How to Make Your Resume Work for You

Resume-Building Tips to Launch a Budding Career

You've put in the late nights of studying, written the research papers, taken the tests, and earned your degree. Now, all that's left is that sea-change moment when you will walk across the stage to pick up your college diploma and get ready to start life in the real world. But before putting on that cap and gown, you have one more crucial task: preparing and circulating the resume that will help you land a dream job.

The good news is that 52 percent of employers plan to hire more entry-level applicants with a college degree in 2007 than they did in 2006, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. It will be much easier to take advantage of this statistically-favorable situation, however, if you know a thing or two about resume preparation.

Resume Basics: Harness the FORCE

A polished, well-thought-out resume will attract the attention of potential employers and impress them with your professionalism. Here are a few basic tips:

• Focus—Your resume should be about what you can do for the company, not what the company can do for you. Focus on how your skills, background and training will benefit the company and position, even if you have never had that specific job before.
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• Organize—All pertinent information is clearly organized on a good resume. The crucial sections are Skills, Experience and Education. Be sure to include your name and contact information in an easy-to-spot place, usually at the top. For an electronic version, include your name and the word "resume" in the file name.
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• Reduce—Be as succinct as possible. No one wants to wade through dense paragraphs to find the nuggets that show why you are the perfect candidate. Keep your resume to one page, and make it easy to scan for the high points. Make white space and bullet points your friends.
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• Customize—Tailor the details about your skills and experience to the company and job you are trying to get. This might mean that you need several versions of your resume. Personalize your cover letter for each company, including the hiring manager’s name if you can find it (check their website).
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• Edit—Grammar counts! Spell correctly, check for typos and punctuation, and choose a readable font. Ask your toughest editor-friend to review it for errors. Your resume represents you, so make that first impression a good one.

Establish a Great Network

Though many students only start thinking about their resume at the end of their college career, you should really start long before graduation. Begin by establishing a network of personal and professional resources to reference on your resume. Even if you don't have the specific job experience called for, you can make your contacts and other experiences work in your favor.

• Organize a list of friends, family, coworkers and other students who may be helpful in your job search. Arrange lunch and coffee dates to exchange ideas and tell them about your career goals.
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• Build lasting relationships with professional contacts by volunteering at an association in your discipline. Not only will you develop essential career training, you will meet people who can provide references for your resume.
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• Contact a human resources consultant, recruiter or an employment agency. These sources offer helpful resume tips and suggest job leads.
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• Maximize your school's resources: favorite professors, helpful advisers, career centers, employer-school partnerships, alumni organizations, etc. You might be surprised at the resources and connections that your school can provide. Most schools offer resume-building assistance, job listings, career-related seminars and other services to help with your job search.
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• Make connections within your community, such as church affiliations, local professional associations and social service groups. This will allow you to extend your network beyond just your social and academic circles.

What Are Your Career Goals?

Even students fresh out of college with limited career training have had significant experiences that helped define who they are and where they want to go. Set aside time to reflect on where you really want to start your career.

• Decide what industries appeal to you by compiling a list of your strengths and qualifications. Think of any courses and practical work that helped you develop fundamental skills for a job in the industry you want.
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• Create a list of goals, even those for your personal life. Are you interested in moving to a different city? For those who are single, is having a family some day important to you? Do you want to work in a small company with more potential for growth, or do you want a job with more prestige? All of these factors play a role in what kind of job you want.
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• If you originally pursued a college degree in order to change careers, think of the reasons why you wanted to switch in the first place. What experiences, positive and negative, can you build on to help decide what kind of company you want to work for?

Find the Right Company

You've figured out the kind of company you want to work for, now it’s time to get specific. Many resources are available online to help you find a job that matches your career interests and strengths to a company's expectations.

• Read business journals to learn more about companies that interest you. As a newcomer to the job market, you should also try to get a sense of their entry-level hiring practices.
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• Use what you have learned to tweak various versions of your resume to fit the overall style of each company, traditional or cutting-edge, and illustrate your qualifications and previous training based on the position's requirements.
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• Find out who the best person is to receive your resume—it will not necessarily be someone in human resources. Depending on the company and position,it may be better to submit the resume to the position's department manager and then follow up with a phone call to show your interest.

More Career-Building Ideas

Going Back to Work?

Stay-at-home moms looking to re-enter the job market can add value to their resumes by taking online classes. This type of career training will allow the flexibility needed to keep up with busy schedules and ease into working again. This is also a great idea for people who are thinking of switching careers but cannot afford to quit their full-time jobs during the training process.

Check Out Web Resources

Make use of social and business networking websites such as Ryze.com and LinkedIn.com to connect with potential employers. Also, this spring, Facebook, Inc. is set to collaborate with Jobster, Inc. to create a fresh take on the somewhat impersonal approach of online job board sites. If you choose to create an online profile, treat it as you would your resume by keeping it professional and representing yourself in a positive manner.

An Advanced Degree Offers More Possibilities

AllCareerSchools.com provides you with options to help you decide if advancing your education will assist you in accomplishing your goals. A master's degree or doctorate will lead to a higher salary, increased job mobility and a broader range of job prospects. On top of those benefits, many master's and doctoral programs include internships or externships that provide you with on-the-job training, enhance your resume and can lead to employment upon graduation.

A Confident Resume Equals a Confident You

After your hard work in college, you deserve more than a job that just pays the rent. Use this guide to develop a career that challenges you and shapes the kind of life you want. With your college degree in hand, use it to build a career that fits you. That said, get to work!

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