resume for first job after college

How to Write Your First Job Resume [For 2024]

So there you are, sitting in front of a screen, staring at a blank Word page for hours, with one task at hand: writing your first job resume.

Where do you even start?

And most importantly: How do you fill those 1-2 pages when you have no work experience?

We feel your struggle and we’re here to help!

In this article, we’re going to guide you through the entire process of creating a first job resume from start to finish.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

How to Write Your First Job Resume

• Pick the right resume template
• Write down your contact information (correctly)
• Include a resume objective
• List your education (in detail)
• Instead of work experience, focus on…
• Highlight your skills
• Mention optional sections
• Stick to the one-page limit
• Get inspired by a first-job resume example

Don’t worry, we’re going to cover all of the above in detail!

Starting with the first step:

#1. Pick the Right First Job Resume Format and Template

There are 3 main resume formats you can pick from. Each of them highlights a different part of your resume.

• Reverse-Chronological Resume - In this format, your work experiences and education are listed in reverse-chronological order. 
• Functional Resume - Instead of work experience, this format focuses on your skills and achievements.
• Combination (or Hybrid) Resume - This format focuses on both your skills and work experience.

For 99% of job-seekers, we recommend sticking with the reverse-chronological format.

While a functional resume can sometimes help for career changers or recent graduates, it’s still nowhere near as common as the reverse chronological one.

Plus, recruiters world-wide are familiar with the reverse-chronological format, making it a safer bet.

A reverse-chronological resume looks as follows:

Once you’ve picked the format, the next step is to perfect your layout, font, and the like. Here’s what we recommend for that:

• Use a Two-Column Layout. A two-column resume layout allows you to fit a lot more content into your resume.
• Pick a Common Font. We recommend Ubuntu, Overpass, or Roboto.
• Use Bullets to Describe Your Experiences.
• Don’t Go Over One Page. Unless you’re a professional with a decade of work experience, we recommend sticking to the one-page resume limit.

Want to avoid all the hassle of formatting your resume layout? We don’t blame you - if you wanted to build a good-looking resume from scratch, it would take you hours before you could even start filling it in.

Thankfully, there’s an easier way out: using a resume builder.

With Novoresume, all you have to do is pick a template, and fill in the contents. It’s that simple.

And on top of that, Novorésumé resumes are ATS-friendly . Meaning, your resume won’t be swallowed up by an applicant tracking system just because it can’t read it.

Want to get started with Novorésumé? Browse our resume templates .

#2. Write Down Your Contact Information (Correctly)

It’s important for the recruiter to have at least two ways of reaching back to you.

Meaning, you should always provide your contact information in your resume . That includes: 

• First and last name
• Phone number

Apart from these must-haves, you can also provide:

• LinkedIn URL - This is a good way to complement your resume. It also makes the recruiter’s life easier since they usually check your LinkedIn profile anyway. Make sure all information is updated and consistent with your resume, though.
• Relevant social media (like Quora or StackOverflow) - Any social media that is related to the job position and puts you in good light should be included in your resume. In most cases. If you’re a developer, it could be projects on GitHub. Writer? Personal blog.
• Website or blog - Again, this should be something related to the job. It shows your interest and dedication to the industry and how you spend some of your free time.

When it comes to your contact information, the key is to write everything correctly . Double-check you’ve spelled your name and email right, make sure the phone number you’ve listed can be reached, and that the accounts you have linked to are up to date . 

Something else you should know regarding location is how much detail you should be providing. 

The reason recruiters want to know your location is so that they have an idea of whether you’re in the vicinity of the company or not (and if you’ll need to relocate for work). 

That means, providing the city and country where you live will be enough. No need for your full home address. 

#3. Include a Resume Objective

Recruiters spend on average 7 seconds scanning each resume before deciding if it’s worth more consideration or not. 

That means your resume has about 7 seconds to leave a great first impression and convince the recruiter you’re the person they’re looking for.

A good resume objective does that for you. 

A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence snapshot of your skills, achievements, and career goals . Its purpose is to communicate your motivation for getting into the field and your interest in this particular position. 

This makes it ideal for the first job resume of a recent graduate or somebody who’s changing careers. Basically, any resume with no work experience . 

Your resume objective should be tailored to the position you are applying for and highlight skills that will help the company achieve its goal. Use as many facts and numbers as you can to back up any statements or achievements. 

• Creative and motivated recent graduate with a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Michigan. Seeking permanent employment in the field of marketing after completing successful internships in 2 major media companies. Looking to further develop my market analysis skills and contribute to future marketing strategy developments at XY Company.
• I am looking to put my marketing skills into action by initially working for the marketing department of a well-known company until I can finally get to an executive position.

