College Grad Resumes
For students, the most important hurdle they frequently have to overcome is a lack of experience…but how do they get that experience if nobody will give them a chance? If you arm yourself with a well-written, professionally formatted resume which highlights your achievements, skills and experience, you will boost your chances of gaining valuable interviews. To differentiate yourself from other college grads or entry-level applicants, keep the following tips in mind.
Try not to use a vague objective statement that only talks about you. For example: “To join a progressive organization where I can expand my skills in selling and communications” is only about YOU, the candidate. Objectives are pretty much out of the picture now, very old-fashioned and generally not even valuable to the reader. You might instead want to lead with the following (if you were, say, interested in obtaining a marketing position): “Enthusiastic graduate with demonstrated initiative, creativity, strong communication skills and real-life business experience conducive to making measurable contributions in a marketing setting.” You are then giving the reader a better understanding of what you can offer them vs. what you want. Employers don’t care what YOU want, they care more about what YOU can do for THEM.
When listing your education, don’t forget about relevant coursework, classroom projects and/or school involvement that demonstrates your leadership skills, for example raising money for a cause, contributing in a hands-on or real-world classroom experience and even your help in a group Habitat for Humanity project. If you were recognized for academic achievement or studies abroad, even special projects, list those as well. Internships are also very important, even if they are not relevant to your target position. When you talk about your internships, you let the reader know that you take your future career seriously and are willing to work hard.
As for any employment, don’t list only your duties – think about how you contributed including how you increased sales, improved customer service or enhanced process, i.e., a more efficient way of doing things. Don’t forget to customize your cover letters and send a thank you note after every interview, reiterating a key topic or two that you discussed. Many people forget this important step, and if the company has narrowed the search to just a few candidates including you, this one step might make the difference.
