Your resume is your first impression, and you usually only get one shot at it.

Before a recruiter ever meets you, shakes your hand, or hears your voice, they’ve already formed an opinion based on a single page. Studies show that recruiters spend an average of just 7 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to keep reading. Seven seconds.

That means every word, every bullet point, and yes, even your email address, carries more weight than most students realize.

The good news? A strong resume isn’t about having the most impressive life, it’s about knowing how to present what you do have. The difference between a resume that gets noticed and one that gets passed over often comes down to a handful of simple choices such as being specific instead of vague, showing impact instead of just listing tasks, and avoiding the common mistakes that signal low effort to hiring managers.

Whether you’re applying for your first part-time job, a summer internship, or a college program, the habits you build now will follow you. Think of your resume as a living document, one that grows as you do.

Ready to test your instincts? Play the game below to see if you can spot the green flags from the red ones.