#4. List Your Education (In Detail)

For starters, you should know how to list your education entries correctly in the following format:

• Program Name e.g.: B.A. in Information Systems
• University Name e.g.: University of Chicago
• Years Attended e.g.: 07/2013 - 05/2017
• GPA (only if really high)
• Honors (If applicable) e.g. Cum Laude

Exchange Program (If applicable) e.g. Exchange program in Berlin, Germany

Apart from your skills, your education is the biggest selling point in your first job resume. This is not the place to be humble and play down your achievements!

Write down your GPA (if it’s something impressive), emphasize your honors, and most importantly, highlight your academic achievements by describing them in detail.  

What you can also do is list specific courses that you have taken that are relevant to the position you are applying for. 

Here’s an example of what an entry on the education section should look like:

B.A. in English Literature (Cum Laude)

Boston University

07/2014 - 05/2018

• Courses: Advanced Topics in Literature: Shakespeare’s Work 
• Clubs: Boston University Drama Club
• Exchange program in London, UK

#5. Instead of Work Experience, Focus On This

As a recent graduate, the recruiter knows you don’t have any work experience - and that’s OK. As long as you’re applying for a junior or entry-level position, the experience isn’t something expected from you.

Instead, the recruiter will be looking for other experiences that enrich your profile, like:

• Internships
• Extracurricular Activities

When talking about these experiences, format them just like you’d format your work experience. 

Business Analyst Internship

AAA Company

Milan, Italy

05/2019 - 12/2019

• Ran weekly and monthly analysis on diverse areas of the business
• Created insightful reports of the analysis to present to managers and teams
• Defined strategic KPIs, in order to monitor the efficiency of commercial operations

When possible, try to focus on listing your achievements and not your responsibilities. This will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Haven’t done any internships? Include extracurricular activities.

More often than not, an applicant with extracurricular activities and an average GPA will impress the recruiter much more than a 4.0 GPA student with nothing else to show. When listing your extracurricular activities, each entry should have the following format:

Moot Court Club Member

2017 - 2019

• Participated for two years in a row at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, making it to the finals in 2019
• Researched and prepared written pleadings, called memorials addressing timely issues of public international law
• Helped train the new club members in topics of international law

Finally, you can also list independent projects, if you have any. Think, something you did on the side just for yourself. This can be a personal project, small business or startup, side-gig, blog, etc.

Amy’s Book Club Blog

2018 - Present

• Created my own book club website for reviewing and discussing the latest books.
• Curated a monthly book calendar for my followers to follow, combining trending, relevant, and classic books.
• Created over 40 book review articles.
• On average, received 2000 visitors per month to the blog.

#6. Highlight Your Skills

The two types of skills you can mention on your resume are soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are attributes that help you adapt to work environments, work in a team, and apply your hard skills effectively. They are related to your personality, social skills, communication, attitude, etc.

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and specific tools. They are skills that one learns and applies directly to the job. Some examples of hard skills include:

• Financial accounting
• Adobe Illustrator

Although soft skills are becoming more and more in demand by employers , for your first job resume, we recommend sticking to hard skills. 

Sure, attributes like “teamwork” or “critical thinking” are much appreciated by just about any employer. 

The thing is, though, the recruiter can’t really tell if you actually have critical thinking skills, or just listed it on your resume to fill space.

Hard skills, on the other hand, are very easy to test.

Tailor Skills to the Job Ad

Not sure which skills to mention in your first job resume?

The simplest way to find the essential ones is to check the job ad.

The recruiter themselves mentioned the skills they’re looking for - the only thing you need to do is mention them in your resume (as long as you have them, anyway).

Let’s say you’re applying for a graphic designer position that wants the following qualifications and skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat; XD, Animate and/or After Effects are a plus
• Working knowledge of presentation software (Canva, PowerPoint and/or Keynote)
• Ability to work under pressure, manage work on multiple projects daily, manage a large workload and meet deadlines.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized

Based on that, your skills section should include the following:

• Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat
• After Effects and Cinema4D
• Canva and Keynote
• Time management
• Detail-oriented

If the job ad isn’t too descriptive, you can also check out these 101+ most in-demand skills for 2024 . 

#7. Mention Optional Sections

Still have some space on your resume?

That’s not a bad thing! You can use this space to your advantage and add some other useful sections.

