How to write a college graduate resumé

Fresh out of college? Then you’re probably going through a lot of different emotions. Happiness, excitement, pride, sadness and maybe even dread. That’s completely normal! Everyone experiences that "now what?" feeling the day after graduation.

Fortunately, when you’re a new college graduate, anything is possible. Unfortunately, when you’re a new college graduate, anything is possible. This looming expanse known as "the future" can leave you feeling overwhelmed and lost.

One of the first challenges you’ll face during the job hunt post-graduation is writing a college graduate resumé. Read on to learn how to write an impressive resumé when you’re a new grad. No experience necessary!

Click on the image to download our new graduate resumé sample.

Come up with a strategy

According to Jamie Johnson, a career advisor at University of Phoenix (UOPX), job searching is a lot like dating. You not only need to know what you want in a job, but you also need to know how to present your resumé in a way that shows who you are and what you have to offer.

And so, as with most things in life, you’ll need a strategy. Make the process of writing a college graduate resumé easier by doing your research and determining your target audience.

Johnson cautions that another reason to have a strategy is that "most employers will take 10 seconds or less" to look over a resumé. So go in with a plan of attack by including a professional profile at the top of your resumé. This section should describe your relevant experience and target the job you’re applying for, as well as list any related skills.

Don’t limit yourself

As a new college graduate, you might think that your lack of experience puts you at a disadvantage. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Johnson says, "Every student, no matter what their age, has something to offer."

She adds that work experience isn’t the only thing you can highlight on your resumé. You can and should include your achievements as a student (such as projects, presentations, internships, or a GPA above 3.0). After all, that’s your most recent experience as a new grad!

Consider also including volunteer experiences, relevant hobbies that showcase your talents, coursework that reflects your newly gained knowledge and military skills that can easily translate to the civilian workforce. Just remember to protect yourself from potential discrimination by not mentioning your age, gender or political or religious affiliations — and don’t include a photo.

Take advantage of internships

Internships are your best friend when writing a resumé as a new college graduate. In fact, Indeed.com stresses that new graduates can use this experience to highlight their qualifications in their college graduate resumé. Additionally, Indeed says, "Previous internship experience helps you demonstrate during your next opportunity that you are committed to gaining professional knowledge and you have gained the expertise to help you in the position."

And the numbers bear this out. The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2020 Internship & Co-op Survey Report found that 68% of the interns surveyed received a job offer.

But what if you graduated with no internship experience? Don’t fret! It is possible to find an internship opportunity even after graduation, says Johnson. She adds that an internship is excellent for gaining experience in your chosen field and for building connections.

And who knows? Your internship could even turn into an offer for a full-time job.

Click on the image to download our new graduate resumé template.

Use the right keywords and format 

Now that you know what to include in your resumé, it’s time to start putting it all together.

If it’s easier, you can start by outlining the first draft on paper. That way, you don’t worry about the digital format while you get your ideas down. Once you’ve jotted down all your information, check that you’ve included action words, used numbers and figures whenever possible to describe an achievement and stated the positive result(s) of said success.

After typing up your resumé, Johnson suggests using Jobscan.com to check its keywords. The website optimizes your resumé to ensure it is getting past an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which analyzes resumés to select the best candidates for a position. The algorithm can reject even a highly qualified applicant if their resumé doesn’t contain the right keywords.

Similarly, some designs can confuse an ATS, so it’s best to use a traditional format for your resumé that’s simple and easy to read. And, finally, keep your resumé to one to two pages.

Build your professional relationships

While a resumé is important, networking is also a large part of the equation. In other words, applying for a job doesn’t have to be limited to online job boards. You should also focus on building relationships through LinkedIn, joining a professional association affiliated with your field of interest and by attending networking events, says Johnson.

She continues, "If you haven’t done an internship or need to gain experience, start working on that network." Reaching out to those you know is a great stepping stone to broadening your network. Furthermore, great connections can more than make up for your lack of experience in the workforce if they can vouch for you when the perfect opportunity presents itself.

Focus on staying positive

It can be hard to keep your chin up during your job search when weeks turn into months. And, when the competition is fierce, it’s easy to believe that as a new college graduate you have less to offer. Johnson reminds recent grads to try to remain positive and stay focused on what they do have to offer. Comparison is the thief of joy after all and, in Johnson’s own words, "no one is unemployable."

Through our Career Services for Life™ commitment, graduates have lifelong access to helpful career resources, including resumé building tools, career advisor appointments and more! Learn more at phoenix.edu/career-services.

Need help with building your personal brand? Check out our step-by-step guide on personal branding.