Vital job-hunting advice for new college grads
(MoneyWatch) Congratulations, new college graduates. The working world isn't always as hospitable as academia, and here's your first lesson on that subject: Getting a job.
Recently, I wrote about some crucial resume advice for new college grads, and there's a lot more to say on the subject. (For a snapshot of some important resume writing advice, be sure to look at the infographic over at HR News Daily.) If you'd rather get a Cliff's Notes version, though, here are some important tips for making your first job-search-ready resume:
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Make it browsable. One in four hiring managers get at least 50 resumes for every open position; one in 10 get 100 resumes. They don't have time to read your resume in detail. Don't write in complete sentences, and use bullets rather than paragraphs.
Use keywords. Before your resume even reaches the hiring manager, it will probably be scanned for keywords by an online "bot." All it wants to know is if your resume contains many of the same key phrases as the job description, so be sure to customize your resume for each opening and internalize the job opening's language.
Don't make it all about you. All of your blurbs should describe what skills you offer and what you have accomplished. Don't bother with an objective, which by definition is about what you want, not what you can do for the company.
Beware of errors. Don't just spell-check your resume -- make sure the grammar is correct and be on the lookout for goofs like poorly chosen abbreviations (Never abbreviate "assistant" by its first three letters, for example.)
Know what to cut. Don't include actual references; if HR wants them, they'll ask you for them. Also don't list your high school in the education section. Limit the resume to undergrad and graduate schools, as well as any tech schools or certificate programs.
What other resume advice do you think is important? Let me know in the comments.