Here are some ideas:

• Volunteering - If you have some volunteering experience, make sure to include it in your first job resume. Such a section shows commitment, dedication, and a sense of purpose, something most recruiters will appreciate.
• Languages - With companies becoming more and more international, additional languages are always appreciated.
• Hobbies - You can show your genuine interest in the industry or field by listing some relevant hobbies/interests.
• Awards & Certifications - Whether it’s an award from an essay competition in college or a certificate from an online course, anything that flatters your profile should be added.

#8. Stick to the One-Page Limit

“ How long should a resume be? ” seems like an eternal dilemma at this point. 

Generally, the answer is: it depends. 

Since you’re making a first job resume, the answer is: definitely one page . 

Unless you have an extensive employment history that can’t fit into one page, there’s no need to go over that limit. 

It’s unlikely that the recruiter will want to look at two pages of extracurriculars and hobbies. 

#9. Get Inspired by This First-Job Resume

Need some inspiration for your resume? Check out the resume examples below.

First Job Resume FAQ 

Still have some questions on how to write a convincing first job resume?

We’ll answer them here.

1. What do I put on my no-experience resume?

There’s plenty of other things you can include in your resume instead of work experience. For starters, you should:

• Focus on your education, making sure the entries are formatted correctly.
• Pick the right skills that match what the employer is looking for.
• Talk about internships, personal projects, or extracurricular activities. Describe your achievements in detail.

If you still have some space left, you could use it to your advantage and add extra sections like volunteer work, languages, awards & certificates, or hobbies.

2. Is a resume necessary for a first job?

Depending on the region, a resume or CV is always necessary for a job application, be it the first or the 20th. 

Before deciding if they should call you for an interview, the recruiters need to have some insight into you and your skills.

3. Do I need work experience to land my first job?

Short answer: You don’t! 

If you’re a recent graduate, it’s a given that you won’t have any work experience. Most employers don’t actually expect years of work experience for an entry-level or junior position. 

Instead, they’ll be looking at your other types of experiences (internships, extracurricular activities, etc.) to decide on whether you’re a good fit for the job or not.

4. How do you write a resume for your first job?

The process is quite similar to the one for writing a regular resume, but with a few tweaks.

The exact steps for creating a first job resume are:

• Instead of work experience, focus on extracurricular activities, internships, projects, etc.

Key Takeaways

Writing your first job resume doesn’t have to be stressful!

Remember the following tips and you’ll do just fine:

• Pick the right format and template to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume. Make sure to pick an ATS-friendly resume template.
• Write a concise and attention-grabbing resume objective. Show the recruiter that you’re relevant for the role and that they should read the rest of your resume.
• Instead of work experience, include information on your internships, projects, and extracurricular activities.

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5 Resume Strategies for Securing the First Job After College

After college, having a strong resume can make a significant difference in terms of getting the first job of one’s career. A strong resume can prove to be a decisive factor for hiring managers when sorting through job applications.

Throughout the article, we will explore the necessary components and best practices to make a standout resume. By implementing these strategies, new graduates can increase their chances of getting that first job in their chosen field. The overarching goal is to help readers understand what it takes to create an impressive resume that can help them stand out in a crowded job market.

Understanding the ATS

A. definition of ats.

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, which is a software application that many companies use to manage their recruitment process. ATS is designed to automate the initial screening phase of the recruitment process by scanning and filtering resumes based on specific keywords, job requirements, and qualifications.

B. Importance of Understanding ATS

In today’s competitive job market, understanding ATS is crucial to maximize your chances of getting past the initial screening phase and securing an interview. Without understanding ATS, your resume may never even be seen by a human recruiter because it didn’t meet the software’s specific requirements.

C. How to Optimize Your Resume for ATS

To optimize your resume for ATS, follow these tips:

Use relevant keywords: Review the job description and include relevant keywords in your resume to match the specific skills and qualifications that the employer is looking for.

Choose the right format: Use a simple, clean layout with standard fonts and avoid using images, graphics, or tables that might confuse the ATS.

Include your experience and skills: Make sure your work experience and skills are clearly stated in your resume, including any relevant keywords that the ATS might be looking for.

Customize your resume for each job: Tailor your resume to match the requirements of each job you apply for, including the job title and keywords.

Proofread your resume: Check your resume for spelling and grammar errors and make sure the formatting looks clean and professional.

By following these best practices, you can increase your chances of getting past ATS and securing an interview for your dream job.

Choosing the Right Format

After you have gathered all the necessary information, the next step is choosing the right resume format that suits your needs. The right format can grab the attention of the employer and make you stand out amongst the substantial pool of applicants.

A. Types of resume formats

There are three common resume formats, including:

Chronological Resume Format: This format is the most commonly used among job seekers. It presents your experiences in chronological order, listing your most recent job first, followed by previous ones.

