Look Good on Paper

If you are like most recent grads, your most important goal is landing a job. Getting your resume together is a necessity. A resume is an employers’ way to learn about your experience and measure you up for a position with their company. Many college graduates don’t have resumes crafted yet or, if they do, they may be outdated and need some revisions.

Your resume should be no longer than a page and include:

• Your name and contact information, including your address, email and phone numbers.
• Your professional experience, including internships and anything related to your degree or career path.
• Your additional work experience, including your work at a retail stores or on your campus.
• Your educational background.
• Additional skills, including computer skills, typing skills and foreign languages.

What your resume should NOT include:

• Lies and half-truths.
• High school or any activities you did in high school, regardless of relevancy.
• Your height, weight, age indicator, race or gender.
• Your hobbies or extracurricular activities.
• Non-academic awards you’ve won.

Of course, there are exceptions. If you are applying for a job as a writer for a hunting magazine and you are an avid hunter, include that somewhere in your resume. Rule out what is unnecessary and make it as brief, concise and professional looking as possible. You can ask family or friends for help if you want someone to look over your resume, or search online for resume tip web sites to help you along.

DID YOU KNOW? College graduates earn $1.2 million more during their lifetime than high school graduates? Though the job search may seem daunting, your degree means something and will help you get a good-paying job.