Jan 11
4
How to Pump Up Your College Student Resume
No matter what year you are in, pumping up your college student resume is an important choice that will determine your competitiveness in the search for jobs after you graduate. With more graduates every year flooding the job market, a top notch resume will definitely help you get to the top. There are quite a few factors that go into making your resume stand out against the competition, but below are some tips that will get you thinking ahead, well before graduation.
- Take classes relevant to you major, but don’t forget those classes that can be an asset in the real world job market. These classes could include a basic business class, a marketing class or a class that teaches you how to use a specific program that is used often in your desired field. For example, if you are an English Writing major, it might be useful to take an InDesign class, a software program used by many publishers and firms for designing the layout of their brochures, pamphlets, books and magazines. Another useful class to add to your college student resume would be one that offered how to write professional thank-you letters, memos, invoices, or cover letters. This will come in handy if you do get your oft-dreamed-of job and can perform the basic functions required of you right at the start.
- Intern at a company that is in your field or one that is related to it. An internship is the best way to get relevant work experience in your field while you are still in school. Treat your internship like it’s your job; you never know if it could turn into a job opportunity. At the very least, the supervisor at your internship will be the best professional reference you have as you search for jobs. If possible, complete at least one internship before you graduate. You are not limited to the semester schedule either. Check to see if your school offers credit for summer internships. Even if you do not get credit or paid, think of every internship as a building block for your future.
- Gear some extracurricular activities towards your career goal. You want to be a leader in a company one day? Run for a position in your sorority, fraternity or club. Student government is a great way to see firsthand what a career in politics might be like, or join a club for young business professionals. If you would like a career in publishing or writing, then see if your school has a student magazine, newspaper or journal and see how you can get involved.
For students that are nearing the end of their college years, it’s probably about time to take out your college student resume and take a long look at it. Go through your resume and clean it of any unrelated activity, update your references either by adding a new one or checking that all the contact information is up to date, and format it .
Start researching places that you’d like to work at now. A vast majority of companies never post job openings on popular search sites like Monster.com or Craigslist. They are internally advertised or quietly posted on their websites. For each place that you apply to, cater your resume, cover letter and samples to that specific company’s needs. With these three tips in mind before graduation, and the advice after graduation, your college student resume will get you on the path towards your career goal.