Functional Resume Format: This format focuses on your skills and experiences as opposed to your work history. It is perfect if you have gaps in your employment history, are switching careers or have little work experience.

Combination Resume Format: This format combines both the chronological and functional formats. It highlights your skills and experiences while still listing your work history in chronological order.

B. Pros and cons of each format

Each resume format has its advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before making a choice.

Pros of Chronological Resume Format

• It shows your growth in your profession
• Recruiters and hiring managers are familiar with this format
• It is the most straightforward format to read

Cons of Chronological Resume Format

• It highlights any gaps in your employment history
• It doesn’t focus on your skills and accomplishments

Pros of Functional Resume Format

• It focuses on your skills and accomplishments
• It minimizes gaps in your employment history
• It is suitable for job seekers changing careers

Cons of Functional Resume Format

• Recruiters and hiring managers may not be familiar with this format
• They may not understand your work history

Pros of Combination Resume Format

• It highlights your skills and experiences while still listing your work history in chronological order
• Perfect if you are changing careers

Cons of Combination Resume Format

• It may look cluttered
• Recruiters and hiring managers may not understand why you selected it.

C. How to choose the right format

Choosing the best resume format can make a significant impact on your job search. Follow these tips to choose the right format:

Analyze the job description: Analyzing the job description can help you determine what format would suit the job best. If the job description emphasizes certain skills, the functional format may be ideal.

Highlight your best qualities: Your best qualities can help determine which format to use. If you have an outstanding work history, the chronological format may work best, while if your skills are your greatest asset, the functional format could be the most suitable.

Consider your career goals: Your career goals can be a factor in determining the best format. If you have a clear career path, the chronological format is probably best. However, if you are switching careers, the functional format may be best to highlight your skills.

Crafting a Strong Profile

When it comes to securing your first job after college, crafting a strong profile is essential. Your profile should showcase your skills and experience, while also highlighting your unique strengths and qualifications. Here are three key strategies to help you create a profile that stands out from the competition:

A. Creating a Summary Statement or Objective

Your summary statement or objective is the first thing potential employers will see when they view your profile. This brief introduction should capture their attention and give them a sense of who you are as a candidate. It should be concise, yet memorable, and highlight your personal brand.

Start by considering your strengths and values. What makes you unique as a candidate? What are your key skills and qualifications? Once you have a clear sense of your personal brand, craft a summary statement or objective that reflects it.

B. Including Relevant Skills and Experience

Your profile should showcase your skills and experience in a way that is relevant to the position you are applying for. Highlight the skills and experience that are most important for the role, and be specific about your achievements and accomplishments. Use numbers and specific examples whenever possible to demonstrate the impact you have had in your previous roles.

C. Tailoring Your Profile for the Position

Finally, make sure you tailor your profile to the specific position you are applying for. This means doing your research so that you have a clear sense of the job requirements and the company culture. Use keywords from the job description, and highlight experiences that are most relevant to the position. By showing that you have done your homework and are a great fit for the role, you will increase your chances of getting an interview.

Crafting a strong profile is one of the most important things you can do to secure your first job after college. By taking the time to create a summary statement or objective, highlighting your relevant skills and experience, and tailoring your profile to the position, you can position yourself as a top candidate and land the job of your dreams.

Highlighting Your Education

Your education plays a crucial role in landing your first job after college. Hiring managers often skim through resumes looking for academic qualifications and related achievements as they indicate your knowledge and capability in the required field. Therefore, highlighting your education section by listing your degree(s), including relevant coursework and achievements, and emphasizing your GPA and academic honors can make a favorable first impression.

A. Listing your degree(s)

Begin your education section by listing your degree(s) in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent degree. Make sure to include details such as the degree name, major, institution, graduation date, and any honors or awards received. Here’s an example:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science  XYZ University, Graduated May 2021 Summa cum laude

B. Including relevant coursework and achievements

Listing relevant coursework and achievements can provide hiring managers with a better understanding of your skills, interests, and accomplishments related to the position. Here are some tips to keep in mind when including this information:

• Identify the most relevant courses to include based on the job description.
• Use bullet points to make this information easy to read.
• Include measurable achievements (e.g., “Completed a group project that received an A+ grade”).

Here’s an example:

Relevant Coursework

• Introduction to Computer Science
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Artificial Intelligence
• Databases and Information Systems
• Web Development

Achievements

• Completed a mobile app development project that received an A+ grade.
• Co-authored a research paper on machine learning published in a top academic journal.

