key words. This resume should match what is on your linkedin profile. Post the long resume on sites like indeed, careerbuilder, monster, dice or any other you can think of. Recruiters will find you easier that way. Next make a short resume 1-2 pages and include it in your job applications if they require a short resume. Be sure to update your resume everytime you apply to a new job to emphasize things they are specifically looking for. If you are applying to 10 jobs a day and getting no results, start applying to 20-40 a day. The market is tough right now. Make sure you are specific as to what you are expecting for a job or you make get spammed for low paying or positions you are not interested in. For example (REMOTE ONLY) or (Full Time only, no contract roles). Practice the STAR interview method so you can ace the interview as well.
Your advice was so helpful!
Tamia
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