Resume Tips for Students and Recent Graduates

Whether you’re looking for your first job after college or just want to update your resume, it’s always a good idea to have one on hand. A resume is the key to getting noticed during job searches, networking events, and other opportunities. An organized and succinct resume can be the difference between getting that interview and ending up in the rejection pile. It’s easy to get nervous about putting your work out there, but with these resume tips for students and recent graduates, you can rest assured that yours won’t end up in that pile. Read on for more information about how to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Make sure your resume is up to date

Before you get to the actual formatting, you’ll first want to make sure that your resume is up to date. A resume that was created and sent out last year doesn’t show any insight into your current skill set, experience, or work history. If you’ve found a job since you graduated or changed jobs, make sure you update the resume to reflect your new situation. This shows potential employers that you are dedicated to keeping your resume current, which will help you stand out from the rest of the pack. If you’re just graduating college and looking for your first job, make sure that you put down your education information as it pertains to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a marketing position, make sure that your education section includes things like your marketing or advertising coursework, GPA, relevant internships, and other skills you’ve picked up through your coursework.

Don’t stretch the truth

Once you’ve made sure your resume is up to date, it’s time to actually get to work on creating it. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about a resume is usually just adding every job you’ve ever had, every skill you’ve ever picked up, and every extracurricular activity you’ve ever been involved in. While you do want to make sure you include relevant information on your resume, don’t stretch the truth. This can come back to haunt you in a number of ways, so it’s best, to be honest about your information. For example, if you’re applying for a social media marketing position but you’ve only ever done a little bit of work in that field during your free time, don’t write “Social media marketing” in your skills section. Instead, write down “Social media marketing,” plus a few bullet points showing what you’ve used to learn and how much time you’ve spent working in that field. This shows you’re serious about your education and experience without stretching the truth. You’ll also want to avoid using words like “responsible for” or “oversight of” in your work experience section. Instead, use words like “managed,” “overseen,” or “provided direction to” instead.

Be concise and use a readable font

Next, you’ll want to make sure that your resume is concise. The average attention span is about eight seconds, so you don’t have a lot of time to get your resume noticed. Make sure your resume is only one page long and doesn’t include a ton of fluff. The goal of your resume is to get an employer to want to call you for an interview. The best way to do this is to make your resume as succinct as possible. You’ll also want to use a readable font. Avoid fancy fonts, as they are hard to read. You want your resume to be easy to read and easy to understand. Fancy fonts can make your resume look unprofessional and difficult to read. You also don’t want to go with a boring font. You want your resume to stand out and show that you’re serious about the work that you do, so choose a font that is professional but readable.

Use action verbs

As you write your resume, you’ll want to use action verbs. These are words that show what you’ve done, not just what your job was or what your role was. For example, don’t just write, “Managed a team of five employees.” Instead, write, “Managed a team of five employees to increase sales by 20% in one quarter.” This shows not only that you managed a team of employees but also what you did with that team, including the goal and results you achieved. When you use action verbs in your resume, you show employers that you are confident in your abilities, you are organized, and you know how to get things done. They also help you avoid the “ Responsible for” trap that we mentioned earlier. Using action verbs will help keep you out of the boring trap, and you’ll come across as confident and organized.

Include your degree and major

If you’re going to list any education information on your resume, make sure you include your degree and major. Don’t list your GPA or your class schedule or even your school’s name. This information is useless to an employer and will only waste space on your resume. Instead, write down your degree and major. This shows potential employers that you are educated, you are serious about your field, and you are qualified for the job. If you are a recent graduate, you might be worried about including your major. You don’t have to put your major on your resume if you don’t want to, but you do want to include your degree. Your major can be a distraction and make your resume look unbalanced, but your degree shows that you are educated and serious about your field.

Don’t overlook your education section

Other than making sure that you don’t put your major on your resume, don’t overlook your education section. This is your chance to show employers that you are more than just a degree. You’re a person with experiences and skills that can help make a company better. Make sure to use your education section to its fullest potential. For example, if you were an officer for your school’s student government, don’t just write “Student government” on your resume. Instead, write a short paragraph about your role in student government, including how you helped improve the school and what skills you learned from the experience. This shows employers that you are motivated, dedicated, and can get things done. It also shows them that you have leadership skills, which is something that many employers are looking for.

Include any relevant work experience

If you have relevant work experience, don’t leave it out of your resume. This is your opportunity to show employers that you are serious about the work you do and that you’re able to get things done. You don’t need to include every job you’ve ever had, but if it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for, include it. For example, if you worked at a retail store and it taught you customer service skills, including that experience on your resume. If you worked at a job where you had to manage employees, include that information on your resume. If you worked an odd job during the summer, include that on your resume. This shows employers that you get real-world experience, that you are able to solve problems, and that you are motivated.