C. Emphasizing your GPA and academic honors

Your GPA and academic honors are essential indicators of your academic performance and potential to succeed in the workplace. They can be particularly important when applying for entry-level positions where you may have limited work experience to showcase. Here’s how to emphasize your GPA and academic honors:

• Bold your GPA and academic honors to make them stand out.
• Include your GPA only if it is 3.0 or higher.
• List academic honors under your respective degree.

Bachelor of Science in Biology  XYZ University, Graduated May 2021 GPA: 3.5

• Dean’s List every semester
• Received the Biology Department Scholarship for academic excellence.

Indicating your education qualifications, your related talents, and your academic awards and honors correctly can increase your chances of landing your first job after college. Ensure to be precise, measurable, and relevant when highlighting your education section in your resume.

Showcasing Your Experience

When it comes to securing your first job after college, showcasing your relevant experience is key. The first step in doing so is describing your work experience in an organized and effective manner.

A. Describing your work experience: When describing your experience, be sure to emphasize your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role. Use action verbs to highlight your contributions and showcase your skills. For example:

• Created and executed a successful social media marketing campaign that increased engagement by 30%
• Managed a team of 5 interns, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity and efficiency
• Developed and presented quarterly sales reports to executive team leading to a 10% increase in revenue

B. Quantifying your achievements: Quantifying your achievements not only emphasizes the impact you made in previous roles, but also adds credibility to your experience. Use numbers and percentages to show concrete results. For example:

• Increased website traffic by 50% through SEO optimization efforts
• Successfully negotiated a $10,000 contract with a major client
• Streamlined office processes, resulting in a 25% reduction in expenses

C. Including relevant internships and volunteer work: Don’t forget to highlight any relevant internships or volunteer work that may pertain to the job you are applying for. Even if it was unpaid or a short-term position, it can still demonstrate valuable skills and experience. For example:

• Interned at a non-profit organization, assisting with event planning and fundraising initiatives
• Volunteered as a tutor for underserved youth in the community, developing strong communication and teaching skills

Showcasing your experience effectively can make all the difference in securing your first job after college. Use these tips to highlight your achievements, responsibilities, and relevant experience, and you’ll be on your way to landing your perfect job.

Using Strong Action Verbs

As a professional looking for their first job after college, your resume is your ticket to landing that dream position. To stand out from the other candidates, it is essential to use strong action verbs when describing your experiences and skills.

A. Definition of Action Verbs

Action verbs are words that express actions, such as “manage,” “analyze,” or “create.” These words convey a sense of accomplishment and demonstrate your skills and abilities. Using strong action verbs makes your resume more impactful, and helps to grab the attention of potential employers.

B. Benefits of Using Strong Action Verbs

• Make a Strong Impression:  When you use strong action verbs, you show that you are confident, capable, and actively engaged in your work or academic experiences. This helps hiring managers understand your potential and the value you would bring to their team.
• Demonstrate Value:  Action verbs allow you to show rather than tell what you have accomplished. If you can describe your experience using action verbs such as “initiated,” “organized,” or “executed,” it is much easier to demonstrate the value you can bring to a company.
• Stand Out from the Crowd:  Using strong action verbs makes your resume more engaging and memorable. It helps you to stand out from other candidates who may be using weaker or overused phrases.

C. Examples of Strong Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume

• Coordinated
• Implemented

Using these verbs, here are a few examples of strong bullet points:

• Created and implemented a new marketing campaign that resulted in a 25% increase in sales.
• Analyzed market trends and developed a comprehensive report that contributed to a company-wide strategic planning initiative.
• Organized and executed a fundraising event that raised over $10,000 for a local non-profit.

By using strong action verbs, you can create a resume that stands out and showcases your strengths and accomplishments. Remember, your resume is your first impression, so take the time to make it impactful and memorable.

Keeping it Clean and Professional

A. importance of formatting and layout.

When it comes to creating a resume that stands out, formatting and layout are just as important as the content. A well-organized and visually appealing resume can catch the attention of hiring managers and set you apart from other candidates.

To ensure your resume is clean and professional, consider the following tips:

B. Tips for Clean and Professional Design

• Use a clear and legible font, such as Arial or Times New Roman, and keep the font size between 10-12 points.
• Use bullet points to break up long paragraphs and make the information easier to read and digest.
• Keep margins consistent and use white space strategically to create a balanced layout.
• Use bold or italicized text sparingly to highlight key information.
• Proofread carefully to eliminate any spelling or grammatical errors.

By adhering to these design principles and taking the time to create a visually appealing resume, you can make a positive first impression on potential employers.

