Definitive Guide to Resume Writing for Students and Grads

11 tips to find a job you love.Fast.

We have tons of advice for writing an entry-level resume. We boiled it down to 11 pieces.

• Video resumes

• Tips for engineers

• Proofread

• Following up after submitting the resume

• Resumes for your second job out of college

• Being specific about yourself

• The right format

• Getting past the machines that scan your resume

• Tips for women

• Tailoring your resume

• Tips for veterans to market military experience

Be specific about what makes you special.Describe your best strength right up front. For example:

• Internship experience• Relevant course work • Volunteer or community work• Awards• You were a project leader • Your GPA is outstanding

Overall, your resume should tell a story of what you have achieved and accomplished. Talk about what you can DO, not what you have learned.

Biggest mistake: lack of specifics

Don’t list experience like a laundry list. Elaborate!

• BAD: “Seeking an entry-level position”

• BETTER: “Aspiring marketing assistant: Psychology grad with pulse on the consumer mindset”

• BAD: “Sales goals were met“

• BETTER: "I exceeded my sales goals by 12%.”

Getting the right format

The top half of your resume is most important because that’s what people notice first. Include something that tells your story, such as an objective or summary or skills.

As a student or recent grad, your education still goes above work experience.

Learn more about how to make your resume stand out

Watch our interview with an expert career counselor

• Part 1: Know the latest resume writing rules

• Part 2: Avoid common mistakes

The machines that scan your resume

Use the right keywords. To find out what those are, look at the job description. Use their language, as long as you’re being honest, and repeat it throughout your resume.

Don’t use tricks like hiding words in your document. Systems are trained to spot those tricks, and you’ll be seen as dishonest.

Don’t assume a pdf is okay. Read the application instructions to submit the right file format.

Tips for women

Research shows that men are likely to apply to jobs when they meet at least 50% of the requirements. Women, however, are likely to apply only when they believe they meet nearly all requirements.

Many employers are motivated to increase their gender diversity, so do yourself a favor and apply for jobs you would love, even if you’re not sure you meet all the requirements. Make your case for why you deserve to be hired.

Tailor your resumeFirst, create a master resume that holds all projects and experiences. For each job you apply for, save a new copy that includes only the parts that relate to the job.

Your resume must relate to each specific job description. While it’s quicker to upload your resume to a job site and use it for many jobapplications, recruiters will simply pass by your generic resume.

Marketing your military experience

Employers crave candidates with experiences outside the classroom. But often, veterans’ most valuable qualifications get lost in translation.

Your transferable skills may include: Leadership, communication skills, analytical skills, teamwork, language skills, global mindset, problem solving, ability to deal with change.

You may view your experience as simply a duty to your country, but don’t be humble now. Talk about your accomplishments to stand out against other candidates.

Don’t forget to lose the jargon.

More tips for veterans

Learn how to market your military experience

Video resumes

Don’t submit a video resume unless the employer requests it.

A good video resume is about 1 minute, and it highlights your skills and accomplishments.

Showcase your communication skills, personality, and professional polish.

You can splice in other short video clips that support your overall message.

Learn more about video resumes

Tips for when and how to submit a great video resume

Tips for engineers

Show that you have given thought into where you want to take your career. For example, if you’re a computer engineer, say whether you are more interested in hardware or software.

The applicant tracking systems that scan your resume will primarily look for keywords that describe your technical skills.

Think of situations when you’ve taken initiative, and explain how you can work with minimal supervision.

Tips for STEMcandidates

Watch our interview with Intel’s Campus Relations Manager

Proofread!

It looks really bad if your resume has misspelled words or grammatical errors.

Have someone proofread for you. A friend or parent is good for catching errors, but unless they have HR related experience, don’task them for overall resume critique.

Read your resume from bottom to top. Sometimes you catch more errors this way.

Send us your draft for a free resume critique

Follow up

After you submit your resume, you’re not done. Lobby your way into the organization by looking up employees on LinkedIn and asking to connect. Invite them for coffee, and ask them about their job and the organization. That person can now remind the hiring manager about you.

Most entry-level job seekers need to be more assertive. If the employer hires someone else, ask what you can do to improve your chances.

Also read Definitive Guide to Networking for Students and Grads

Get your 2nd job

1. Remove college extracurriculars from your resume like clubs and coursework.

2. Move Education below Work Experience.

3. Focus on results, not responsibilities. Be specific about what you achieved at your job.

4. Highlight training, stretch assignments or professional development.

5. Highlight soft skills, and give examples.

More resources for entry-level job seekers

Search from 1 million entry-level jobs on CollegeRecruiter.com

Free resume critique

Job search advice (interviewing, networking, more)