How to Revamp Your Resume for Massachusetts Trade Careers

If you’re looking to enter the energy workforce here in Massachusetts, chances are you’ve started thinking about or developing a resume. This isn’t just a record of your work history—it’s a chance to put your best foot forward and showcase your achievements to impress potential employers. We at Generation NEXT Energy Pros have collected our top tips for developing or revamping your resume. Keep reading to learn what to include (and what to omit) to create a superstar resume.

What to Include on Your Resume

Here are the top sections that should be on every energy student’s resume:

Experience (work and volunteer)

If you already have work experience or volunteer hours, put that on your resume. Potential employers are interested in what work you’ve done because they want to see evidence that you will be a successful employee at their company.

School experience and relevant coursework

List your trade school experience and any coursework that contributes to your career aspirations. This is valuable and relevant information that energy companies are looking for when choosing candidates to interview.

Graduation status

If you’ve graduated recently, congratulations! Be sure to indicate that on your resume. You should also include any GPA awards or honors recognition you received upon completion of your program. If you have an anticipated graduation date, you can put that down instead to give employers an idea of when you’ll be available for full-time work.

Awards and achievements

Endorsements from instructors or employers are a great way to demonstrate your competence. Consider adding a quote from a trusted mentor or school instructor who can testify for your work.

What to Leave Out of Your Resume

Just like there are must-include sections, there are also some things that are better to leave off your resume! Here are a few of the things we see that are better left unmentioned:

Irrelevant personal information

Hiring managers are looking for information that shows you’ll be a great employee, such as work experience and school awards. If you’re dying to share relevant personal information, interviews are a more appropriate time to share things you’re passionate about. It’s always a bonus if those hobbies contribute to your line of work—for example, interest in technology if you’re looking into jobs as a service technician.

Fonts or colors that are difficult to read

Stick to dark, easy-to-read fonts on your resume, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma, or Calibri. It’s a good idea to stick with one or two simple fonts. Experiments with color should be minimal, such as putting your name and headers in a navy color to help them stand out.

Solid walls of text

Though we’d like to say employers have tons of time to carefully read through each and every resume they come across, that’s simply not the case. Bullet points and clearly defined sections will help employers quickly get all the information they need without becoming overwhelmed or frustrated.

Unprofessional email addresses

If you’ve had the same email since you were a tween, now’s the time to upgrade. Email addresses are free and easy to make, and it’s worth the time and effort to create a professional one based on your name for employers to communicate with you. It’s also important to make a habit of checking your email regularly so you can timely respond to inquiries, even if it means setting a reminder in your smartphone to peek into your inbox every day or two.

Now That Your Resume Is Refreshed, Find a Job without Applying

Our job-search website works differently than regular job boards. Rather than applying to dozens of jobs that hundreds of people are competing for, you can reach out to local employers with job openings to make personalized connections and secure a great position. Create your profile for free or log into your existing account right here to view local employers and available energy positions!