Graduate and Grow Rich

                            Killer Resumé Design for the Graduate

Writing a resumé for the first time is quite foreign to students. The reality is, you’ve never

had to do it. Prepare for an exam, yes… Write a good resumé, no. In this most competitive early 21st century, however, it’s a skill you need to become proficient at to compete.

So, let’s get started in designing your killer resumé.

OBJECTIVE: Begin with the end in mind: What do you want to be? Where would you like

to be in, three years or five years? Doing what kind of work? “If you don't have that in mind,

you can't focus and present the information that will get you there," says Louise Kursmark,

an executive resumé writer and author of several book on resumés. “Everything should be filtered through that lens.”

As you answer these questions, you are defining your career objective. Avoid bland or

general descriptions of your profession or skills. Give an actual description of your skills

related to the job for which you are applying.

SUMMARY:

 

A summary isolates five or six key attributes about your primary qualifications. Choose

those that best demonstrate why an employer should hire you and assemble it into five

or six sentences for your summary section. It is acceptable to leave off an objective if

you use a clear, concise summary section.

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

 

It is not uncommon for first time applicants to include too many details on the Personal Information section. Information like your hobbies and interest are usually irrelevant in job applications. If the interviewer wants to know more about you personally, they will ask at

the interview.

It is most important that your contact information is complete, accurate and on the resumé.--Having in the cover letter alone is not enough. This is one of the more common mistakes

made, even by more experienced applicants.

WHAT ABOUT REFERENCES?

 

Another noticeable section in newly graduates’ resumé is their long list of references.

No need to list references on the resume. Prepare them separately. They only need to

be presented when requested by the interviewer.

BUZZ WORDS

In this world of online job searches, cyber-hires and e-inter- views, it is vital to sprinkle keywords into your resumé for optimal effect. Prospective employers, HR personnel, and recruitment agents use them in their search for the right candidate.

Here are some of the most searched keywords. Use the ones most appropriate for your

talents and career path.

Branding
Business Development
Change Agent
Communications
Corporate Vision
Decision-making
e-commerce
Strategic Planning
Entrepreneur
Leadership
Life-long Learning
New Media
Organizational Design
Performance
Personal Development
Problem-solving
Team-building


SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Be certain that all significant skills or experience related to the job you are applying for are included. Be sure that your resumé is free of error. Be conscious about punctuation, spelling and grammar.

Keep your sentences short and simple. We gain experience in everything we do, especially

in the most important areas like maturity, emotional intelligence, creativity, communication, responsibility, determination, integrity, compassion, and problem-solving. These are the qualities employers really seek; so if you are putting together your first resumé, then look for the relevant transferable learning in your life experience and list it.

You may not have a career history, but you can certainly illustrate and prove that you have qualities gained and learned from your life experience, that employers will recognize and want. Some employers prefer fresh young people who are keen to learn, are highly committed, and who demonstrate that they possess other qualities that more experienced people may lack.

Exude a positive attitude and a cooperative spirit and you are ahead of most. Be sure to have an advisor or career counselor review the content of your resumé. Often, just one little tip can make the difference in putting your best foot forward.

Remember, a resumé is a professional document. It is the first piece of branding you. What

it does is introduce you to prospective employers. Knowing this, you should prepare your resumé, so that it gives them a snapshot, yet whets their appetite to meet you and see if the position is a good fit.

Lastly, be sure to print your resumé using black ink on plain and good quality paper.

Center your name and contact information at the top and never present your resume’ in a plastic slide folder.