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Resume Tips for Someone Just Out of College

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Resume Tips for Someone Just Out of CollegeMaybe you just graduated from college, or you will be graduating soon…this can be a scary time in life. You might be starting your first job, still looking for a job, or you may be planning to continue your education. Whatever the case may be, the real learning starts now. This month at LTAW we will be giving tips for recent college graduates and soon-to-be college graduates.

You’ve graduated college and it’s time to apply for the job of your dreams. The only problem is the only experience you had working while in college were part-time jobs at the local grocery store, or school bookstore. Don’t worry, even if you did not intern at a top law firm or IT company, you still accumulated a ton of experience and know-how through whatever job or volunteer experience you had while in college.

According to Susan Adams at Forbes, “a new grad’s resume is a focused one-page marketing document, with a succinct job goal that molds the résumé writer’s descriptions of each previous job and related experience”. Once you determine your job goal, then you need to determine what experience you had while in college you can connect it to.  Here are some areas to take a look at:

  • Coursework: Designate an area on your resume to highlight relevant coursework. Include higher level coursework that is more specific to your major (e.g. electives) and not those courses that everyone is required to take.
  • Jobs and Internships: Even if you think the jobs you worked while in college were menial, you still gained some real-life experience that can be attractive to potential employers. For example, perhaps you spent your summer babysitting for different families, then you ran a child care business. Or maybe you mowed lawns in the neighborhood, then you managed a lawn care service. Be creative with how your experiences are relevant.
  • Volunteer organizations: Your participation in organizations on campus are good ways to show your teamwork and leadership skills. List these organizations somewhere on your resume and a one sentence description of your involvement.
  • Experience that shows your character, integrity and willingness to work hard:  For example if you worked more than one job at a time, this can show your prospective employer that you are a hard worker.  If your work with a volunteer organization led to something good happening in the community or for persons in need, this can show that you are a person with good character.

Just remember, most employers are not expecting you to know everything just out of college – they realize your skills are entry-level. However, you still want to stand out above the other candidates. Resumes are a tool used to market yourself. The best resumes are carefully thought-through and contain a clear career objective and detailed, clear descriptions of coursework, work experience and other activities that are relevant to your dream job.

You’re Graduating…Now the Real Learning Begins!


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