Professional Resume Writer in Calgary – Resume Challenges for New Graduates

Posted by Jenn Miller on Jul 20, 2013 in Blog, Calgary Professional Resumes | 2 comments

Resume Challenges for New Graduates

Recent college and university graduates may feel that their lack of work experience will hinder their job search.  But the truth is, your education has probably provided you with a lot of material for your resume and cover letter, and you will be able to land interviews if you leverage your educational experience to the fullest.

Most diploma and bachelor programs require quite a bit of project work.  Carefully documenting and wording the details of these academic projects can highlight skills and knowledge that graduates have gained.  These are the types of skills that recruiters are looking for, so spend time thinking about individual and team-based research, presentations, and projects you completed over the years of your education.  Think about the challenges you faced in completing the project, the specific things you had to learn, and – most importantly – the outcome of the project.  The following tips will help you pick out the key points for your resume:

• Did you earn a high grade or receive praise from your instructor?
• Does your project have real-world application?
• Did you overcome any unique obstacles to complete the project?

Even if your work experience was just part-time and not related to the roles you’re looking for, include it on your resume.  Maybe you balanced working while attending school?  Or perhaps you supervised other staff?  Whatever type of work you’ve done, there are probably skills that you can pull from that experience to highlight on your resume.

Finally, be clear about the type of work you are hoping to secure.  Having a target in mind will help focus the content of your resume, and improve your chances of securing an interview.

These tips will help recent graduates stand out from other applicants – and land their first job after graduating!