Preparing your first resume after college can seem frightening. Thankfully, we are here to help. Read on for 10 tricks to increase your chances of securing an interview request.
1. Use a professional-looking email address
Your resume is often the first impression an employer has of you. Using a professional email address shows that you are taking your job hunt seriously. You may also want to consider using an email address that includes your first and last name. This will make it easier for the recruiter to differentiate your email address from the many others they see daily.
2. Include a customized link to your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is a place where many recruiters go to find and evaluate professional candidates for job vacancies. It is a staple in this job market and is a valuable resource for you to build your professional brand network. Make sure you customize your LinkedIn profile URL to match your personal brand.
3. Leave out the fluff
Hiring managers and recruiters can be seen through the buzzwords. Use your experience and job descriptions to showcase your leadership qualities and that you are an ambitious employee. You do not need to oversell it by just relying on the keywords that become filler.
4. Use key terms from the job description
Some companies use electronic Applicant Tracking Systems to evaluate resumes before they make it into the hands of an actual person. Use key terms you see in the job description throughout your resume. This will help you get past the ATS and any other gatekeepers who make the decision on if your resume will make it to the hiring manager. It is important to tailor your resume to each role you are applying for. You need to change the terminology to show why your prior experience and skills are relevant to the role you are applying for.
5. Use bullet points
Use bullet points to describe the duties you held in your previous roles. Recruiters do not want to read through multiple paragraphs on a resume just as you do not want to read through multiple paragraphs in a job description. Keep the bullets concise and informative so the recruiter can understand what your day-to-day activities entail. Your resume should be pleasing to the eye and easy to read.
6. Pay attention to your tenses
The bullet points for your current roles and activities should be listed in present tense while your previous roles and activities should have terminology listed in the past tense.
7. Don’t include your coursework
Recruiters do not need to know every class you took to earn enough credits for graduation. They just want to see that you obtained your degree. Listing the name of your college, degree type, major, and/or minor will suffice.
8. List your extracurricular activities and honors
You may not have a lengthy job history and that’s okay. Use your extracurricular activities including sports, clubs, and volunteer work to showcase transferrable skills.
8. Have a relevant skills section
Make your skills pop out to the recruiter. You do not want them to have to just assume what skills you have. Use the job description to help you decide what to list under your skills section based on what knowledge is required for the role.
8. Leave out your references
You do not want your resume to become too lengthy. Use the minimal space you must sell yourself as a strong candidate for the role. If an employer needs references, they will ask you for them after your interview and you can provide them in a different document at that time.
Creating your first professional resume out of college can be nerve-wracking. Use these 10 tricks to help you draft a resume that is sure to impress your future employer.
After taking the time to read this far down, do you have what our list outlines above? If not, refer to this as a checklist and revisit it as you make updates to your profile! For tips and content weekly, be sure to subscribe to this newsletter and follow us on our social platforms.