What do you need on your resume as a recent grad? And…What don’t you need? Congrats to all of the graduates! It is an accomplishment to graduate, high school and college. Well done!
It is time to get out into the world and begin your professional career. It’s time to build your resume. As a recent graduate, you don’t have a ton of professional experience to put on your resume. So, as a recent grad, what do you need on your resume? And…what don’t you need?
Whether you are a high school or college graduate, there are certain things you should always include on your resume and some things you should never include. Let’s take a look.
As a recent grad, make sure to include these things on your resume:
- Contact information – Name, email address, telephone number and LinkedIn page, if you have one. While these things may seem obvious, you would be surprised at the number of resumes I have seen that are missing one or more of these items. These things should be at the very beginning of your resume. Don’t make the reader hunt for your email address or your telephone number.
- Education information – Diploma, degree, area of focus or major/minor. If you are a high school graduate, include your focus coursework whether it be business, language or a vocational trade. For college grads, include your specific completed degree.
- Internships/Vocational trade – if you did one or more, include it. Any hands-on experience you have done whether it is relevant or not to your career aspirations should be included.
- Volunteer work – Keep in mind you are building a resume at a time when you lack experience so you want to show hiring managers things that you have done. Whether it was a one-time volunteer opportunity or something you do on a regular basis, include it.
- Achievements – If you graduated as valedictorian or Magna Cum Laude, or any other educational honor, include it. Educational achievements show hard work and commitment.
Build your resume with what you know and what you have done so far.
Things you should NOT include on your resume:
- Incomplete college education – If you are still going to school, it’s perfectly okay to say so. However, if you tried college and it just wasn’t for you, don’t include it. When a resume states that “some college coursework was completed”, it simply shows that you left it incomplete. Additionally, it is likely not relevant to what you want to do.
- GPA – if your GPA is not 3.0 or better, leave it off. There are 2 reasons: First, in a few years, GPAs become completely irrelevant. Hiring managers don’t care about your GPA. They care that you finished your education. Second, putting a low GPA on a resume shows the reader that you likely had more fun in school and that it was less about your education. Don’t give them any opportunity to question your education.
Oftentimes, employers will verify education. When they do, they are simply verifying that you completed your diploma or degree. GPAs rarely, if ever come into play.
Your resume is what gets you the interview. Make sure it is an authentic reflection of you. Be honest and genuine. Show hiring managers the very best of you!
Good luck in your job search.
If you need help with your resume, please feel free to message me for a consultation.
Kristin@HRCreativeConsulting.com
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