Resume writing for recent grads: a mini-how-to

Shrinking economy with layoffs looming large across the board in almost every industry makes it especially hard for college students or recent grads trying to get noticed. Many new grads have several key questions that frequently remain unanswered so try to answer these here.

Should My Resume Be One Page or Two?

Less is more when it comes to resume writing. Now this has led to a belief that your resume should be only one page long. It’s great if you can do this but not at the cost of leaving out so much good content that you reduce your chances of landing an interview. A human being is likely read your resume.

Should the Education Section Go First or Last?

In most cases of students, it makes sense to put the Education section at the beginning of your resume since you’re a college student or recent grad. But if you’ve got a lot of great internships, co-op or other work experience that is related to your chosen field, it makes sense to position your Experience ahead of Education.

Should I Include My GPA on My Resume?

Yes — if it’s above a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) thereby avoiding highlighting something that does not shine.

Should I List My School Address, Permanent Address or Both?

We suggest omitting your physical address. Who sends snail mail these days? A personalized email address such as firstname@lastname.com is probably the best to provide so they can ask you your physical address if they really need to send you something.

What Can I Put on My Resume If I Don’t Have Much Experience?

For those who do not have much experience, make sure to highlight the skills you gained from jobs you’ve taken simply to get through school. Getting through school is hard and paying for it by earning while working part time really shows your ability to take on challenges and your desire to succeed.

Should My Resume Include Only Paid Experience?

Employers are interested in your skills, not whether or not you got paid to learn them. Many employers value the volunteering experience you may have that may help you stand out from the crowd.

Should I Include Precollege Information on My Resume?

Generally, it is better to avoid unless you have something unique from early years that you want to make sure to highlight.

Resume writing is more art than science. Think about the reader and write such that your resume positions yourself in the best light.

What’s Your Resume Worth?

Market has oversupply of workers and the economy is down. In such situation, is it really worth it to pay $ for professional help on resume writing? Satisfied customers say YES.

What’s Your Resume Worth? | Employment | Career | Mainstreet