Key Resume Tips and Guidelines for College Graduates

Before getting started on crafting the actual resume, take some time to think and plan first – after all, this piece of paper is the first impression on your potential employer. Things to consider:

• Contemplate the language you want to use. Be professional and efficient while showcasing your personality.
• Compile a list of all your past and/or recent jobs, leadership roles, projects, etc.
• Remember to keep your resume to one page only. Also, be sure to choose a theme/design for your resume that is easy-to-follow, memorable and professional. The average recruiter spends six seconds to review a resume – make it count!
• Think like a hiring manager – what would they want to specifically know about you that qualifies you for the job you are applying for? What type of experience do you have that best represents your qualification for the job?
• Use action verbs and adjectives that exemplify responsibility, leadership and assertiveness.

Now it’s time to write! Please refer to the attached sample resume to serve as a guide for the following:

1. Include all of your personal contact information including cell phone number, e-mail address and LinkedIn profile.
2. State a clear career objective on what you want to do either for the specific job you are applying for, or on the career direction you are looking to take. This lets the hiring manager know up front exactly what you are striving to achieve.
3. List information regarding your college-level education: where you graduated from, your degree, when you graduated (month and year), GPA, and any achievements/honors you received (dean’s list, cum laude, etc.). The education section is typically listed at the bottom of a resume for seasoned professionals, but for recent college graduates it is recommended to list this information at the top.
4. A great way to reinforce your credibility with your newly earned degree is to list the relevant courses you took in your major classes.
5. In the professional experience section, begin listing your experience in reverse chronological order. Under each position, list your employer and bullet points of the work you did for this job. List roles and responsibilities under each job in order of importance and impact (i.e. listing that you maintained a 100% client retention rate first instead of helping answer the phones). Again, try to use as many action-oriented words as possible to show your importance and successes the job. Some great examples of action words are “responsible for,” “maintained,” “in charge of,” “pursued,” and/or “successfully managed.” Remember that this is not limited to working jobs. This is a great way to showcase your professional experience throughout schooling, with any groups you have been a part of, or with any community service projects.
6. The last part of your resume should refer to any professional references you have available. Some candidates openly list these references (usually three), or you can simply state that you have references available upon request. Whichever you do, make sure these references are credible and willing to positively speak about your experiences.

Please download the resource to view the sample resume!

Questions or need help writing yours? Our recruiters are here to help – contact Agile today!