Resume Help

[jgerdes]

I currently just finished my Junior Year and applied to a few internships this summer. I haven't heard back from any of them and have looked at a few more I found online. (Which surprises me that they are still accepting applications for Internships when June is only 15 days away)

Anyways I would love if anyone could critique my resume before I send it out again. Thanks

[greeneggs]

Quite a bit of white space, maybe an interests section will help fill.

Wouldn't say prior experience in high-school java. Just roll it up with one of the other 2 categories you have.

[ActWaryAlways]

From what I can tell, it looks pretty clean. I think you're missing your GPA though, as from what I can remember, it would be suspicious for prospective employers. Even if its low, include it, and add maybe a Major GPA or something that is higher.

[Chillax]

That is really, really bare. Are you in any clubs or sports at school? Have you had a summer job during school at all? What kinds of classes have you taken?

[JasonScandopolous]

Originally Posted by jgerdes

I currently just finished my Junior Year and applied to a few internships this summer. I haven't heard back from any of them and have looked at a few more I found online. (Which surprises me that they are still accepting applications for Internships when June is only 15 days away)

Anyways I would love if anyone could critique my resume before I send it out again. Thanks

SAT/GRE? If high (1400+), include.

[jgerdes]

I have worked since senior year of high school. It says that I have worked the past two years interning at a church and before that working as a life guard during the summer. Maybe it isn't clear enough that those were jobs? I can change that if need be.

I had deleted GPA since mine was low at 2.9 but I'll include it back on.

Is certain classes taken really something to be included on a resume?? I have taken courses pertaining to all the preliminary SOA exams as well as some classes working with SAS if that is worth anything wild. I assumed these were things to possibly be mentioned in a cover letter or talked about in an interview but maybe I am wrong

[Chillax]

Originally Posted by jgerdes

I have worked since senior year of high school. It says that I have worked the past two years interning at a church and before that working as a life guard during the summer. Maybe it isn't clear enough that those were jobs? I can change that if need be.

I had deleted GPA since mine was low at 2.9 but I'll include it back on.

Is certain classes taken really something to be included on a resume?? I have taken courses pertaining to all the preliminary SOA exams as well as some classes working with SAS if that is worth anything wild. I assumed these were things to possibly be mentioned in a cover letter or talked about in an interview but maybe I am wrong

I read the high school youth intern as an internship for high schoolers- didn't even get to the dates. Sorry about that! I would definitely include mention of relevant classes, as that is pretty much all you have to show besides the exams. Don't get me wrong, the exams completely trum panything else, but having a resume that bare would be a big red flag for me.

[jgerdes]

Awesome. Thanks for all the quick responses!

I will just add a few more things to fill it up some, without over doing it and adding to much of course.

[SpaceActuary]

Agree with the others that it's a little bare.

I want a resume to tell me two things: (1) this person is qualified for the job, and (2) this person would be interesting to be around. Exams help with (1). Missing GPA doesn't. Having a lot of white space doesn't help with (2).

Although employers can't discriminate explicitly against individuals based on religion, the fact that you had an internship at a church might still indirectly hurt your chances. Most employers can't/won't ask about anything remotely religion-related for fear of discrimination lawsuits, which leaves you with very little left to talk about--two exams (that just about every other candidate has also passed) and some similarly-vanilla technology skills. I did like how you quantified your internship experiences, though. 200+ kids is a lot more impressive than 20+.

I'm not suggesting you take the church internship off--just a warning that it might not start as many conversations as you'd hope.

Other things that I notice: attention to detail. "Experience" is the only section header not in all caps. Your exam items aren't parallel. I'd add "Passed" before Exams P/1 and FM/2 to be consistent, since you can't drop "Sitting" from MLC without being mildly deceptive. MLC is also an "SOA Exam". The dates are all formatted consistently, but they're left-aligned. This isn't a problem until you get to the Java and Lifeguard lines--the dates for those two items appear out of place. Right-aligning the dates might fix that.

Nit-picky? Absolutely. But employers can afford to be, so you better be too.

If you don't get an actuarial internship, do your best to find some sort of office job for the summer. Insurance- or finance-related jobs are a plus.

Sorry if this is a little harsh, but you're late to the game--especially coming from an act. sci. program. Why is your resume so bare? Have you not sought advice before now?

[jgerdes]

Originally Posted by SpaceActuary

Agree with the others that it's a little bare.

I want a resume to tell me two things: (1) this person is qualified for the job, and (2) this person would be interesting to be around. Exams help with (1). Missing GPA doesn't. Having a lot of white space doesn't help with (2).

Although employers can't discriminate explicitly against individuals based on religion, the fact that you had an internship at a church might still indirectly hurt your chances. Most employers can't/won't ask about anything remotely religion-related for fear of discrimination lawsuits, which leaves you with very little left to talk about--two exams (that just about every other candidate has also passed) and some similarly-vanilla technology skills. I did like how you quantified your internship experiences, though. 200+ kids is a lot more impressive than 20+.

I'm not suggesting you take the church internship off--just a warning that it might not start as many conversations as you'd hope.

Other things that I notice: attention to detail. "Experience" is the only section header not in all caps. Your exam items aren't parallel. I'd add "Passed" before Exams P/1 and FM/2 to be consistent, since you can't drop "Sitting" from MLC without being mildly deceptive. MLC is also an "SOA Exam". The dates are all formatted consistently, but they're left-aligned. This isn't a problem until you get to the Java and Lifeguard lines--the dates for those two items appear out of place. Right-aligning the dates might fix that.

Nit-picky? Absolutely. But employers can afford to be, so you better be too.

If you don't get an actuarial internship, do your best to find some sort of office job for the summer. Insurance- or finance-related jobs are a plus.

Sorry if this is a little harsh, but you're late to the game--especially coming from an act. sci. program. Why is your resume so bare? Have you not sought advice before now?

No i appreciate real constructive criticism, it only helps in my opinion.

I was always curious if my experience working at a church for two years would have any effect so i also appreciate your comments on that as well.

As for not seeking advice/bareness I was the kid who coasted through college without a care or concern about my future career. Liked actuarial science and always planned on pursuing it, but figured I was still young and would figure it out in the future. This year I buckled down realized I needed to work on becoming an adult and working towards my future. Spent the fall passing the P exam and Christmas break/January passing FM.

I do have a very possible desk job/data analyst job (ironically being offered from somewhere at my church, as least it has some good opportunities with networking )

I obviously would prefer an actuarial intern this summer over that, hence why i applied to a few but if not I will work this summer and get MLC down in the fall and go from there

again thanks for all the advice