Students should not wait until after graduation to consider about the experiences and skills that they require beginning their careers. When you fill out your first “real” job application, you’re going to need to submit an important job resume that says more than merely what you earned a degree in.

While you need an important job resume that consists of enough white space to ensure a professional appearance, one that contains too much white space is only going to make you look inexperienced.

Here are few ways that you can establish your credentials while in college so that you’re ready to submit your resume as soon as you receive that diploma.

Academic Accomplishments

As a student, you might feel as if studying and turning in homework assignments is your full-time job. If this is the case, you should not hold back when it comes to your academic accomplishments or be shy about mentioning some of the things you’re specifically proud of. And I am not talking about listing that you made a 98 percent on a final exam that half the class failed, you need to list accomplishments that are unique and set you apart from the typical student.

This could involve a professor choosing to enter your research paper in a contest or your painting being opted for a student art showcase. Other kinds of accomplishments that might be more common but yet impressive to a potential employer, like the number of times you made the dean’s list, maintaining a high GPA, or being a member of an honor society.

Work Experience on Important Job Resume

While you clearly do not have the time to hold down a full-time position while in school, you might be able to find some extra hours here and there to work. Remember, even if you do not require the money that does not mean you can’t highly benefit from the experience. It is going to be hard for an employer to consider that you will make a good worker if you have never worked a day in your life.

Having a part-time job or internship in college will make sure that your resume does not draw a blank when it comes to the “Professional Experience” category. Being capable to indicate that you held down a job while in school is a good indicator of you work ethic and level of responsibility. Internships can also be specifically valuable as they can assist you gain experience in an area that is relevant to the career you need.

Leadership Positions

While academics are significant, it is also important that you do not spend all of your time in college hitting the books. Interviewers want to see that you are able to branch out and put your effort and apply your knowledge elsewhere. One way this can be done is by becoming engaged at school and obtaining a leadership position within a student organization. And this doesn’t always mean being elected to student government or becoming president of a fraternity.

There are many kinds of positions that permit you to demonstrate your abilities to lead by instance, such as student chair, council member, or group leader. If you can’t commit to a position for the entire year take on a short-term leadership role by volunteering to organize a community service project or be in charge of planning a social event.

Remember, a leadership position is anything that indicates your abilities to manage, organize, motivate, or represent.