The first thing that English 376 taught me is that going into publishing requires an impressive record. This area of work demands experience, connection, skill, and the ability to collaborate with others in order to guarantee success in a competitive field. And nine times out of ten, you’re told that you only have a small chance to actually make it, even with these qualifications.

It’s brutal. Out of hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants that employers could choose from, you think, “What would make me stand out?” Thankfully, I was lucky enough to have been a part of a class that taught me things that I wouldn’t have known otherwise, including what to do with your English degree and tips for how to build a resume that employers are looking for.

Never use a template. Ever.

Here’s the unfortunate truth—Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. It’s replacing a lot of jobs that used to be done by humans, one of those jobs being, you know, hiring.

Most companies have adopted the use of AI to accept or reject applications based on keywords used within a resume. For example, if an employer is searching for someone who has “leadership skills” and “attention to detail,” these are the terms that they will train the engine to search for. And as it turns out, resume templates are not detectable by AI, and neither are the images used in them.

Use WordPress, Google Docs, or anything that you can use to create a document from scratch. But never, ever use the templates.

Showcase your skills, not your life.

The average employer spends about thirty seconds on your resume. A minute, at most. If you’re applying for a position as a lawyer, why would the firm want to know that you were a swimming instructor? If your aim is to go into publishing—which has jobs that range from being an editor, author, agent, copywriter, etc.—the employers are searching for relevancy in writing. They care if you’ve worked as a librarian or, perhaps, as a copywriter or columnist for a small magazine, working by organizing shelves, becoming familiar with multiple genres, and contributing to a journal.

I learned that the biggest mistake people make when building their resume is including their whole life, love, and passion behind their work, when all the employer cares about is your capabilities—your soft skills and hard skills. The point is, what have you done that shows them that you can do the job they’re offering, specifically? This keeps it short, simple, and to the point. Make sure to adjust your resume according to the job you are applying for.

You should do at least one internship before graduation.

What the employer needs from you is experience. They need to know that you’re familiar with the field and that you have some idea of what to expect. Even better, you should have first-hand experience.

Regardless of whether or not it’s small, even the tiniest internships open doors to opportunities that those who choose not to make the effort won’t experience. Interning is one of the most important things you can do to solidify a career outside of graduation.

On top of that, joining student organizations to showcase your activity on campus could rouse more intrigue for your resume. Take part in clubs, events, or interviews. Spread your name out as much as possible. The more that can be said about you prior to graduation (or really, before you apply to the job), the better.

Your peers are a crucial part of your potential success.

Imagine you’re sitting in class and the person next to you only has a semester left. Imagine you’re paired for projects, you exchange numbers, and you start talking both in and out of the classroom. You learn that not only do they share the same career goal as you, but they’re interning for the same job you’re looking at. Then, before you know it, they’re graduating before you, heading off to their brand new job at that big-shot company while you most likely have a year or two left.

Thankfully, by the time you’re ready to intern yourself, you still have their contact and, therefore, an inside guide to help you prepare for the unexpected. This is called networking, and it’s very important that you do it, particularly in the publishing industry, where the job market is competitive. The friends that you make, the people that you sit next to in class, could be the people that make or break your chances at success.

Make friends. Go to lunches. Attend readings. Meet the guest-authors that are often invited to campus. And don’t miss another opportunity to add to your resume.

Edited by Karissa L Geisinger