Building a Strong Resume

College is about more than classes and campus life; it’s also where you begin preparing for what comes after graduation. In a recent episode of Countdown2College, Gage sat down with Taylor Tucker, director of the Career Studio and Student Employment at Midland University, to talk about one of the most important tools in your career journey: your resume.

Your Resume is Your Story

A resume is more than a list of jobs. It’s a document that tells your story by highlighting your skills, experiences, accomplishments, and involvement. The goal is to show your unique value and explain why you are a strong fit for the opportunity you’re pursuing. It’s also a document you’ll continue updating throughout your life.

What to Include on a Resume

Most resumes include:

Contact Information: Your full name, phone number, and professional email address.
Education: Your high school graduation date and any honors or relevant coursework.
Experience: Part-time jobs, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and major class projects.
Skills: Both technical abilities and “soft skills” like communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving.
Accomplishments: Awards, scholarships, academic honors, and recognitions that highlight your dedication.

Taylor emphasized that students often underestimate what counts as experience. That part-time coffee shop job? It belongs on your resume – even if you’re applying for something completely different. Experiences like that demonstrate growth and responsibility beyond the classroom.

What Makes a Resume Stand Out

Recruiters may spend less than a minute scanning each resume, so readability matters. Keep formatting simple and consistent. Avoid flashy designs or too much color. Use strong action verbs like assisted, collaborated, or led, and show results instead of using vague words like hardworking.

Taylor also noted that many applications now go through applicant tracking systems, so your resume should be easy for people and software to read.

How Long Should a Resume Be

You may have heard that a resume must be one page, but that’s not always the case. For high school students, half a page to one page is fine. College students may reach one page or slightly longer. The key is keeping it relevant and concise.

Taylor’s biggest reminder: we’re living in a skills economy. Get involved, build your skills, and start your resume early. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to clearly tell your story.

March 3, 2026 · Season 2 · Episode 31