How to Craft a Killer Post-Grad Resume

Erica Wolfe, Marketing Associate at Greek Streak

Graduating from college is an incredible achievement filled with excitement, but it also comes with questions and uncertainties about the future. Beginning the job application process can be overwhelming, as college grads are competing with thousands of others for entry-level positions. With the right resume, landing that first job might come easier than expected. Here are a few tips on how to craft the perfect post-grad resume so that you can stand out from the competition.

1. Keep your resume short and sweet

The first important part of crafting a top-notch resume is being conscious of its length. Anyone going into the business world, no matter what type of job, should keep a resume to one to two pages. Most recent college grads will only need one page, but if you have to extend your resume onto a second page, make sure the most important information comes first. Padding your resume to make it longer is unnecessary, and many employers can see through this tactic.

2. Only list important and relevant information

The first important piece of information on a resume is your educational background. In this section, name any degree or other certification you have received since high school. In addition, companies will want to know your GPA and if you graduated with honors, so that information should also be listed here.

The next relevant part of a resume is your professional experience. When it comes to this section, list the experience that relates directly to the job you want toward the top of the resume, with less pertinent professional experience listed last.

After professional experience, list any technical or business-related skills you might have acquired. This might include proficiency with Microsoft Excel, ability to use Adobe, other software familiarity, etc. The skills you list should cater to the type of job you want.

While education, professional experience and technical skills are must-haves on a resume, there are other things you can briefly mention toward the bottom of the resume, if you feel it is important. These items might include volunteer experience, professional association memberships, honors and awards, language proficiencies, and a list of any publications or presentations. Mentioning these will show your versatility as well as your determination and commitments beyond the confines of a paid position. Therefore, a brief nod to these achievements might help you stand out.

3. What to avoid

While the aforementioned list includes relevant information, there are also some things you should avoid when crafting the perfect post-grad resume. First, you don’t need to mention anything about where you went to high school or what your accomplishments were during those years. Focus instead on your collegiate achievements.

Second, mentioning your hobbies and interests won’t do much to impress a hiring manager. This might be a great conversation piece in an interview, but it can be left off the resume itself.

Finally, be choosy when it comes to listing links to social media. In fact, LinkedIn should be the only reference you make to social media, if any. Providing your Twitter handle and Facebook page information is unnecessary, unless, of course, you utilize those for professional purposes and are looking to go into a field that requires social media expertise. With this in mind, however, it is important to look through your social media sites to make sure the content on them is appropriate in the eyes of a potential employer.

Erica Wolfe is a proud Delta Phi Epsilon member and a Marketing Associate at Greek Streak – an online Greek apparel retailer providing fraternity and sorority clothing for the Greek community.