Articles & News About Student Loans & School

Five Fabulous Resume Tips for College Grads (or Anybody)

Fluffy clouds. Chirping birds. Green trees. Colorful flowers. It's springtime! All of these things bring thoughts of joy and serenity to most people, but to you, dear college senior, it is usually a hectic time, full of final exams, decisions to be made, Graduation Day, and looking for a job. Sure, the job search is a major thing on your to-do list, but having fun, studying, and exams usually take the top spots as the months wind down and Graduation Day nears.

In all the preparation for Graduation day, you've probably forgotten about the most important tool needed to land that perfect job. The resume. This handy little tool is the key to getting your foot in the door just to speak to someone. And you forgot? Don't you know that the resume is your calling card and it can make or break your chance of getting an interview to have a chance at a job that is being sought after by hundreds of other graduates.

Never fear my dear college senior, here are five tips to making the best impression with your resume.

1. Maximize your experiences.
Whether you helped out at your dad's office for the summer or planted trees for the local Arbor Day foundation, those experiences adds up to know-how. Think about all of the skills you used on each task and list them. Use lots of adjectives and please use the active voice.

2. Toot your own horn.
Did you increase sales by 50% (you go girl, er guy!)? Did enrollment jump from 350 to 1,000 because of you (you are incredible!)? Did you increase the efficiency of the sundae-making procedure (so industrious, aren't 'cha?)? If you changed the way your company or organization did something, say so. Employers like to see initiative in potential employees, so by all means toot your own horn. Just make sure that it's the truth. Which brings me to the next point.

3. Be honest.
It is now standard practice for employees to do a background checks on a person's credentials, credit, and references so be sure that all of the information on your resume is accurate. Even if a background check is not done at the time of hire, one could be done in the future and your job could be terminated if you were dishonest on your resume.

4. Make it pretty.
Okay it doesn't have to be pretty but it does have to be neat. As a recent graduate you want to keep your resume to one page, one and a half at most (K.I.S.S. Keep It Short Sweetie). The format, how it's arranged on the paper, should be easy to read. Leave plenty of white space so the eye (of your prospective employer) doesn't get tired. Use white or ivory, executive-type paper. If you are e-mailing your resume, keep it simple. Don't use bullets, lines, etc. because it will more than likely not be formatted correctly in the recipient's e-mail reader. Copy and paste the resume into the body of the e-mail because most people are leery of opening anything with attachments because of computer viruses.

5. List your skills.
This may seem obvious, but too many times people only list their hard skills such as computer software or hardware knowledge. It's good to list soft skills as well such as written and oral communications skills, initiative, organizational skills, and being a team player. These skills are all highly sought after and they could make the difference in whether you are hired or not.

Spring is here. The birds are chirping. Graduation Day has come and gone and now you are faced with the start of your career. Your resume is your calling card, so use it as the first tool in your arsenal of getting a job. Remember the 5 tips list above: 1. Maximize your experiences. 2. Toot your own horn. 3. Be honest. 4. Make it pretty. 5. List your skills. Next time we will talk about negotiating your salary. Ciao.

Samantha Gregory-Applewhite is a technical writer by day and a freelance article and busines writer/speaker/personal coach by night. She has 10 years experience writing resumes and coaching individuals in the resume writing process. Her business is Applewhite Communications http://www.applewhitecommunications.com and her writing website is Applewhite Spaces http://www.samanthagregory.blogspot.com. She lives and plays in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband Odel and her two children Lexi and AJ. Reading, traveling, internet surfing, and spending time with family friends is her passion.

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

Animation School - Picking the One That's Right For You
If you really love animation and want to make it a career, you've probably considered attending a full time animation school, as well as some alternatives such as online schools or six week crash courses. Some of the animation degrees available include an AS (Associate of Science), BS (Bachelor of Science) and BA (Bachelor of Arts), and most will allow for specialization in certain areas such as game design.

Capps College - The Super Specialty Training Institute
Capps College gives specialized training in health care and related training courses. When as a pupil, you aim to join the prestigious college, rest assured you are in absolute safe hands and your career can only take an upward graph towards more and more success. Following the leader, Capps College established since 1984. You may call on their private telephone numbers or log in on their official website for more details and information about the institute.

Peterson?s Launches StudentEdge to Help Students Prepare for College
Everything you need to know about college planning in one affordable online package

Distance Learning can help Finish College Fast!
Distance learning can be defined as an education program imparted by a university beyond the barriers of its campus and taken by a student outside the walls of a university. Distance learning program is a medium that connects students to the universities of the world and can assist in finishing college fast.

Former University of Phoenix Executive to Head Higher Education Marketing and Consulting Firm
HigheredGrowth, an education marketing and consulting firm, announced that Heather Cornell has joined the company as President and CEO. She joins HigheredGrowth, a privately funded education marketing and consulting and software development company, following a 10-year career at University of Phoenix, most recently as Associate Vice President. Ms. Cornell brings extensive experience in all aspects of enrollment management for the education sector.

College and High School Students Causes A Ramen Revolution in the Inland Empire
Azindies Productions, LLC is pleased to announce Ramen Revolution, a ground-breaking television series about anime and Asian pop culture, which will be taped live at the Granada Theater in Ontario, CA, on Saturday April 5th.

NAMP and FHA Online University Offer Course for Closers & Post Closers
The National Association of Mortgage Processors, together with FHA Online University, now offers an interactive online course designed to help mortgage professionals gain an edge in the industry through proficiency and fluency in FHA/VA closing and post-closing.

European School of Economics Offers Real Career Opportunities Thanks to its Innovative International Placement / Internship Program
The European School of Economics offers International internship and career opportunities to its students at the ESE Centers of New York, London, Rome, Milan and Lucca (Florence).

Top Business School Professor Wins $250,000 Bradley Prize
Gary Becker, a professor at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business was chosen to receive one of the four 2008 Bradley Prizes.

Norfolk State University
Norfolk State University, located in Norfolk, Virginia was founded in 1935. Virginia has a populace of approximately 241,000, and is also a port city. The contiguous environment is quite urban. Students can visit a zoo, botanical gardens, the National Maritime Center, museums and several historical sites that are located near Norfolk State University.

University of Arkansas' RFID Research Center to Demonstrate EPC Technologies and Applications at EPC Connection 2007
EPCglobal North America and RFID Journal announced today that the University of Arkansas' RFID Research Center will conduct live demonstrations of EPC technology in the exhibit hall at EPC Connection - the Fourth Annual EPCglobal North America Conference and Exhibition, to be held October 2-4, at Chicago's Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

Spring Break Collides with College Credit Card Debt Awareness Month
“Two sides to the interest rate equation: a right and a wrong. College students are given $100 to lend (not spend) that they can earn interest on.”

Oxnard Attractions - Jim Hall Kart Racing School
Oxnard is a great city to live in and a wonderful city to visit. It is a city with much to do and much to offer tis residents and tourists. If you are looking for something different to do this weekend while in Oxnard I have just the ticket. you can visit the Jim Hall Kart Racing School. It is a fun place that you will talk about for weeks to come. Keep reading and learn more about this attraction.

Cooking So Easy College Students Can Do it
Most college students do not have a clue about cooking. We're about to show you how easy it really is.

New Study From Eduventures Defines Employer Preferences For College And University Certificate Programs
In its most recent report, Employer Preferences for Certificate Programs, Eduventures, the leading research and consulting firm for the education industry, found that between 50 percent and 70 percent of the 731 corporate and government employers surveyed are likely to purchase, endorse or recommend higher education certificate programs as a learning and development vehicle for their employees. Level of interest in certificate programs among employers depended largely on the delivery format and ability to customize.