The strongest weapon at anyone’s disposal when it comes to internship or job hunting is your resume. A resume is the first thing that a potential employer will look at when they decide if you’re a good fit for their workplace. It’s important for a resume make it beyond the initial review, and avoid the dreaded trash piles. The most successful resumes will get people through the door to that all-important interview.

Write it up

First, instead of wasting time writing about an obvious career objective, focus on relevant experience.

When it comes to writing out experience, a resume that contains key words from the job description will improve the chances of the resume going through a filtering system online or catch the eye of the employer. Most large corporations use a filtering system, and there are a few ways to improve the chances of getting noticed in a sea of applications.

The decision-maker will be looking for specific job titles, job descriptions, relevant skills and experience in a potential employee, naturally.

According to Entrepreneur, the most overused buzzwords on LinkedIn were responsible, strategic, creative, effective, patient, expert, organizational, driven, innovative and analytical. Instead of saying, “I’m creative, responsible and analytical,” provide examples of creative work in a portfolio, explain how analytical skills were applied on the job and display ways that support responsibility at work.

Anyone can say they’re enthusiastic or hard-working, but demonstrating these characteristics is a more effective strategy.

Use available resources

While not everyone has had an internship or relevant experience by way of job title or descriptions, everyone’s had their share of relatable experiences that can be translated toward the job they want. If there’s an organization, activity or even volunteering experience that showcases favorable skills for a job or internship, work from that angle.

It’s all about taking what can be brought to the table and using it to have an edge over competition.

Depending on the type of job, sometimes it’s more beneficial to list out any qualifications or helpful skills that might cater to the employer’s needs. These qualities can be listed in bullet form or worked into your examples of job experience.

Finishing touches

Ensure that there are absolutely no typos on a resume. Misspellings or minor mistakes indicate a lack of attention to detail — or even worse, a lack of proofreading skills — and may be thrown away immediately. Minor errors aside, be sure to never misspell the name of companies or employers.

The font used on a resume matters, so make sure it’s legible. Avoid using any industry-specific jargon — keep it simple.

Most importantly, always be honest on a resume. There’s nothing more embarrassing than being asked a question about an exaggerated experience and being unable to offer a decent explanation.

Opinion columnist Gemrick Curtom is a public relations senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

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“Gemrick’s Guide: Resume rules” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar