Resume Tips for the College Graduate

 

We are looking to create value by building a site that accumulates information that we

have gathered from different websites into one centralized location to prevent site hopping.

This content will be unique because it will provide easily digestible, student-friendly information to help all job applicants. This will help to provide knowledge and experience on how to make a good first impression, how to work with recruiters, and how to land an internship or job based on our personal experiences. 

 

Our website will help provide clear and concise information to make the information easier to comprehend as well as add depth. Whether you’re a college student entering the job market for the first time or an individual looking for a career change, this information is key to becoming a more dynamic candidate and standing out amongst your peers.

1. What do recruiters look for on a resume?

Recruiters learn how to read in-between the lines on resumes to help ensure that the candidate's resume is an accurate representation of the potential candidate. Some attributes that they look for are career continuity, customization, communication, flexibility, storytelling, length of a resume, and grammar. 

As a graduating college student, it is important to highlight academic achievements that you may have received or completed during your time in school. This will help accentuate your ability and work ethic when dealing with projects, group work, and ability to learn. When making your resume it is important to tell a professional history by having quantifiable measures in your bullet points while also minding the grammar and structure of your resume, which in turn will help show employers your attention to detail.

Here's an article on what a university recruiter looks for on a resume.

2. Action Verbs for Resumes

Action verbs are an important aspect to include in your resume because it allows you to highlight the tasks you can do. Using strong, effective action words can help paint a picture of your experience and achievements in a potential employer’s mind. Action verbs also help enhance the readability of your resume and spice up the language so recruiters and hiring managers remain engaged beyond the 6-7 seconds they typically spend skimming.

Some great action verbs to consider using on your resume include:

• Led
• Handled
• Managed
• Responsible for
• Administered
• Formulated

These are just a few examples of hundreds of action verbs that can help you stand out amongst other candidates. 

3. How to Write a resume?

Like building any other kind of resume it is important to include relevant information about the job/career you are applying for. your resume should be able to show your potential employers why you are the perfect candidate for them, by telling them a story of your professional and educational achievements.

If you do not know where to begin, it can be beneficial to look at other people's resumes in a similar field to have a good idea of how to start. Also, keep in mind that there is not one specific way to make a resume, and should be adjusted based on who/what you are applying for. Your storytelling should be in the form of bullet points on your resume that should exemplify and quantify your achievement, character, and roles you held in a previous job/position.

Check Out Some Example Resumes Here.

        4. Top 5 Free Resume Building Tools

1. Resume Genius: Resume Genius is a great place to start for any soon-to-be college graduates looking to enter the job market. With a streamlined and efficient user interface, the site walks users through every step of the resume building process and ensures that they have an engaging and professional resume to assist them in life after college.

2. Indeed: This in-app resume builder is perfect for any graduate applying for jobs on indeed. The tool allow job prospects to build their resume with careers in mind and helps them optimize a resume to improve their visibility on the site.

3. Standard Resume: Perfect for regular LinkedIn users, Standard Resume builds a resume for you by taking the information directly from your LinkedIn page. This easy to use tool will compile an up to date and minimalist resume for you in minutes.

4. Jobscan: Jobscan is perfect for job prospects looking to apply online. Jobscan makes it easy to compile relevant information to assemble your resume in minutes. Most importantly Jobscan optimizes your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which are commonly used by large companies to sift through and eliminate applications before a hiring manager reads them. In today’s job market it is absolutely essential that your application is formatted for ATS to give yourself the best chance to land the job. 

5. Zety: Zety provides many of the tools that are mentioned above but can help you get the edge on the competition. Once you have built your resume with Zety offers a resume score and compares it with other job prospects just like you. Additionally, Zety gives you suggestions to improve your score and craft a stronger resume. 

            5. Other Helpful Resources to Review When Building a Resume

Time Magazine - How to Make Your Resume Stand Out, According to HR Executives

Forbes - 12 Things Recruiters Look At First When Going Through Job Applications

CNBC - The average recruiter initially spends 7.4 seconds scanning a resume, so use these strategies to stand out in your job search