Your first resume doesn’t have to be fancy. It just needs to tell your story clearly.
Details matter. Recruiters read hundreds of resumes a day, so every word must earn its place.
Here are my recommendations you should consider.
1. One page, two columns.
Keep it clean and simple. Research shows recruiters spend an average of 8 seconds scanning a resume. Too many pages and cluttered designs don’t help your case.
2. Internship is your main stage.
This is most likely your only real work experience (for now), so show what you actually did daily. Example: “Assisted in onboarding 20+ new hires” read better than “Assisted HR department with daily tasks.”
If you can quantify your results, even better. Numbers speak louder than adjectives.
3. Part-time or Freelance Work.
If you’ve done part-time jobs like being a cashier, promoter, waiter, or data entry assistant, they’re great for showing work ethic and discipline.
But remember, keep them as supporting experience, not your main highlight. Recruiters know these jobs build character, but they don’t want your resume to read like a grocery list. So summarise them, especially if they’re not related to your target job.
Example: “Developed customer service and accuracy skills in part-time roles in retail and data entry while studying for P&G, Tesco, and IDC.”
4. Education Still Matters.
At this stage, where you don’t have much working experience, qualifications carry weight. A strong CGPA (min 3.0) shows discipline and consistency.
5. Highlight Your Achievements.
Employers are always looking for potential. If you’ve been active in co-curricular activities, like President of the Chess Club or Committee Member for the Annual Science Fair, it shows initiative and accountability.
Just highlight the top 3, not everything, to keep it concise.
6. Add Your Expected Salary and Availability.
Especially if your expected is less than RM5K & available immediately. As a first-jobber, this signals transparency and readiness.
Don’t rush. Everyone starts somewhere. Just start well.
The world is your oyster. Slay it well with effort and honestly.
All the best!
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
