Are you going crazy trying to craft the perfect resume?
Spending hours choosing fonts and colors?

Whether for college applications or job applications, you’re going to need a well-crafted resume. As a former recruiter and admissions worker, let me tell you what REALLY matters when you're putting together your resume. I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, and writing a great resume is a lot easier than most people think.

First, ditch the fancy templates. They mess with your formatting and unconventional colors or shapes just distract from the content. Keep it clean and simple, and let your accomplishments be the star!

Next, write out your leadership and work experience. You can list these as two separate headings or group them together under an “Experience” heading. Choose the 3-4 most formative experiences and give details on not just what you did, but what you ACHIEVED. List specific outcomes like "brought in 10 new members" or "led team to state championships."

Furthermore, make sure you highlight your unique experiences - the things that will make you stand out from other, generic resumes. This could be a camp or workshop you attended as part of a club, a volunteer experience, or being a caretaker for someone in your family.

Of course, add your contact information and academic qualifications. If you are in high school, list your high school name, city, and expected graduation date. You don’t need to include your GPA. If you have taken any community college classes or attended summer programs, you can list that as well.

Make sure your resume only takes up one page. If you find your content overflows onto a second page, consider where you can combine sections or omit job tasks that weren’t as important.

Lastly, have at least 3 people proofread your resume for grammar and formatting. Nothing looks sloppier than an easily avoidable typo!

And there you have it - you’ve created a great resume that shows off your unique accomplishments and experiences!