RESOURCES

Preparing your first résumé can be a daunting task: You've got little work history to share and you're unsure about what else you need to include. Ultimately, it's important to convey your skills and eagerness to land your first job to employers, say experts. Most employers won't expect you to be an expert and are just looking for a concisely written one-page sheet that accurately shows off your skills and potential.

Putting together a résumé can take longer than you think. Make sure to gather appropriate materials and take several weeks to think about the message you're trying to convey. "Résumé writing is so much more than just a listing of information," says Wendy Enelow, author of "College Grad Résumés to Land $75,000+ Jobs."

Here are seven things to keep in mind before putting together your first résumé:...

Remember junior year of high school, when you might have fantasized about where your dream college would be? The coastal town, the heart of a big city, or some remote island off the coast of Scotland? (Well, maybe we didn't all actually apply to that last one.) It may have been wishful thinking, but the prospect that college was a time to move away from home and try a new city, state, or time zone, held strong appeal for many....