A scholarship resume and work resume are similar, but each serves a different purpose – one to earn a scholarship, the other a job.
Unlike a work resume, a scholarship resume isn’t required for most awards. Since applicants don’t usually submit a scholarship resume, that’s a plus for you. Just be sure you’re allowed to include attachments and that the resume is error-free and relevant.
Both types of resumes are typically one page long. The employer or panel receives several applications, so they often skim through each packet. The sooner you grab their attention, the better.
Resumes should highlight your background.
In a scholarship resume, you highlight accomplishments, academics, activities (e.g., community service and internship) and awards. In a work resume, you highlight work experience and skills, followed by education and awards. In both cases, your resume should relate to the scholarship or job you’re applying for. You don’t need to include every job or activity you’ve participated in. Instead, list activities and roles that add value and relate to the job or award.
If you have more experience and accomplishments than the scholarship resume allows, a curriculum vitae may work better. A curriculum vitae is similar to a scholarship resume, but lets you include more details about your academic background.
Scholarship resumes are arranged differently from work resumes. Since the priority is academics, a scholarship resume lists information relating to your education, GPA (3.0 or above), volunteer/extracurricular activities and achievements first, then your employment last, if at all. In contrast, a work resume usually lists your employment history and skills first, and then your education and awards.
In both cases, you’ll list activities, education, and employment in reverse chronological order, with awards and special skills as bullet points. The goal is to showcase your background in a way that complements your application or essay, rather than repeating it.
Including an objective on your resume has been debated for some time.
When included, the objective should be short and relevant, reiterating your main goal for the job or college. For example, your objective for a scholarship resume may be as simple as, “To earn a bachelor’s degree in graphics design from Arnold University.”
You don’t have to use your resume for jobs or scholarships alone. You can re-purpose it for a future role before, during and after the scholarship season. You can also refer to it as you complete your application to save additional time and keep track of your background.
If you need help getting started, check out our sample scholarship resume for some ideas.
Happy resume building!