Quick Tips for a Resume Makeover that’ll get you a job

Kim Little[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts featuring tips for recent grads from LinkedIn users. Kim Little, Owner of Executive Resume Pro, has been writing resumes and helping all levels of candidates, including new graduates, empower their own job search since the 1990s]

For students, the most important hurdle they have to overcome is a lack of experience, but how do they get that experience if nobody will give them a chance? If you arm yourself with a well-written, professionally formatted resume which highlights your achievements, skills and experience, you will boost your chances of gaining valuable interviews. To differentiate yourself from other college grads or entry-level applicants, keep the following tips in mind.

Try not to use a vague objective statement that only talks about you. For example: “To join a progressive organization where I can expand my skills in selling and communications” is only about YOU, the candidate. You might instead want to lead with the following: “Enthusiastic graduate with demonstrated initiative, creativity, strong communication skills and real-life business experience conducive to making measurable contributions in a marketing setting.” You are then giving the reader a better understanding of what you can offer them vs. what you want.

When listing your education, don’t forget about relevant coursework, classroom projects and/or school involvement that shows your leadership skills including raising money for a cause, contributing in a hands-on or real-world classroom experience. If you were recognized for academic achievement, list those as well. Internships are also very important, even if they are not relevant to your target position. When you talk about your internships, you let the reader know that you take your future career seriously.

As for any employment, don’t list just your duties – think about how you contributed including how you increased sales, improved customer service or enhanced process, i.e., a more efficient way of doing things. Don’t forget to customize your cover letters and send a thank you note after every interview, reiterating a key topic or two that you discussed. Many people forget this important step, and if the company has narrowed the search to just a few candidates including you, this one step might make the difference.