As a fresh graduate, you may lack work experience. But there are ways to make up for it by describing your academic and personal projects to showcase the real accomplishments and the real work you’ve achieved so far.
Here are a few things to include on your resume that will help you score a great job out of college:
1. Extracurricular activities
Whether you were a member of a debating society, coding club, or student’s newspaper, all of these probably taught you new skills and gave you valuable experience that can be translated to your new job.
2. Internships
Paid or unpaid, internships are the best weapon you have to beat the dreaded “experience required” requirement. Present them on your resume as regular work experience, listing not only your job duties but some specific achievements and the things you’ve learned.
3. Academic awards and honors
Dean’s list, scholarships, graduating with distinction, being elected a class representative — all of these can help you stand out from your peers. You can either mention them in your Education section or create a separate section called Awards & Achievements.
4. Academic and personal projects
Include relevant class or personal projects on your resume to show off your organizational or teamwork skills and your industry knowledge. You can list relevant projects as a subsection of your Education section. If you have more of them, consider creating a separate section called Projects. Add name, duration, technology used and a short description of what you did and what skills you used or acquired.
5. GPA
As a college grad, some companies, especially in certain industries, will expect to see your GPA. However, you should only list it if it’s 3.5 or higher. If you didn’t graduate magna cum lauda – or with notable academic accolades – leave your GPA out and draw attention to other details of your resume.
6. Relevant coursework
Show you possess knowledge related to the job you’re applying for by including your related coursework in the Education section.
7. Volunteer work
Whether it’s feeding the homeless, park beautification work, or helping during COVID, voluntary jobs indicate that building healthy relationships with your community and environment is your priority and you’re motivated to make an effort even when you’re not paid for it. You can mention your volunteer work in your Work Experience or create a separate Volunteering section.
Most of all, as a college graduate, the resume you write is more about where you’re going than where you’ve been. It’s about really tracing the line of where you want to be and translating those related details.
Ready to start our job search? Visit aimhiredenver.com/jobs and apply for one of our open positions today.
