With nationwide unemployment rates hovering around 9.5 percent, students who plan to enter the job market full time upon graduation need to be vigilant about creating a dynamic and influential resume to stand out from the scores of resumes inundating employers on a daily basis. The key is to take advantage of every opportunity to improve a resume while still in college.
Secure flexible volunteer work – Volunteering shows prospective employers that you have the initiative to go outside of your school obligations and make a difference in your community. Balancing volunteering with studies and other commitments can be challenging but many charities offer flexibility, meaning you can drop in when you have time available (in between classes, during school breaks, etc.). Volunteering teaches you about responsibility and compassion – two things employers look for in a prospective employee. Employers also look for key job titles so be sure to assign a title to your work other than “volunteer.” For example, if you made calls to raise money, your title would be “fundraiser.” If you planned charitable events, your title would be “event coordinator.” Also ask for written references from your boss(es) before you leave an organization.
Join student organizations – Joining campus student organizations, especially in leadership positions, is a great way to strengthen the resume. Extracurricular activities show prospective employers that you’re willing to go the extra mile to be involved in the campus community. You’ll also develop new skills that will be valuable to employers (think leadership skills, organizational skills, accounting skills.) As an added bonus, you will make good friends who could be valuable professional contacts in the future.
Study abroad - Studying in a foreign country is exploding in popularity among college students. By studying abroad, you’ll learn how to navigate life in a foreign country and learn important skills in cultural diversity and self-sufficiency that employers love. A bonus? Go to a country that speaks a language other than English, like Spain, France, and Italy, and you’ll pick up language skills that employers find very attractive.
Intern or work part-time – What better way to learn about your chosen career field than to work in it? Seek out an internship or part-time job at a company in your desired field. You’ll help work on projects at a company and learn important job skills that will prove useful in your career. A bonus? Work hard and you might find yourself with a job offer after graduation. Many employers look for new employees through their internship and part-time programs.
Use your school’s career center – Most campus and online schools have career centers where students can get guidance on resume building and interview skills. Career centers can be a valuable – and free – resource, so make a visit to your school’s to ensure your resume is written to optimize your academic, professional and personal experiences.
There are many ways to improve your resume. The key is to think of yourself as an employer: what skills and experience would you want your prospective employees to have? Once you think about those, it’s easy to decide what to do in order to improve your skill. Going the extra mile to strengthen your resume may seem like a hassle now, but you’ll definitely be glad you did once graduation comes and the real world comes knocking.
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