If you’re looking to get your foot in the door for a job interview, we put together some resume tips for recent college graduates to get you started. Essentially, a resume and cover letter are marketing documents to secure an interview for a job, internship, or graduate program. Recruiters often spend only about 15 seconds on an initial review. Therefore, a resume must concisely highlight an applicant’s qualifications.
Resume Tips for Recent College Graduates
Building a resume may be challenging for those coming straight from college due to limited professional experience. However, there are several strategies to create a strong resume.
Emphasize Education
For recent graduates, prominently place the Education section at the top of the resume. Include details such as your degree, major, minor, and relevant coursework. Highlight any honors or academic achievements.
Include Internships and Part-Time Jobs
You should include internships, part-time jobs, and relevant volunteer work under Work Experience. Focus on how these experiences have prepared you for the role you’re applying for. Highlight transferable skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
Showcase Involvement in Campus Activities
Involvement in campus organizations, clubs, or leadership roles can demonstrate essential skills. List these under a separate section, such as Activities or Leadership, and describe your role and accomplishments.
Highlight Projects and Research
Consider including this type of section in your resume if you have completed significant projects, research, or a thesis. Explain the scope of the project, your role, and the outcome. Doing this can be particularly relevant if the projects align with the job you are applying for.
Use a Skills Section
Create a Skills section to highlight both technical and soft skills. Include specific software, tools, or languages you are proficient in and interpersonal skills like leadership, teamwork, or adaptability.
Tailoring a Resume
A generic resume is less effective than one tailored to a specific job. Each job has unique requirements. Tailoring a resume to match the job description shows that the applicant understands the role and has the necessary skills. This alignment increases the chances of being seen as a suitable candidate.
Steps to Creating a Resume
Step 1: Gathering Information
Begin by compiling a list of all work experiences, volunteer activities, courses, and skills. This list acts as an inventory. Select relevant information from it to add to your resume.
Step 2: Identifying Relevant Skills
Next, review the job description to identify key skills and qualifications. Highlight experiences and skills that match these requirements. Using the exact keywords in the job description can help human recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) notice you.
Step 3: Organizing Information
Organize the resume into sections for Education, Work Experience, and Skills. This makes the resume easier to read. Fonts should be between 10.5 pt. and 12 pt., with section headings slightly larger. Set margins between 0.5 and 1 inch to ensure readability.
Step 4: Writing Bullet Points
Each bullet point in the experience section should begin with a strong action verb. Avoid using pronouns like “I” or “my.” Instead, focus on what you achieved in each role. For instance, instead of writing “I managed a team,” use “Managed a team of 3 to complete project X ahead of schedule successfully.” Current roles should use the present tense, while past roles should use the past tense.
Conclusion
A well-crafted resume is often the employer’s first impression of a candidate. It should be clear, concise, and tailored to the job. By following these steps and considering the additional tips for recent graduates, applicants can create a resume that effectively communicates their qualifications and increases their chances of being invited for an interview.
UMBC’s Career Center
Be sure to check out the resources and services provided by UMBC’s Career Center. They aim to empower all students and graduates to create their own success stories.