Write a college graduate resume that stands out from the crowd
Resume Mansion
We provide Resume and LinkedIn optimizing services to clients from all careers stages, from entry level to C-suite.
If you are just about to graduate from college, you may have already started working on your resume for internship applications. Today, we will discuss how you can write the best resume among your peers.
When you are a recent grad, you are looking at entry-level jobs to gain some experience in the industry of your choice. Employers consider many factors when hiring for entry-level positions, and your resume must tick all the right boxes for them to take notice of you as a worthy candidate. You might even have to compete with other job seekers with one or two years of experience in the job market, so your resume can not fall short of the mark.
How to start creating your college graduate resume
Let’s go through the basics of writing a college graduate resume that gets you noticed by the employer of your dreams:
1. Create a professional header
The header section of your resume must showcase your name and credentials first. Then, your contact information must follow. Ensure that your resume mentions a professional email address, phone number, and location. Avoid using your university email.
2. Write a summary
The most important element of your resume is the resume summary. Use 2-4 lines to describe your best job-related skills, achievements, and qualifications. Show the employer what you bring to their company and how you can help them grow.
3. Describe your education
Since you don’t have much work experience to emphasize, the education section of your resume must be displayed prominently. You can elaborate on your educational qualifications by mentioning the title, institution, relevant years, location, academic achievements, GPA, relevant coursework, projects, and highlights for each item.
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4. List your certifications
A list of relevant certifications and licenses that you have earned will make your resume more valuable. Certifications and licenses add experience to your resume while emphasizing job-related skills. You can also mention any professional training and workshops you have had here.
5. Summarize your experience
If you have experience from previous internships or paid jobs, you should discuss them on your resume in detail. List your experiences in chronological order, starting with the most recent one. Mention the job title, company name, location, relevant years, and professional achievements for each entry you make. Start your bullet points with action verbs and incorporate quantified results.
6. Highlight your skills
Next comes the skills section of your resume. This is the ideal place for you to incorporate keywords into your resume. Use the job description to guide the skills section and mention all skills in your skill set that are relevant. You can even mention your competency level for each skill.
7. Link to online profiles
Do you have a professional LinkedIn profile? Then, include a link to your LinkedIn profile in your resume. This will help employers find you and your professional achievements online without hassle. Also, if you have social media channels or a personal blog/website, you can include links to them if they are related to the industry.