Finding a good job in today’s economic condition is not an easy task at all. To be able to bag a good job, you must have proper qualifications, yet beyond this, you need to know exactly how to write a proper resume.
If your resume is not well presented and thought out, chances are that a good employment opportunity will slip through your fingers. If you are a new or recent grad who is completely confused about what your resume should look like and things which you ought to keep in mind, then given here are some excellent resume tips to help you.
How Many Pages Should a Resume Be?
The average resume length of an experienced candidate should be 2 pages, but it can differ and go on till 3 pages if the experience is like more than 5 years.
On the other side, the resume length of any fresh graduate would be 1 page as there would not be much to add on the resume except educational qualifications and basic details. Now the length of the fresher’s resume page doesn’t need to be only 1 page. It depends upon the candidate’s skills, accomplishments and projects completed.
More than focusing on the length of the resume, it is better to concentrate on the content that is to be imbibed in the resume to make it get selected and viewed by the employer or hiring manager. Make sure that you include unique, best accomplishments and skills that can make your resume stand out.
Effective Resume Tips for Fresh Graduates:
1. Let your resume be a reflection of you:
If you are a new or recent grad, then chances are that you know what you want to do in your life and understand the kind of person you are. When making your resume, your aim should be that this document should be a reflection of you on paper.
Many people think of a resume as a dull old document, but it is not so, you must ensure that you treat a resume as an advertisement and marketing tool, where the product on display is you. If your resume fails to set you apart from the rest then it is unlikely that you will be called in for an interview.
2. Think about what you would like to include in your resume:
Before actually sitting down before your computer to write your resume, you must think about what you would like to include in your resume. Think about the job which you are applying for and your field of work and accordingly include whatever is necessary and eliminate what you think will not carry any weight for you.
One of the worst things which you can do is use the same resume which you used when you applied for a part time job after high school. Many people think that a good resume can be written in an hour or two, but this is completely false.
3. Do not force yourself to use big and high sounding words:
Just because you are a new or recent grad and have the educational qualifications to back you up that do not imply that you make use of big and high sounding words on your resume. Using proper language and grammar is a good thing indeed, but there is no shame in writing in simple and easy to read the language.
If your resume is not easy to read then chances are that you might not be able to create a good impression in the mind of the recruiter nor will you be able to get your point across to him.
4. Everything should be clear as crystal:
When preparing your resume you must do so with a clear head so that all your thoughts can be appropriately reflected on the document. The more time you invest in making a proper resume, the better chances you have at being able to bag the job.
As a new or recent grad, you should keep in mind that you should not mention any ambiguous or random statements on your resume. As far as possible, everything you say should be backed up with adequate examples. In addition to this, ensure that you do not use any kind of colloquial words or phrases on your resume.
5. Do not make your resume very lengthy and boring:
As a recent or new grad, fresh in the business world, you ought to know that in the real world no one has the time to read long drawn out resumes. In college, we are expected to write long and wordy answers but in the corporate setting, you should try and communicate your ideas and get your point across in as little time as you can.
With your resume too, you should ensure that you try and keep editing it till the point where it has not even one unnecessary word or statement. This having been mentioned, ensure that you do not limit yourself so much that your skills and qualifications seem inadequate and your details, sketchy.
6. Have proper subheadings:
If you have spent a good amount of time on your resume then an experienced recruiter is sure to identify and appreciate this fact. As a new or recent grad making your resume would benefit you to include all your details under proper subheadings so that the recruiter can look through your resume with ease and his eyes are instantly drawn to those topics which he thinks are most important.
When you deliver a good resume, it instantly shows you in very good light and brings you one step closer to being able to bag the job.
7. There is no harm in being creative:
Individuality is one thing that all recruiters are looking for in the employees which they hire. They would not like to hire any and everyone to be on their team. Through your resume, you must show that you are someone who knows how to do pay attention to rules, yet at the same time, you have a novel and unique approach to work which is entrusted to you.