C. Avoiding Common Mistakes

While it’s important to focus on the formatting and layout of your resume, it’s also crucial to avoid some common mistakes that can detract from your professionalism:

• Don’t use unprofessional email addresses or outdated contact information
• Avoid clip art or overly decorative elements that can distract from the content.
• Don’t include irrelevant or outdated experience.
• Avoid filling your resume with industry jargon or buzzwords that may not be understood by the reader.
• Don’t try to cram too much information onto one page – white space is important for readability.

By taking the time to design a clean and professional resume and avoiding these common pitfalls, you can increase your chances of securing the first job after college.

Including Keywords

A. definition of keywords.

Keywords refer to specific words or phrases that help identify the main ideas and themes of a text. In terms of resumes, keywords are typically industry-specific terms that match the skills, qualifications, and experience required for a job.

B. Importance of Including Keywords

Applicants often wonder why they should bother with including keywords in their resumes. The answer is simple: recruiters and employers rely heavily on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort through hundreds of resumes. ATS software scans resumes for relevant keywords and phrases, making it crucial to include industry-specific jargon, skills, and qualifications to ensure that a resume stands out.

C. Examples of CV Keywords to Use on Your Resume

Technical Skills: These are essential keywords for jobs in software development, web development, and other technical roles. Keywords can include programming languages such as Python or Ruby on Rails, database management systems like MySQL, and other IT skills such as cloud computing or cybersecurity.

Leadership: If you’re applying for a management or leadership position, emphasize keywords like “team building,” “project management,” “strategic planning,” and “budget management.” Highlight any experiences that demonstrate your leadership skills.

Soft Skills: Soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork are equally important to highlight in a resume. Keywords related to these skills include “collaboration,” “interpersonal skills,” “effective communication,” and “analytical thinking.”

Academic Achievements: If you’re a recent graduate, include keywords that highlight your academic achievements such as “Dean’s List,” “Honors,” or “Scholarships.” Also, consider mentioning any relevant coursework that pertains to the position you’re applying for.

Industry-Specific Buzzwords: Keep up-to-date with industry terminologies and jargon. If it’s an advertising role that you are targeting, keywords like “media planning,” “digital marketing,” “brand strategy,” and “content creation” should be highlighted in your resume.

Including relevant keywords can increase the chances of getting noticed by hiring managers and recruiters, leading to better career opportunities. Make a list of keywords relevant to your career objectives and incorporate them into your resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. Also, remember to keep your content contextually relevant and avoid keyword stuffing, as it may prevent your resume from getting through ATS algorithms.

Getting Feedback and Revision

A. importance of getting feedback.

One of the most crucial aspects of any writing piece, including resumes, is getting feedback. This feedback can come from a variety of sources, including peers, mentors, and even potential employers. The importance of feedback lies in the different perspectives it provides, allowing for identification of potential weaknesses and areas of improvement. Getting feedback also helps in understanding what employers are looking for when it comes to hiring.

B. Revision Tips

While receiving feedback is vital, it’s how you use that feedback that truly counts. Here are some revision tips to help you elevate your resume and secure your first job after college:

Edit for clarity and concision:  Employers don’t have a lot of time to spend reading lengthy resumes. Make sure your sentences are clear and concise, and avoid unnecessary fluff.

Tailor your resume to each job application:  Employers want to see that you’ve taken the time to understand the job requirements and have highlighted relevant skills and experiences. Don’t send a generic resume for every job application.

Use bullet points to emphasize achievements:  Employers want to see what you’ve accomplished in your previous jobs or academic experiences. Use bullet points to highlight your achievements and make it easy for employers to see your value.

Proofread for errors:  Grammatical and spelling errors can be the difference between getting an interview and not. Make sure to proofread your resume carefully, preferably with the help of others, to ensure it is error-free.

Get a second opinion:  After revising and editing your resume, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion. Ask mentors, professors, or peers to review your resume and provide feedback for further improvements.

By using these tips, you can make sure your resume stands out to employers and secures your first job after college. Remember, your resume is the first impression you make, so make sure it’s a good one.

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• College Student Resumes by Role
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Writing Your College Student Resume

Companies sometimes require that entry-level candidates have experience, but how do you get experience when even entry-level jobs make it difficult to apply?

Getting that first job or internship can be the most challenging part of your career. Fortunately, as a college student, you’re in a great position to get that first break you need. Once you get your degree, you’ll have the experience employers are seeking, but until then, how can you build an effective resume or write a cover letter as a college student?

After reviewing countless  resume samples , we’ve determined what types employers want to see from college students. Furthermore, we used that knowledge to create  20 college student resume examples to help inspire your resume in 2024 .

