LibGuides: IST 605: College & Career Readiness: Life Skills & Support

Life Skills & Career Prep

Life Skills & Career Prep
Support & Resources

Resume Screening & What Employers Look For
Your resume is often the very first impression an employer gets, and it can determine whether you even get an interview. Research shows that the resume-screening process can be influenced by unconscious biases, but there are ways to make your application stand out. By presenting your skills clearly, using strong action words, and keeping your formatting professional, you can improve your chances of making it through this first hurdle. Understanding how employers review resumes can help you craft a stronger, more effective application and take the first step toward your career goals.

ResumeGenius
ResumeGenius is an easy-to-use online tool that helps students create polished, professional resumes quickly. It offers templates, step-by-step guidance, and examples tailored to different jobs and experience levels, making it especially helpful for teens writing their first resume. Students can learn how to highlight skills, school involvement, volunteer work, and part-time jobs in a clear and effective way. The site also provides tips on formatting, writing strong bullet points, and avoiding common mistakes. ResumeGenius is a great starting point for anyone preparing job applications, internship materials, or college-related resumes.
When your resume is (not) turning you down
This study examines how resumes are screened and highlights the risk of unconscious bias in hiring decisions. It shows how things like your name, background, or small details on your resume might influence how employers interpret your application, even when your skills are strong. The authors break down why this happens and what factors in the workplace or hiring team can make bias more likely. They also review strategies designed to make resume screening fairer for everyone. For students just entering the job market, this article helps you understand the bigger system behind hiring and why fair practices matter. It is a useful read as you learn how to present yourself confidently and navigate your first real job applications.
Resume Builder Website and AI Resume Analyzer Using NLP
This research article describes a resume-building website that uses AI and natural language processing (NLP) to analyze and improve resumes. The tool can suggest clearer wording, stronger bullet points, and industry-relevant keywords to help your resume get noticed by employers and applicant-tracking systems. The authors also discuss how the AI evaluates resume structure, relevance, and readability, which can be especially helpful if you are writing your first resume. They note important caveats about automated tools, such as potential bias in training data and privacy concerns, so it is smart to use AI feedback alongside human review. For recent grads, the article offers practical insights into how technology can speed up resume writing while reminding you to double-check and personalize your final version.

EBSCO Information Services' PrepSTEP(TM) Helps Students Prepare for the Future
This article introduces PrepSTEP, an online learning platform designed to help students strengthen the academic and career skills needed for life after high school. It explains how PrepSTEP offers practice in reading, math, science, computer basics, and workplace readiness, along with tools to prepare for important exams you may encounter in college or job training programs. The platform includes interactive lessons, tutorials, and study guides that let you learn at your own pace. The article also highlights how PrepSTEP can boost confidence by helping you review skills you may not have used in a while or want to improve before taking the next step. If you are looking for extra support or want to get ahead on skills you will use in college, trade school, or career training, this article shows how PrepSTEP can help you feel more prepared and successful.