Depending on your career path and field, you should try and alter your resume accordingly to suit your purpose. Be as creative as you can, to show that you would be a true asset to the company.
8. Make it very pleasing to the eye:
Just because it is a resume that does not mean that you have to stick to the colors black and white. There is no harm in taking things to the next level and making use of colors which you think will make your resume look good.
There are plenty of templates that you can make use of to attract the attention of the recruiter so that looking at your resume itself, he blown away and cannot think of giving the job to anyone but you. This having said, keep in mind that you should not go overboard with colors as chances are that your resume might look unprofessional.
9. Do not shy away from making use of images:
It often said that a picture speaks a thousand words. An image can arrest the attention of an individual must faster and effectively as opposed to a bunch of words. This having been said, do not shy away from making use of images in your resume to make it stand out and grab the eyeballs of the person viewing it.
Include images that are very relevant to what you are saying so that your entire resume looks like a comprehensive whole. Make use of charts, graphs, images, and photographs, as per what you think is best and in addition to this, do not forget to place a picture of yourself at the top as well.
10. Don’t forget to mention your educational qualifications:
companies are on the lookout for those employees who have plenty of ideas but in addition to this, they are on the lookout for those individuals who have educational qualifications to back them up. So as a new or recent grad, you must mention all your educational qualifications in detail to show that you are someone who is the complete package.
Mention the details about which school you studied in, the college you passed out from and even the marks or division which you have been able to secure. If you have received some education awards or certificates, include that information too.
11. Mentioning your contact details is a must:
A big mistake which even many experienced people make is that they forget to include their contact details. Often even if companies impressed with what they see on your resume and are wanting to contact you they are unable to do so because all the details are not enlisted and mentioned clearly and comprehensively.
So ensure that you furnish all your details on your resume. Your details ought to include your landline number, your mobile number, email id, and even your address. If you wish, you can include links to your online profiles to show that you have a powerful online presence as well.
12. Include details about any internship you may have done:
If you are a recent or a new grad, no one expects you to have a lot of experience. If you have good marks, that is a great thing in itself. Yet if by chance you did an internship in the course of your college life, then mentioning it is a must as it bound to give you an edge over the other freshers who are applying. Many companies prefer to hire people with a little bit of experience so that they need not be taught everything from scratch.
13. Make use of testimonials or references:
s a new or recent grad, you ought to know that mentioning a testimonial or reference on your resume is very important indeed and it does carry an immense weight. So if you can, do include some valuable quotations which say in your regard by a professor who has taught you or someone who you have worked under in the past.
The more recommendations you have the better it is for you. However, one of the worst things which you can do is just for the sake of it include random and unnecessary quotations from people who are unknown in your field.
14. Seeks some help if you have a doubt:
If you are a new or recent grad, chances are that you are going to have some questions in your mind. In such a case, you should make it a point to seek help and get all your questions answered by someone who knows what to tell you.
It is always a good idea to have a mentor who will tell you things that an experienced person like him would look out for on a resume. In addition to this, you could even consider seeking the help of a proper career counselor, who will enumerate all that you should and shouldn’t do on your resume.
15. Mentioning all your skills is important:
Since it is a resume, after all, one of the most important things to stress on is the skills that are to mention. Make it a point to elaborate greatly when it comes to this subheading. Include everything which you can think of, provided it is true and is relevant to the job which you are applying for.
Make it a point to ensure that your resume matches the job description just so that the recruiter knows that you are someone that would fill the position very well indeed.
16. Mention some successful project you might have worked on:
Finally, an important tip for you would be to mention all successful projects which you have worked on or been a part of. Rather than blowing your own trumpet, this is a great way to show you as someone passionate about what you do and love challenges.
Conclusion:
Writing a good resume might seem like a challenging task indeed, but as long as you know what you are doing and follow these simple tips, you have nothing to worry about. You will find many people telling you a lot of different things about do and don’ts for your resume.
You should listen to everything which says to you, but at the end of the day follow your own heart and do what you think is best and suits your purpose most appropriately. The more effort you put into your resume the better it is going to be for you.
