Four million students graduate each year earning associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. They enter the workforce eager to put their education to use. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, many recent graduates are finding themselves un-employed or under-employed. Taking a lower wage now can impact earnings long-term. If you are a recent graduate entering the workforce it is important to have a resume that maximizes your chances of getting an interview for the career you have been training for. Consider the following tips:
Be Professional Throughout Your Resume!
Make sure all aspects of your resume demonstrate you are a professional. If your email address is partygirl2020, consider creating a new one as your contact information is the first impression a potential employer will have of you. Typically an email address is your first and last name. Make sure you proofread your resume so you don't submit a document with spelling or grammatical errors. Spending a few minutes editing and revising your resume may result in getting a phone call for an interview. Also, consider creating a LinkedIn profile and including a link in your resume.
Education is Key!
One way to make yourself stand out is by highlighting academic honors, scholarships or any other awards that would put you ahead of other recent graduates. If your GPA is higher than a 3.0, include it. If your academic grades are poor, highlight internships, specialty training, publications or other school related programs in which you excelled.
Skip References and Other Filler!
Including "References available upon request" is a waste of space and is implied anyway. If they are interested in you as a candidate, they will ask for your references. In addition, you don't need to use space to include high school information. Focus on the academics and work related experiences you achieved in college as that is what your future employer is seeking.
Hire a Professional Resume Service!
Consider hiring a professional resume service to create your resume. A resume writer will know how to create a resume that is optimized with keywords and action verbs, edited for grammatical errors, and up-to-date according to industry standards. Your relevant skills will be highlighted helping you stand out compared to the competition. A professional resume service is an investment in your career helping to prevent un-employment or under-employment which may effect your income for years.
Students graduating in 2021 are finding the job market difficult due to the pandemic. Having a professional resume that highlights your skills and education can help elevate you above other job seekers. If you are in need of assistance creating your resume or other career development documentation, contact us at Revision Resume. We are eager to help you land your first job in your career field regardless of if it is in Rochester, New York or another part of the world!
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