It’s never too early to start crafting a résumé, freshmen. It’s the best way to keep track of your many high school experiences like student council, cheerleading, math club, part-time babysitting, debate team and even basketball. All of these demonstrate character and work ethic, and that’s exactly what you want to do when you apply for college admission, scholarships and part-time jobs.

Constantly update your résumé, and you can rely on it to represent you well in college and after graduation. That is, if you do it right. Though online templates can create average résumés, truly exceptional ones – those that land jobs and get students into their dream schools – take work, effort and time. Here’s how to build one that will land at the top of the stack.

Make Every Word Count
Many students’ résumés have great content but lack the professionalism needed to snag great opportunities. Steer clear of these résumé faux pas to keep yours competitive:

•     Change your email address. Having an address like SuprKuteChik@Hotmail.com or ImSmarterThanYou@AOL.com makes you look immature and arrogant. Use your full name to look distinguished and professional, like JaneDoe@Gmail.com.
•     Don’t get personal. In the U.S., it’s inappropriate to include your age, race, marital status, sexual preference or religious denomination on a résumé.
•     Be honest. Lying on a résumé is completely unethical. Have confidence in your qualifications.
•     What about references? Don’t say “references available upon request.” Of course they are. You should go ahead and list them along with contact information—anything you can do to make the reviewer’s job easier will work in your favor.

Pick a Target
Not all résumés are created equal. And they shouldn’t be. For example, a résumé you submit with a college or scholarship application needs to be considerably different than one you would give to a potential employer. You might describe experiences differently depending on the résumé’s purpose – a scholarship committee probably doesn’t care that your experience at Dairy Queen included the drive-thru window, but the person hiring for the office job at the student health center would. Your résumé should evolve as your education is enhanced and your work experiences increase. Here are some more tips to consider before you start writing.

• Brainstorm. Figuring out where to start is often the hardest part of résumé building. Take some time and make a thorough list of your skills, qualifications, experience and extracurricular activities. Ask a parent, guidance counselor – even a classmate – who knows you well to remind you of academic, athletic and other accomplishments you may be forgetting.
• Consider your audience. It’s important to determine what each college or company will be evaluating your résumé for – work ethic, academic achievement, community involvement, experience, etc. This is where academic and professional résumés begin to really differ.

o    For internships and jobs, your previous work experience is crucial, and you’ll want to include specific experiences you’ve had that apply to the open position. Don’t forget to spotlight any computer and other job-specific skills. Limit professional résumés to one page.

o    For internships and jobs, your previous work experience is crucial, and you’ll want to include specific experiences you’ve had that apply to the open position. Don’t forget to spotlight any computer and other job-specific skills. Limit professional résumés to one page.

Sell Yourself on Paper
On average, it takes an admissions officer or potential employer 30 seconds to look over a résumé. Remember that exceptional résumés look professional and are formatted consistently; and admissions officers and employers definitely don’t want to see cursive fonts or clip art. Here are a handful of other design do’s and don’ts to follow as you put your experiences in print:

•     Paper: Choose quality bond paper in an off-white shade.
•     Font: Opt for a sans-serif font like Arial or Helvetica in the default sizes 10-12. San-serifs are the easiest to read. Bold and italics are OK, but use strategically. Always use black ink.
•     Visual elements: Make your name prominent; use a larger font size (16-22) or all CAPS. Avoid page borders or distracting decorations. Break up text with lines and bullets, as too much text overwhelms the reader.
•     Organization: List experiences in reverse chronological order, as the most relevant are likely the most recent. Also, fit everything on one page; use one-liners to describe experiences so your résumé looks clean and organized.
•     Packaging: It doesn’t hurt to submit your résumé in a clear protective cover or folder. If you go this route, put your cover letter in the left pocket and résumé in the right pocket and add a printed name label to the front before sending.

And Don’t Forget to…

•     List the most important information first so it definitely gets read.
•     Proofread, then sleep on it, then proofread some more. Next, ask a parent or teacher to proof it once more. Nothing suggests carelessness to an employer more than errors.
•     Use strong action words and key terms in your descriptions. Instead of “made phone calls at the office,” say “contacted clients and managed information.”
•     Include these experiences whether you’re in high school or college:

o    Work (relevant part- and full-time jobs, internships, job shadows)
o    Scholastic achievements (National Honors Society or Dean’s List)
o    Student or professional organizations (student council, resident advisor, newspaper staff, debate team)
o    Community service (Many colleges and companies are interested in employing compassionate, involved people. Include all your volunteerism and participation in extracurricular activities here. Turn to Page 102 for more on this.)
o    Athletics & extracurricular activities (football, golf, band, cheerleading)