Crafting the perfect resume as a humanities student can be a challenge. Your understanding of diverse cultures is a real asset, and you need to make it shine on paper.
But rest assured, we've got the tools you need — actionable tips, convincing examples, and professional templates. Let's turn your skills and experiences into the job magnet they really are.
In this guide, we will teach you some key steps to writing a resume as a humanities student. Keep reading to learn how to:
- Choose a resume format that matches your experience level
- Write a resume summary that showcases your best professional attributes
- Select key humanities skills to include on your resume
- Describe your relevant work experience on a resume
- List your educational credentials as a humanities student correctly
- Access the best job search resources for humanitites students out there
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. Choose the best format for your humanities student resume
As a student, it can be difficult to figure out what the best formatting option is for your resume
Generally speaking, a reverse-chronological resume is the standard format expected by employers. This resume focuses on work experience, listing your most recent job first and working backward from there. Along with formal paid jobs, you can also list academic assistantships and internships as part of this work experience.
However, if you lack any formal work experience, you will likely need to use one of the following resume formats instead:
- The Functional Resume: Functional resumes do not focus on work experience and instead prioritize the other sections like education, skills, and unpaid experience. This format is well-suited for students with an extensive academic background but limited work history.
- The Hybrid Resume: Hybrid resumes do not focus on any one section in particular. Instead, these resumes spread out the focus of the document evenly between all sections. This makes this format a good option for applicants who have a mix of both academic and professional experience.
2. Write a humanities student resume summary that showcases your best professional attributes
Your resume summary is a short introductory statement that helps to showcase your best professional attributes to potential employers.
When writing a resume summary, it is important to consider what details about yourself and your career will be most compelling. You want your summary to be eye-catching and encourage readers to look further down your resume and remember you later on.
To help illustrate this concept, here is an example of a weak summary, followed by a correction and explanation:
Incorrect humanities student resume summary example
Humanities student and soon-to-be graduate specializing in Archaeology. Attended a semester-long study abroad helping to uncover key ancient artifacts at a well-known archaeological site. Elected president of the Archaeology club on campus.
Why is this incorrect?
While this summary contains some good details, the applicant should strive to be far more specific when describing their experience and accomplishments. Any time you mention a notable achievement in a summary, include exact information – in this case, the applicant should offer better details about their study abroad and role as the president of the archaeology club.
Corrected humanities student resume summary
Passionate Humanities Student, with a specialization in Archaeology and an expected graduation date of May 2023. Participated in a semester-long study abroad program in Chile studying and performing digs at the major archaeological site of the Moai Statues of Easter Island. Elected President of the Student Archaeological Society for the 2021-2022 academic school year.
Why is this correct?
In this corrected example, the applicant precisely lists their area of specialization and expected date of graduation. When describing their study abroad, they include the location of the trip and the specific archaeological site they visited and performed fieldwork at. Finally, they offer the exact name of the club they were president of, as well as the timeframe for when this occurred.
3. Select the most effective humanities skills to include on your resume
It is always crucially important to include key skills on your resume – but what skills are the best to include for a Humanities Student?
First and foremost, it is essential to include both technical and interpersonal skills on your resume. Technical skills refer to your learned abilities gained through education and training, while interpersonal skills refer to how you work with people and the world around you. Interpersonal skills can be both inherent and learned.
The best technical skills to put on your humanities student resume
- Research methods
- Knowledge of human behavior
- Sociology
- Foreign languages
- Literary analysis
- Data collection and analysis
- Art history
- Political science
- Interviewing and Journalism Techniques
- Archaeology
Interpersonal skills for your humanities student CV
- Creativity
- Adaptability
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Leadership
- Motivation
- Willingness to learn
- Problem-solving
- Empathy
4. Craft a relevant work experience section for your humanities student resume
Describing your work experience on a resume requires you to go above and beyond simply listing out the responsibilities you held within the position.
While describing your responsibilities is important, you must also strive to include quantifiable and specific accomplishments that make you stand out as an applicant. This can include awards, key achievements, or major projects you worked on.
Here is an example of a work experience entry from a humanities student’s resume
UNC Charlotte Department of Humanities, Charlotte, NC
Research Assistant
August 2021 to Present
- Assisted the Head of Department in conducting a study of the effects of cultural events on the overall mental health of students on campus.
- Co-authored 4 papers published in major scientific and academic journals, including the American Journal of Sociology.
- Collected and analyzed data for 8 different studies over the course of 2 years.
5. List your educational credentials as a humanities student correctly
When writing your resume while still a student, it is important to indicate that your degree is still ongoing. Additionally, you should always include the correct information about when you expect to graduate and the institution or university you attend.
Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on a humanities student’s resume
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
B.A. in Humanities
- Ongoing, Expected Graduation: May 2023
- Major: Foreign Languages & International Literature
- Dean’s List, 2020-2022
6. Top job search resources for humanities students
As a humanities student, finding the right platforms for your job hunt is crucial. Listed below are some of the best job search resources to kickstart your career path:
- Handshake: A dedicated platform for college students and new graduates, providing networking opportunities, career advice and, of course, plenty of job listings.
- LinkedIn: With its vast network and ability to showcase your profile to potential employers, LinkedIn remains an essential resource. Make sure your profile is optimized to attract recruiters.
- Indeed: A comprehensive job search engine with a well-stocked section for humanities roles.
- Glassdoor: An excellent resource to research potential employers, their culture, and salaries, besides job listings.
- Your university's career center: Don't overlook this valuable resource. They often have job boards and provide resume and interview preparation.
Remember, patience and persistence are key. Use these resources wisely to tune into opportunities that align with your skills and interests.
Humanities Student Resume FAQ
What major points should I include in my humanities student resume?
Your resume should highlight your education, skills, any past work or internship experience, and relevant academic projects or coursework.
How do I convey my humanities knowledge in my resume?
Leverage your skills section to highlight core competencies like critical thinking, communication, research skills, and cultural awareness. If possible, link these skills to concrete experiences or achievements.
What format should I use for a humanities student resume?
A reverse chronological format usually works best, starting with your most recent education or experience. However, if you have many relevant academic projects, a hybrid or combination resume could be a better fit.
How long should my humanities student resume be?
As a student, your resume should be succinct. Aim for one page, but if you have significant relevant experiences, a second page could be warranted.
What's a common mistake to avoid when writing a humanities student resume?
Beware of being too general. Recruiters want to see how your skills and experiences directly apply to the role you're targeting. Tailor your resume to the specific job and organization each time you apply.