You just graduated from college and you’re ready to get your first “real job.” For starters, congratulations! This is a huge milestone, so you should be very proud of yourself.
Of course, now that school is out forever, you have bills to pay, so you’re hoping to find a great entry-level job as soon as you can. It’s possible one of your professors taught a lesson on resume writing or your school’s career services department offered tips, but you probably still have questions. Here are a few tips to help you craft a resume that stands out from the crowd.
Three Resume Lessons They Don’t Teach You in College
Getting a Professional Email Address is a Must
It might seem trivial, but your email address matters. You want potential employers to view you as an adult, so your contact info needs to reflect that. Therefore, it’s time to ditch your college email account for a new email address that solely consists of your name — and a few numbers, if your name is popular and already claimed — at any popular domain — i.e., Gmail.
Tailoring is Non-Negotiable
Chances are, you know the basics of writing a resume. However, what you might not realize is you can’t submit the same generic resume for every — or any — job. Hiring managers can tell the difference between a resume that’s been tailored for the position on their team and one being sent out to multiple jobs, so if you don’t make the extra effort, you won’t make the cut.
Show you’re a fit for the position by highlighting applicable skills and experience, and weaving relevant keywords into the text.
Formatting Matters
You don’t have much professional experience, so package what you do have wisely. The reverse-chronological format is the most popular, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you.
This format will work if you had relevant internships, volunteer opportunities, or part-time jobs during college. However, if this wasn’t the case, you’re better off with a functional resume. This will allow you to highlight the skills you learned in class on top of your resume and simply touch on any unrelated positions in the work experience section at the bottom.
Ready to find your first job as a college grad? HTSS, Inc. is here to help. Contact us today to get started!