Posted On08 Dec 2020
Updated On02 Jan 2025
Writing a resume can be challenging for anyone, and even more so for a recent college graduate, mainly because there’s little to no experience to speak of.
Since resumes are all about experience, having practically none of it can make the task of writing a recent graduate resume harder than it should be. Add to that the fact that you’ll be applying along with a slew of other fresh graduates (and probably more than a few experienced applicants), and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the whole thing, as our seasoned writers here at our resume writing service will tell you.
Before you worry yourself sick, understand that even a fresh grad like you can still write a strong, outstanding resume that boosts your chances of getting hired. It’s all about knowing the best tips and techniques for crafting a recent college graduate resume. Here are some tried-and-true tips on how to make a resume for recent college graduates to get you started on the right track.
What does a college graduate’s resume look like?
When you’re about to apply for a job, you’ll probably start looking through resume samples. Your instincts will tell you to go through samples designed for the appropriate industry. That’s the first mistake! Most samples are designed for candidates who already have a decent level of experience. They will look intimidating.
As someone who’s just entering the workforce, you should focus on showing relevant academic achievements. You can also include internships and extracurricular experiences. With not much work experience to include, your first resume will have space for an expanded Skills section. You can even mention extracurricular activities as long as they are related to the position you target.
These are the sections to include in your resume as a recent graduate:
Contact details
Resume summary
Education
Experience
Skills
Certificates
Projects
Extracurricular activities
The last two parts are optional but highly recommended if they include details relevant to the role.
Employers expect your resume to be one page long. There are exceptions in some career fields, but the standard is one page. If you’re writing a CV, the length won’t be limited, and you can include more details in it. But a resume should be brief and straight to the point. You can’t make it too short, either. Don’t try to compensate for length with a larger font!
Don’t be intimidated by the resume writing process. Even top-tier candidates rely on executive resume writing help when they can’t handle job applications.
There are tons of things to write, and we’ll tell you how to do it!
Start with a resume summary
Studies have shown that recruiters and hiring managers take an average of six seconds to read a resume. A resume summary ensures they find what they need from your recent graduate resume within that short span of time.
The resume summary is an important section for recent college graduates like you because it lets you highlight your most sellable qualities and immediately convey your value as a future employee. Think of it as your elevator pitch. It should be a concise but impressive statement that puts your strengths into focus and sets the tone for the rest of the resume.
Make sure your resume summary stands out by including the following:
Academic accomplishments
You can mention your important achievements. For a recent graduate, that may be graduating with honors, receiving scholarships, or completing a challenging capstone project. Most resume samples you’ve read did not include these details. But for entry-level positions, they matter.
Leadership roles taken (clubs, school orgs, non-profit groups, etc.)
Did you serve as a president of a club at college? Did you organize any events for school organizations? Maybe you managed teams in non-profit groups? You can include some of those details in the resume summary.
Hard and soft skills
Include skills that are relevant for the job you’re applying for. Hard skills could include proficiency in programming languages, data analysis, or graphic design tools. Soft skills include communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Results-oriented statements
Mention how you’ve used the listed skills to deliver measurable outcomes. You can write something like this: “Led a team at college to raise $5,000 for charity through fundraising events.” Of course, what you write must be true. If an employer wants to check your claims, they will.
Incorporate these into your resume organically, and include statements on how you expect to deliver results as well as how you can to help the employer achieve their goals when hired. Place your summary statement immediately below the personal information section on your resume so it’s one of the first things your readers see on your recent graduate resume.
This example of a resume summary will help you realize what it’s supposed to look like:
“Motivated and eager to make an impact, recent marketing graduate with a 3.8 GPA and experience as a digital campaign manager. Led a student team to develop a successful social media strategy that increased event attendance by 40%. Skilled in content creation, data analysis, and team collaboration. Interested in applying these skills to support company growth and contribute to innovative marketing solutions.”
Highlight your educational attainment
As a new graduate, your education is going to be your biggest application asset. You’ll want to put this information right after your resume summary. Include the name of your college, your graduation date, and your major. If you graduated with honors or had a 3.5 GPA or above, you’ll want this info to feature prominently on your resume.
You may also include a list of minor courses completed apart from your main degree but do this only if you cannot express certain skills that the job calls for in any other manner. As you move forward with your career path, you will be able to move your education to the bottom of the last section of your resume.
Optionally, you can also include certifications you earned during your academic journey. Google Analytics, CPR/First Aid, or specialized software training are all worth mentioning.
If you studied abroad in an international program, you can mention it in this section. That experience shows your adaptability and cross-cultural awareness. A recent graduate’s resume also gives space for mentioning academic clubs, honor societies, and leadership roles in university organizations.
