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Chapter 1; Recent college grads need strong resume to tackle job market

By Lisa Schryver, Source: Tribune Media Services

Lack of “real world” experience can be a concern for many college graduates and can have a negative impact on job prospects. That is unless you use what experience you do have to your advantage.

Creating a resume is never an easy task no matter how many years’ experience you have under your belt. To make life a little easier, we asked our experts for advice.

1. Skills are key. Lisa Canning, former adjunct professor of career development at Chicago’s DePaul University, suggests organizing your resume by skill rather than date.

“By grouping your resume by skill set you can not only more easily de-emphasize your age and lack of experience, but usually will find that many of the work experiences you have had will fit into multiple skill categories, creating substance and length,” she says. “Make sure to include internships, volunteer work, paid and unpaid short-term jobs. All count as part of your work experience and skill development.”

2. Results and accomplishments. Hiring managers are interested in what you can bring to the company so putting relevant experience under each skill group is an important step.

Additionally, be sure to include the results of your hard work. For example, how did your work help the organization in terms of productivity or revenue?

“By showing your potential employer that you understand that your work must be results-oriented, you can dramatically improve your chances of getting an interview because your resume will stand out in the crowd,” Canning explains. “Employers are looking for those who will help them focus on the results they need.”

3. Summary and education. In lieu of an “objective,” Canning recommends including a summary of your skills at the top of your resume. For human resources departments that receive hundreds of resumes for a single position, this gives the hiring manager a quick look at what you have to offer.

Though you may feel tempted to put your education toward the top of your resume, Canning says listing it last will force the prospective employer to look at all your credentials first.

“Many recent graduates – rightfully so – feel accomplished by having finally achieved the degree they worked so hard for four hard years to earn,” she says. “As a result, many display it proudly on their resume by putting it first. Not only does this scream out ‘recent college graduate’ to a potential employer, but it also does not offer your potential employer the opportunity to read your resume and be impressed with your accomplishments first.”

4. Have a purpose. As you create your resume, don’t forget what your goal is. While you might not know where you want to be in five years, what are your short-term goals? Keeping these in mind will help you focus your efforts, says Jason Seiden, author of “How to Self-Destruct: Making the Least of What’s Left of Your Career” (Trestle Publishing, $12.95).

“The purpose of the resume is to get the interview, not the job,” he says. “Get in, pique their interest, get out. The resume is a means to an end, [but] if you can accomplish that goal a different way, do it. Use a cover letter, connections, whatever it takes.”

5. Relax. Everyone has been where you are at one time. Employers don’t expect a recent grad to have years of experience. They do, however, expect you to be easy to get along with, willing to go with the company culture and eager to learn new things. If you are comfortable with yourself, your skills and your goals, your attitude alone will put you ahead of your peers, says Seiden.

“The more you want something, the harder you’ll work for it,” he adds. “And the harder you work at something, the more confident you generally get in your abilities.”