As a recent graduate, you’ve got a lot to prove. You probably have a job lined up, but you also have a lot of uncertainty about your long-term career prospects. As you put together your resume, remember to show an employer that you are a person of solid character, a strong work ethic, and zero tolerance for laziness and incompetence. Graduating high school or college is an exciting and sometimes scary time. You are entering the working world for the first time and have a lot to learn. Though thrilling, it can be intimidating as well. Finding a job that fits can be a daunting task as you narrow down your options.
Even for the most seasoned professional, job hunting can be a frightening experience. However, according to Forbes, more than half of college graduates are underemployed or unemployed, and finding that first job can seem impossible for many.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to break through the employment barrier, such as optimizing your resume, following some social media best practices, and consulting a career coach. Many graduates may also turn to an online portfolio maker to create a standout portfolio that contains all their past work. These kinds of actions can significantly boost the likelihood of getting employed.
But aside from creating an effective resume, you should write up a great cover letter since it is key to making a good impression. If you’re not sure about where to look for one, we recommend these cover letter templates. Once you have a good template selected, you can go on to describe yourself as a worker, how the company can profit from your efforts, and how you could be a great fit for the job.
Further, you can follow these tips to fortify your resume:
- Have a Professional Email Address
Many students leave school with massive amounts of education loan debt, and many of them are eager to find work so they can begin repaying it. Getting an email address is one of the first things you can do for your professional success. But what if your personal email address isn’t sufficiently professional? Your resume will be the first thing an employer will see. The candidate’s first impression can make or break it, so having an unprofessional email address like “princessoliviaxoxo@gmail” will not make the best first impression. Stick with your name and add numbers if your name is unavailable.
- Add Your GPA to Your CV and LinkedIn.
Graduates rejoice! You finally donned your cap and gown and graduated from college. Your hard work has paid off, and the room is now full of friends and family who cheered you on and shared your journey. So, what do you say next? How do you land your ideal job? What are you going to say? How you list your GPA in your resume is an important decision. You should evaluate your situation and determine where it makes sense to include your GPA.
- Add Some Information to Your LinkedIn.
Since your CV is your first chance to make a good impression on a potential employer, so make it look professional and well-organized. If you have never written a resume, you’ll need one to apply for jobs and internships. If you are a recent graduate looking for work, chances are you will go on several interviews before landing your dream job. A take-home test or assessment will almost certainly be part of the interview process. While getting a good score on these assessments is important, it is also important not to get so caught up in getting a good score that you forget one of the most basic rules of job hunting in today’s society: your online presence. That is why having a LinkedIn profile that the employer can visit to see your overall profile could be an important step.
- Add a List of Part-time Jobs and Internships.
The first thing that employers look for is experience. Also, employers prefer recent graduates with prior experience in their field. It is critical to highlight your work history through internships and part-time jobs in your CV. Recent college pass outs have an excellent opportunity to obtain internships and part-time jobs. However, if you are still in school, your internships and part-time jobs will help you build your curriculum vitae before graduation. Plus, these positions will count toward your continuing education and work experience.
When you land your dream job, the last thing you want to do is leave a trail of reasons why you left the company. Unfortunately, many businesses are put off by the prospect of having to hire a new employee, which can be costly, and it is often easier for them to keep someone they know. One of the most effective ways to counteract this is to include your internships and part-time jobs on your resume.
In any case, the curriculum vitae (CV) is the first and most important step in your job search because it is how you persuade someone to hire you. While it may seem obvious to highlight your education, skills, and experience, a resume is much more than a list of your achievements. It is your first opportunity to make an impression, and it begins with your introduction. An intro paragraph’s purpose, according to career experts, is to capture your reader’s attention and entice them to continue reading. After that, you can list all your accomplishments and skills that may be useful to the company.