Mention awards
You can include a list of awards and recognitions acquired during your time in college. These should be kept brief and apply only to recent activities. Including awards will help you stand out as a candidate. This part shows your dedication, excellence, and ability to achieve results. If you were better than your competitors, then the hiring manager has a good reason to believe you’re a top candidate for this job, too. You’ve gone above and beyond expectations, so you’re certainly a promising hire.
You may be tempted to put as many accolades on your resume as possible but avoid including experiences before college, as these are not generally considered relevant in a professional setting. That said, youth awards of great significance (for instance, Young American Award or President’s Youth Award) can be included.
These tips will help you present your awards in the most positive way:
This should be a separate section in your resume titled “Awards and Honors.” If it’s a single award we’re talking about, you can list it under your “Education” section.
Keep the section brief. List the name of the award, the granting organization, and the date received. Nothing more, nothing less.
The focus should be on awards that align with the role you’re applying for. Focus on awards that showcase skills and qualities this employer values.
Use keywords
Keywords are one of the most effective ways to make your resume noticeable. They help it pass through Applicant Tracking Systems. ATS software scans resumes for specific terms that match the job description.
The importance of keywords goes beyond ATS optimization. When you use the same language as the employer, you show you understand the company’s values. Keywords show that your qualifications are relevant and your experience makes you suitable for the role.
Avoid tired buzzwords like “hard-working” and “team player” and put keywords used in the job posting instead. Review the posting carefully and try to identify prominent words that match the job and industry. It also helps to use the words that the employer uses to describe the qualities that they are looking for in a candidate. For example, if the posting describes that candidates should be “tech-savvy,” “progressive” or “forward-thinking,” make sure to include these in your resume. Again, the trick here is to incorporate the words organically. You won’t stuff your resume with keywords. That would make it look generic. You want them naturally incorporated throughout the summary, Education, and Experience sections.
Job-specific skills are the first type of keywords to focus on. Examples of such keywords are Python programming, digital marketing, and data analysis. You can also look into your core competencies: leadership, communication, problem-solving, and innovation are all good keywords too.
Include any little work experience you may have
You just graduated from college, so you might feel like your work experience is too limited to include in a resume. You’re wrong. Every single role you’ve held during your academic years can be valuable in the eyes of an employer.
Did you go through an internship? Take a teacher’s assistant role? Work while studying? Paid or unpaid, work experiences such as these may be worth mentioning, especially if they have transferable skills that relate to the job you’re applying for. Listing the little work experience that you may have can be helpful in conveying your drive to succeed, even if they are not directly related to the job you’re applying for.
Why should you include minor (and not that relevant) experiences? They show you’re good at communication, time management, problem-solving, and adaptability. Employers value candidates who prove they’ve applied their learning in context. Plus, the fact that you worked while studying also shows you can succeed under pressure.
Here’s all you can include:
Internships, regardless of the payment (or lack of it)
Part-time jobs, even in non-related fields
Freelance work
Teaching assistance
On-campus jobs
There’s only one way to present irrelevant experience: focus on transferable skills. You can focus on customer service skills or your potential to work in a fast-paced environment. Even if the role was basic, focus on what you learned and how it helped you grow.
Here are some examples, just to give you an idea of proper listings with little work experience:
Marketing Intern, Enter Tech Solutions — Summer 2022
Assisted with social media content creation, analyzed customer engagement, and contributed to market research projects.
Barista, Insight Café — September 2020 - October 2023
Delivered excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment, processed transactions, and handled customer complaints.
Include a Skills section
The Resume Summary, Education, and Experience sections are the most important aspects of any resume. But we’re talking about recent graduates who need something extra to share. A dedicated Skills section can give a potential employer a quick glance at the technical skills you would bring. Soft skills are just as important!
Here are a few examples of skills you can include:
Technical skills: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Python, SQL, and any industry-specific tools
Soft skills: communication, teamwork, adaptability, time management, leadership
Language skills: if you’re bilingual or multilingual, list all languages you’ve mastered so far
Add hobbies and interests
If you’re having trouble filling up space on your resume, you can include Hobbies and Interests as your final section. Likewise, any presentation or publication will also work. If you have had the opportunity to present at any event or have your work published by a major publication, you can include this and other similar information at the bottom of your resume.
This can give a more holistic view of you as a candidate. Instead of seeing a list of activities and educational achievements, they will get an impression of you as a person. They will understand what you’re passionate about.
