Whether you are applying to law school or to an internship or job, your resume serves as an important marketing tool. There are best practices that should be applied across the board when crafting your resume, regardless of your end goal. There are also nuances to take into account when considering your law school application and how your resume fits into the application process. Here are some key questions to ask yourself as you begin to revise and perfect your resume:
- What am I good at? When writing your resume, don’t dive in without considering first what you think your skills are and when/how you demonstrated them. A resume that focuses on what you have done vs. what you know how to do or are skilled in is not effectively telling your story.
- What differentiates me from other applicants? This can be a difficult question to answer, but consider this – law schools (and employers) are used to seeing majors, experiences, and activities on a resume. There are some that they see repeated often. So consider: if I am on mock trial, what about my specific mock trial team or my role within it is different from my peers? Focus in on the details to draw your reader into your document.
- What excites me about this opportunity and what stands out to me about the school or organization? Being able to use your resume to connect to a specific school helps you stand out. What language do they use on their website and in their marketing materials? Can this language be easily integrated into your document. By mimicking their key words, the reader is immediately connected to what you are saying and sees how you will fit into their class or team.
If you are able to incorporate your answers to these questions into your document, your messaging will work for you.
Struggling with this? Schedule time to discuss your resume with The Pre-Law Collaborative today!
