A few simple steps and quick tips can help you write a perfect resume, just the way you’d like Human Resources to see it, and it’s sure to impress them. Before writing your resume, write down everything on a piece of paper, from your contact details to your work history, achievements, educational details, references, seminars or workshops you have attended…etc. Just make a note of all these things, so that while you write the resume you don’t have to think too much and can quickly refer to the document. Read on to learn simple tips and tricks that should help you write a great resume for the right grade!
Choosing the right resume format: Basically, there are three types of resume format:
1. Chronological summary
2. Functional Summary
3. Combination Summary
For recent graduates, it is strongly recommended that you opt for the functional resume type, rather than the traditional chronological resume format. The functional resume format gives you the opportunity to highlight your skill sets and relevant experience (internships, volunteering…etc.) first, and then move on to displaying personal details. This ensures that your most relevant work experience and education stand out and get noticed by recruiters.
Name and contact information: It may seem basic, but it has been noted that several candidates do not provide the correct contact information. Your resume should always start with your name followed by your email address and phone number, to make it easy for the reader to reference. Make sure to double check your phone number. An email address on your resume, especially when you’re a recent graduate, makes a positive impression on the recruiter and they know you’re at least computer literate.
Career goals: A well-written career objective can present you as a sincere and professional candidate. Avoid writing the general objective of the race. As a recent graduate, we all tend to copy and paste the same career objective and it becomes frustrating for the recruiter to see hundreds of resumes with the same objective. So let your creativity flow and create a unique yet impressive professional lens. Here’s an example to help you get started: “Recent graduate looking for an opportunity that can help me use my education and knowledge in the right direction, and in turn help me successfully achieve my career goals.”
Educational Qualification: A well-formatted and properly summarized educational history helps your resume stand out from other run-of-the-mill resumes. You should always list your educational history in chronological order. Which means that the highest and most recent degree of education comes first, followed by other degrees.
Work experience: As a recent graduate, chances are you have nothing to show for your work experience section. This is why most universities emphasize that candidates do internships in college or after graduation. If you have volunteered or interned, it would be a good idea to mention your experience here. Also, if you have attended any workshops or done a project related to your current job profile, it would be worth mentioning here. Other than that, summer training or any kind of small related experience would be good enough for this section. Recruiters don’t expect you to come with years of experience and practical knowledge, as they know you just passed out in college, but the summer internship or training surely has an edge over the others.
Achievements: This is the section where you can list all your accomplishments and achievements, starting from your school years. Any award, certificate… etc. received should be mentioned here. Your achievements will show recruiters that you are a great team player and an enthusiastic person with a sportsmanship.
Personal details: This section comes last, as recruiters are more interested in seeing your qualification and experience. But it’s always a good idea to give a concise personal summary like hobbies…etc. Don’t go overboard and keep this section short and to the point. In case they need more personal details, they could be discussed during the face-to-face interview.
References: Listing 2-3 references is enough. Don’t have a page full of references. In case you don’t have any space left on the resume, which means it exceeds more than 2 pages, you can simply mention “Reference available upon request”. Remember that the reference must be from people who are not directly related to you, such as your mom, dad, uncle, aunt… etc. It must be a professional reference.