If possible, the hobbies you list should be relevant to the position and industry. But even if they are not, they can still add personality to your resume and distinguish you from other candidates. A hobby shows you’re a well-rounded individual who brings more to the table. It also makes your resume more engaging. If the hiring manager shares this interest, you’ll have something to connect over during the interview.
But don’t list everything you enjoy doing. Focus on hobbies that reflect skills that benefit your application. This is the right way to do it:
Relate the hobby to a skill applicable to the job. For example, if you’re applying for a position in marketing, you can list hobbies related to writing, blogging, or photography.
Research the company’s culture. If you know that they value community involvement, you can mention volunteering as your hobby.
If you have any less common hobbies, you can mention them. If you enjoy traveling or learning new languages, you can write about them. These hobbies show your growth mindset.
If you’re aware that your hobby raises concerns among some individuals, don’t mention it. There’s no place for political affiliations or controversial topics in a resume. Stick to neutral interests that would make you look like a good person in anyone’s eyes.
Customize the resume for each job
It will seem like too much work for a single job application. But you still have to do it! Customizing your resume for the specific job shows you’ve taken the time to understand the employer’s needs. Here’s what you can do to make your resume relevant:
Emphasize the most relevant skills and experiences (put them first!)
Use keywords from the job posting to go through ATS
Make the resume summary suitable for the specific job and company
Add a LinkedIn URL
Including a LinkedIn profile is a great way to offer more details about your background and recommendations. Even if you don’t get this job, you open your way to networking opportunities that might be beneficial in the long run.
Before including a link, make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated and perfect. The details you shared there must match the content of your resume.
Check, recheck, then check again
Many recruiters and hiring managers take note of any spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors in a resume. Often, they consider poorly written resumes as an indication of a candidate’s overall work ethic, so carefully comb over your resume for any errors. Try to use clear, concise language and avoid bad writing techniques like keyword stuffing, where you pad your resume with too many keywords that end up destroying your message. To be on the safe side, have someone adept in written English read it over as well.
How recent graduates can overcome difficulties in resume writing
Have you tried writing a resume, and you still find the challenge too big to overcome? Let’s talk about the most common difficulties. We’ll give you tips on how to overcome them.
Lack of professional experience
It looks like every position out there requires at least some experience. And you have none! But there are strategies to help you:
Mention internships, volunteer work, and part-time jobs. It’s still an experience that has equipped you with transferable skills. Even if the work wasn’t related to your desired career, you learned something that contributes to your skill set. Mention it!
List relevant coursework and projects. They can help you fill the experience gap. Remember this: when listing coursework, it has to be relevant to the position. You can mention the exact type of knowledge you gained and how it can help you complete the required tasks.
Use the functional format for a resume. It puts the focus on your skills and achievements. Work history is still listed, but it’s not highlighted. Instead of focusing on what you’ve done, the functional resume will convey what you can do.
Difficulty in presenting skills
Recent graduates often struggle to present their skills in a way that resonates with hiring managers. This can help:
Identify the skills that are transferable. You can find them in your academic and extracurricular experiences. Skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership are worthy of mention.
Always use examples over a mere list of skills. Instead of writing “hard-working,” you should write an example that proves how hard-working you are. Like this: “Led a team of five students in a charity project, resulting in $7000 raised for a non-profit organization.”
Lack of professional connections
You weren’t able to do much networking at college, were you? Without a strong professional network, it’s hard to get noticed by employers. You’ll also lack proper references in your resume. Here’s what to do:
Join professional organizations related to the industry you aim for. You can attend conferences to build connections and get info on industry trends.
Rely on LinkedIn! It’s the easiest way to build a professional online presence. You can start by following companies you’re interested in and engaging with their content. LinkedIn is the best place to search for alumni and other professionals for advice and mentorship.
Lack of a clear career path
As a recent graduate, you might struggle to articulate clear career goals. You’re still figuring out what to do, and that’s perfectly fine. Employers understand that this early on your career journey, you’re still learning.
Focus on your interests and strengths. There are things you can bring to the table right now, so write them in your resume. Focus on your enthusiasm to learn, grow, and contribute.
Show how adaptable you are. If you’re willing to take on different responsibilities, you can write that in the resume summary. Employers value candidates who are open to a variety of roles.
Feeling anxious about your resume writing skills?
Don’t fret, Resumeble is here to help. Our professional resume writers will work with you one-on-one to craft a resume that not only grabs and sustains the attention of recruiters but also beats Applicant Tracking Software (ATS), widely used by many companies today to screen candidates. We guarantee you an interview call within 60 days of finalizing your resume. Send us your resume recent graduate today for a free, no-obligation evaluation!
