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Struggling to land your first job?
Your resume might be holding you back.
Keep reading to find out the 3 mistakes you may be making, and how to fix them!
1. Burying Your Education at the Bottom
Listing your work experience first may seem logical, but as a new grad, your education should take center stage.
When employers know you're fresh out of school, they view your resume differently.
How so?
Hiring teams know that an 18-year-old probably has limited experience. Therefore, they’ll adjust their expectations accordingly.
Putting education first sets the context for your resume.
Include your…
College Name
Degree Type
GPA (if strong)
And Graduation Date
Keep. It. CONCISE.
2. Undervaluing Your Skills & Experiences
Maybe you worked as a campus library clerk or even as a nanny for your neighbor Frank—did you remain calm when little Ruthie threw a tantrum? Or when she blamed you for that broken vase?
How you handle these challenges is incredibly valuable if you frame them right.
Take a closer look at every position you had in the last 5 years. Think about what skills you gained and how they're useful for this new job.
Projects, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities can also demonstrate your strength.
Did you lead a team project? Organize an event? These experiences reflect your ability to manage time, collaborate, and lead—skills that are in high demand.
Technical skills that are directly related to the job, like MS projects, should also be highlighted on your resume.
3. Cramming Everything Onto Your Resume
Yes, all your experience can be useful.
But, by that, I don’t mean you should list every skill and job you’ve had since you were 5.
Only the relevant ones.
Instead of viewing your resume as a comprehensive history of your achievements, consider it a targeted marketing tool.
Tailor your resume for each job application. Keep your target audience (a.k.a. that particular hiring manager) in mind at all times.
Why would they care about that time I successfully led a team? So what? How would my leadership skills benefit them?
Ask “So what?” for every point you write.
This approach not only makes your resume more concise but also helps hiring managers see exactly why you’re a perfect fit for the role.
Remember, quality trumps quantity.
Diving headfirst into the job market is daunting. But with a great resume in hand, you’re one step closer to landing your dream job!
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