College Student Resume Example

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Why this resume works

• This lets employers know when you can work full-time. Whatever you do, be honest. Stretching the truth won’t get you any points with employers. It’s better to be upfront and willing to learn a skill rather than try to succeed by the skin of your teeth.
• The golden rule on your college student resume is to lead with your strengths. If you’ve got a relevant internship, add it. If you’ve done any related class projects, list them. No matter what you include, make sure to highlight transferable skills.

Undergraduate Student Resume

• To impress the recruiter, demonstrate the dedication you have had in your previous posts despite minimal experience.

University Student Resume

• In that case, your university student resume can capitalize on your analytical skills, which helped identify cost-saving opportunities and cut overall expenses by six percent.

College Student No Experience Resume

• Luckily, there are a host of  resume templates  you can use to format your experience well, so long as you adjust based on your qualifications.
• For example, you can add or remove sections based on the amount of work history you have (or don’t have).
• For example, being on the club basketball team may feel irrelevant to business analysis. But by focusing on how you’ve organized practices and led a local volunteer effort, your  college student no experience resume  can point to qualities that might appeal to a thoughtful employer.

Current College Student Resume

• A reverse-chronological format is still the most accepted, but if you want to highlight your skills, try using a functional format instead.
• Adding relevant metrics shows that you know what matters to your employer and you’ve positively impacted your previous workplace.

College Student for Internship Resume

• That’s okay—you can weave in other things, like projects and part-time jobs. Of course, if you do have internship or job experience, put that at the top.
• It’s as easy as checking the  job description . Then just list your relevant abilities according to what matches the keywords listed by the employer.

College Student Assistant Medical Laboratory Technician Resume Example

• Do you have a unique interest related to science? Are you involved in a sport? Do you volunteer? All of these hobbies are great additions to your resume.
• If you’ve just graduated, you can bulk up your education section.
• Feel free to add any college awards you won and your GPA (if it’s higher than 3.5).

College Student HR Executive Assistant Resume

• As a rule of thumb, we recommend including one if you’re light on experience or are going through a substantial career change. Otherwise, leave it out in favor of work experience. 
• Good skills to include on an HR executive assistant resume are “talent acquisition,” “conflict resolution,” “legal compliance,” and “compensation/benefits.”
• An even more effective way to breathe life into your skills is to weave them into your work history or project bullet points.

College Student Case Assistant Resume

• Show off your personality using contrasting colors, classic fonts, and well-organized layouts. Our ready-to-build  resume templates  or handy  Google Docs interactive resumes  can help you keep your resume both tasteful and personable.
• If you don’t have certification, then now’s the best time to get it. Better late than never!

College Student Resident Assistant Resume

• Though an objective isn’t required, it can help employers see your skills and experience straight away.
• Just make sure to tailor it for every job you apply for by including the name of the employer, the position you’re seeking, and some matching keyword skills (that are true about you) gleaned from the  job description . 
• You also shouldn’t feel limited by your work experience. If you’ve done any relevant projects or have volunteered, include them! Employers love to see transferrable skills like collaboration, a good work ethic, and organization.

College Student Warehouse Worker Resume

• If you’re struggling to get going, consider using a  resume outline  to help you structure your experience—just don’t forget to fill out all the sections thoroughly!
• While it’s not impossible to land an excellent job without internships or experience, having some kind of work history, even in the form of projects, will allow you to be more picky and skim from the top of warehouse positions.

College Student Teacher Assistant Resume

• Adjusting formatting details, like the layout and header colors, can make your resume pop and reveal a bit about yourself. (Red and pink are bold, daring colors, while blue and green are calming.)
• Adding a  hobbies and interests section to your resume  can also help catch the eye of employers, provided you list hobbies that are relevant to the desired job, such as creative pursuits, volunteering, or research.
• Even if you’ve never had experience as a teacher assistant, you can instill confidence by demonstrating the impact of your communication skills. Did you effectively resolve an issue using negotiation? Write something that added helpful clarity? Show how you used communication to affect others positively!

College Student Biology Lab Technician Resume

• Don’t get too carried away here; after all, it’s still a resume and not a flier for a Wednesday Night Disco. But, one to two colors can be appropriate for all but the most conservative working environments. 
• Numbers can be frustrating to calculate and add to your resume, but trust us when we tell you that they make a world of difference. Hiring managers are consistently more willing to interview people with metrics on their resumes, as they convey job competence and confidence.

College Student English Tutor Resume

• Breaking up each work experience into bullet points can make your resume both easier to read (with fewer blocks of dense text) and easier to write.
• Instead of writing one big chunk of cohesive text, you can focus on pulling out as many highlights about your work history at each job as possible. 
• A project can be anything. Seriously, your final group project from that writing seminar counts, or you could highlight a blog you’ve been working on in your free time.
• Hint: Projects also make great stories to discuss on your college student cover letter .

