Everyone is concerned with “resume builders” these days, but what exactly does that mean? How can you build up your resume this summer?

There are lots of things you can do to get your resume "recruiting ready," and some are things you may not have considered!  “Experience” is a very broad term, and as college students, anything that makes you a more well-rounded individual is positive in the eyes of employers.  The important thing is to avoid doing NOTHING (i.e. sitting on mom’s couch all summer), and vow to do at least one thing that you can add to your resume to make it stronger.

Here are my top ten pieces of advice for resume-building summer plans:

1. Get a summer job – any job!  (add to the Experience section of your resume)
   1. If you need flexibility, consider signing up with a staffing agency (e.g., Robert Half), who places candidates in short-term assignments
   2. Relevant accounting experience is ideal, but by no means a necessity.  Any job will teach you responsibility, but ideally aim for jobs that will expose you to an office environment.
2. Attend Summer Leadership Programs (if you are not placed for senior year; add to the Activities section of your resume, if desired)
3. Take the GMAT – the score is good for 5 years, and this typically a recommended or required data point for admission to any MAcc program. (strong scores can be added to your Education section)
4. Obtain a technology skill certification - You may be taking CTCT 3250, and if you are, this is low-hanging fruit. If you've already got the Excel Expert, try becoming familiar with Tableau or Alteryx! (add to the Skills section of your resume)
5. Enroll in summer classes to get ahead (and make good grades to boost your GPA). If you have some core classes that are following you into junior/senior year, you may be able to take them at a community college. Make sure you talk to your academic advisor first!
6. Do a job shadow or externship (add to the Experience section of your resume)
   1. Work experience does not have to be paid to look good on your resume. Ask family friends or other people in your network if you can spend a few hours or days watching what they do (unpaid), so you have a better idea of the profession.
7. Study Abroad (add to the Education section of your resume - the SOA Study Abroad is a great way to spend your summer!)
8. Study and sit for the CPA Exam (if you are not doing the AU MAcc program and already meet the requirements to sit)
9. Community Service (add to Activities section of your resume)
   1. Habitat for Humanity, church mission trips, food banks, etc. – anything you do to help others in need is a great addition to your resume!
10. Review AU student organizations to determine what you’ll get involved in this fall.  Some may even have opportunities to help out in the summer (add to Activities section of your resume).
    1. If you don’t have free time to devote to extracurriculars, then consider joining academic honor societies (may not host meetings).