New Graduate Resume - 5 Resume Tips for the New Graduate

© David Alan Carter
All Rights Reserved

The current economic environment is tough on all job seekers, but particularly so on new college graduates. Most went into their 2-4 year programs on the wings of an expanding economy. Most are now left adrift as the economy has retrenched and jobs hard to come by for those with little to no practical experience in their chosen fields.

Still, there are jobs out there. And they will go to somebody. Make sure you're one of those somebodies. Start with making your new graduate resume the best it can be. Here's...

5 Tips for the New Graduate Resume

Develop Targeted Resumes

Gone are the days of writing a ‘one-size-fits-all' resume with a generalized objective, overused resume cliches and a stew pot of two-bit jobs lined up like TV listings and each given equal weight. Save your toner cartridge the wear and tear. Today's job search demands a targeted approach. Each resume you submit toward a position needs to be targeted to that position; your objective (if you have one) should mention that position by name, and everything about your profile section should drive home the point that you are the right person for that position. Indeed, even the details under your education and experience sections should be adjusted to reflect maximum compatibility with the targeted job.

Finished with that resume and that submission? Then it's on to the next company and the next available position and a new customized resume targeted to that position. Yes, it's certainly more work than printing out a ream of general resumes and calling it a day. But keep in mind that to a large extent, victory goes to those who simply outwork their competitors.

Use A Personal Branding Statement and/or a Profile Section

Objective statements have taken a beating over the past few years, and many career counselors advise against including one on the resume. I'm generally in that camp, but I believe they should remain an option on new graduate resumes and carer change resumes. It gives such resumes an immediate focus, and – if phrased correctly – the opportunity to directly address the specific qualifications of the job in question. That said, the better option is usually a personal branding statement. Such a statement is short, concise description of your qualifications for the position and the unique value you will bring to the job.

Education Section Front and Center

Most new graduates will want their education section directly beneath the profile – unless you've held at least one full-time job for a year or more, and that job is relevant to your objective. If the latter is the case, place the experience section above education in the lineup, as you will want to emphasize and elaborate on that job.

GPA

If your grade point average is 3.5 or higher, mention that fact, emphasize that fact, on your resume. If your GPA is not so good, leave it off the resume entirely.

Course Work, Curricular and Extra-Curricular Activities

Mention these, and go into some level of detail, in indirect proportion to the strength of your experience section. In other words, if your experience is lacking big time, elaborate on college activities, club memberships, offices held, etc. Downplay most or all, and leave some off entirely, if you've held one or more jobs that add heft to your objective. Ditto when it comes to detailing the actual courses you've completed. If your resume would otherwise be a barren landscape with little more than your name and contact information, by all means write up the course work most relevant to your objective. Try to show how the knowledge acquired from these courses transition to the needs of the employer.

Despite the tough job market, as a new graduate you have a number of things going for you. You have a solid academic foundation in your chosen profession, you've demonstrated that you're trainable, you're likely more technologically savvy than members of the previous generation. And you've got that youthful energy thing going for you. These are all good things from an employer's perspective.

Make sure your resume is competitive, and get yourself out there.
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A Final Thought...

New grad or not, if you've been in the job market for weeks or months and your resume isn't making the phone ring, it's time to reevaluate the document that is supposed to be selling you. Writing an effective resume has never been a walk in the park, but in this tough economy, resume writing is even more challenging. If your resume is going to be fighting for attention in an extremely competitive field, the services of a professional resume writer might make sense.

If you opt for some help, seek out a certified resume writer, and a writer who will guarantee the resume he creates will generate interviews. Yes, they're out there.

In fact, I can help you identify that "pro," that special writer who is qualified to deliver a polished document that puts your best foot forward in a tough job market. The page Resume Writing Service Reviews identifies 10 or more of the more popular companies out there, and I rank these writers on values like...

• Quality of workmanship
• Credentials
• Pricing
• Guarantees

You’ll find star rankings, mini-reviews, and in-depth reviews on each of these 10 companies. Whether you go it alone or trust the services of a pro writer, I wish you the best of luck in your job search! 

– David

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