You may think it's difficult to create a resume while you're still in college and lacking any applicable work experience. But highlighting your strengths and filling out a page is easier than you think. Use these ideas to write a resume will showcase your skills and help you earn your first job after graduation.

Provide a clear objective that will let potential employers know what you aspire to do in the course of your career. The section should include the type of job you want and the specific industry in which you'd like to do it.

List your educational background including the schools you attended and graduated from, your grade point average (if it's at least a 3.0) and any pertinent classes and projects that apply directly to your intended career. If your overall grade point average was less than 3.0, omit it from your resume, but have an answer prepared to explain your low grades if an interviewer addresses the problem.

Discuss any pertinent experience you have related to the field. Include any volunteer work or workshops and seminars that will demonstrate you're serious about the field. You can also list a couple of jobs outside the industry if your former employers will commend your intelligence, creativity and teamwork.

Highlight extracurricular activities that display leadership, ingenuity or other skills that employers will appreciate. For example, national honor societies, tutoring jobs, proficiency with computer applications or speaking multiple languages can easily make you stand out.

Study the industry you'd like to break into and incorporate as many of its terms, acronyms and buzzwords as you can when discussing your experience and objectives. They'll indicate that you're already familiar with the industry and give you an edge over other applicants. Be sure you're using them correctly, however, or the strategy will backfire.