You’re on the hunt for a new job and don’t know where to begin! Don’t worry. We’ll help you figure out how to make a resume for your first job!
Resumes are a great way to formally introduce yourself to the recruiter. It is a brief note on your achievements and career so far. As a fresher in the corporate world, your resume will reflect your academic achievements and any extracurricular activities you are engaged in.
The following sections will guide you through making a resume for your first job!
How to Make A Resume for Your First Job
The firsts are always significant! Be it your first job or your first day at an internship, you must make a great first impression! A resume will speak for you before your mouth does, so it should be written well.
Let’s check out the best way to make a resume for your first job:
1. Choose the Right Format
For a first-time job seeker, a functional resume works well because it emphasizes skills and qualifications when you don’t have a work history.
2. Your Contact Information
Your contact information is an integral part of your resume as it helps the recruiter know different ways to contact you. You should include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile or portfolio if applicable.
3. Summarize Your Journey so Far
A brief statement of 2 to 3 sentences should help recruiters know about your goals. This is where you will share the features that will be helpful for the employer.
4. Academic History
When learning how to make a resume for your first job, this is usually put at the end. That is wrong, of course, as the recruiter will be keen to know about your academic achievements and history.
At the name of your school, provide your degree or expected graduation if applicable. If you have earned any honours or relevant course work at those too.
This is also a great space to add your academic achievements, such as extracurricular activities such as debates or volunteer work.
5. Skills
In this digital age, skills are seen as more than academic achievements. When you have the right skills, you can get great job offers. Depending on the type of job you are seeking, focus on the skills that will be relevant to it.
If you lack work experience, think of the transferable skills from school, personal projects, or volunteering that can help in the corporate sector.
6. Extracurricular Activities or Projects
If you have been involved in sports clubs or any leadership activities, list them in the section. School activities or projects show your initiative and teamwork, which is valuable in the corporate sector.
7. Certification or Courses
If you have taken any certification or online courses or workshops that may add value to the job, list them here. Many short courses available across the internet can help you improve your job opportunities. Sign up and learn!
Simple Tips to Spruce Up A Resume
If you already have a resume, this list will help you optimize it to fit your current needs well. Before looking up listings and filling out applications, you should look at these simple tips to ensure your resume is in top shape.
1. Add Keywords:
Many job seekers may not realize that employers use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter through large numbers of job applications. ATS software will automatically comb through applications and check for keywords.
The applications with the right keywords will make it to a staff member, while the ones without them get automatically rejected. This is why you must include its keywords in your resume.
What keywords should you use? You can typically find the keywords the employer seeks in the original job posting. They will be listed in the qualifications and job requirements.
Here are some essential tips when it comes to inputting keywords:
- Don’t just add the keywords willy-nilly. Carefully incorporate them throughout your resume so that they make sense.
- Don’t lie. Only use keywords that apply to your skills and experience.
- Don’t try to trick your way to the next step. You may be aware of the “hack” where you insert hidden keywords at the bottom of your resume by changing the font to white so that it blends into the background.
- This hack may get your resume past the ATS screening, but it won’t necessarily get past the staff. Faking your way into an interview won’t make for a good impression.
2. Submit It to a Recruitment Agency
You can have a near-perfect resume, but it’ll not get you very far if you’re not sending it to the right place. You should submit it to the top sales recruitment agencies to boost your chances of landing an incredible sales job in your preferred field. Doing this is quick and easy and doesn’t cost you a single dime.
You shouldn’t have to slog through fruitless job postings. Send your resume to professional sales recruiters and make things easier for yourself.
3. Format It for Better Readability
One of the biggest resume mistakes you can make as a job seeker is sending out a resume that is hard for the recruiter to review. If you’re sending in three pages crammed with content, you’re not likely to get a call for an interview.
You should format your resume so that it is easy for recruiters to read. How can you do that?
- Separate content into categories like job experience, volunteer experience, and relevant skills.
- Add headings and sub-headings to organize these categories.
- Use short, one-sentence summaries or bullet-point lists instead of long paragraphs.
- Try to keep your resume to a single page — two pages at most.
4. Add Hyperlinks
Take the opportunity to learn how to insert hyperlinks throughout your resume. The feature will streamline the research process for the employer, bringing them right to your LinkedIn page, personal website, etc. This small change shows that you can organize your resume, and are confident, and comfortable with tech.
You first meet a potential employer through your application — not your interview. Your resume is your first impression. So, do your best to ensure you leave a good one.
Wrapping It Up!
That was all about how to make a resume for your first job that will help you get noticed in a sea of applicants. Going for the first interview can be nerve-wracking, but it all depends on how you present yourself – confidence is vital!
The article also highlights the changes you should make if you already have a resume – from adding necessary links to the format it is all necessary. You can make a great impression on the recruiters with a well-made resume.
Follow these steps and get that first job!
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