College Application Resume

• Suppose you’re applying for a Bachelor of Arts in education. Express your passion for teaching and eagerness to advance your knowledge of education theories and practices. Even better, emphasize your long-term ambition to shape future generations through innovative education methods.

College Admission Resume

• Take a leaf from how Brian narrates his stints as a restaurant server, project presenter, and volunteer. Well-described, such experiences paint a picture of a well-rounded character who can take on varied challenges of an engineering program, enhancing their appeal in the eyes of the college admissions committee.

College Freshman Resume

• Use past projects to advantage here even if they’re only a year long. Clearly state how you used skills such as Canva and Microsoft Teams to make specific impacts during this time. Another great addition to your college freshman resume is any work experience under your belt.

College Student Academic Highlights Resume

• Say you have some work experience, but it’s not relevant to the job. That’s okay—instead of trying in vain to match the  job description , focus on transferable skills like customer service, organization, event planning, public speaking, and computer literacy.
• If you lack much work history, adding projects, coursework, or volunteer experience is the next best way to showcase your potential. You can also list your involvement in clubs, organizations, or peer mentorship.
• Write them like you’d write work experience by using active verbs and incorporating metrics (numbers).

First Year College Student Resume

• Your time contributing to a project is tangible evidence of your skills and experiences. Depending on what you include, it could showcase your communication and organizational skills or more technical abilities, like your proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Freshman College Student Resume

• Do you love gardening or nature photography? Awesome, it shows you’re inherently passionate about biology. Do you spend your time baking as well? It’s a sign that you know how to follow instructions and observe changes over time—skills that will come in handy as a lab assistant.

Related resume guides

• College Graduate
• Grad School
• Entry level

Before we dive into the difference between a  resume objective  vs. a  resume summary , let’s get some definitions out of the way:

• Resume objective : A statement of your qualifications, interests, and skills that make you a good fit for the role to which you’re applying.
• Resume summary : A summary of your past experience detailing your high-level accomplishments and projects.

When you’re applying for a job or internship as a college student, you likely won’t have extensive work experience. So, we’d recommend including a resume objective instead of a resume summary.

The goal of your resume objective is to set the stage for your resume. It should highlight your skills applicable to the job at hand, and it should be specific for each job to which you’re applying.

Most resume objectives are boring and generic. By taking the time to craft a customized and effective resume objective, you give yourself an edge over other applicants and increase your chances of getting an interview.

Before we dive into the rules for creating a strong resume objective, let’s look at some examples.

Sample college student resume objectives

• “Recent college graduate with a degree in marketing looking for a full-time role where I can utilize my experience in social media and paid advertising to help an up-and-coming brand like Club Z! Inc. spread awareness and acquire more users.”
• “Diligent college student at the University of Pittsburgh who is equally committed to academic excellence (3.8 GPA) and service (student leader at the local food shelter) looking for an opportunity at Unidos as a part-time employee to utilize these talents to improve customer satisfaction.”
• “Recent graduate with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) seeking an opportunity within an established management organization to utilize my organizational and quantitative abilities. Epic seems to have a culture of empowering employees to have ownership over their problems, and that culture fits my work style perfectly.”

You can see that all of these resume objectives specifically mention the company that the student is applying to. Tailoring is the golden rule of resume objectives.

Here are some other rules to make your objective the best it can be:

• Again, take the time to  customize your resume objective for each company to which you’re applying .
• Don’t be afraid to inject your personality. Making an impression will help you stand out among the hundreds of other applicants.
• Keep it to two to three sentences.
• Mention any relevant skills or certifications you have for the role to which you’re applying.

College Student Resume Formats

One of the hardest parts of  building your resume  as a college student is the blank page. The “getting started” part is overwhelming—you’re unsure what your resume should look like, let alone what should be in it!

When it comes to formatting your resume, the best advice is to keep it  simple . You need to convincingly make the case that you deserve an interview for the role to which you’re applying.

In short, your resume should likely contain the following sections:

• Header: This is your name and job title. Have your job title match the job title to which you’re applying.
• Resume objective: We talked about this above, a quick summary of your skills and what you’re seeking.
• Education: As a college student, this should include your anticipated graduation date, the field of study, and relevant classes.
• Skills: List six to ten technical skills relevant to your career.
• Work experience: If you have any relevant internships or part-time jobs, mention them here.
• Projects: Did you do any side projects that demonstrate your competency? Include them!

Not all of these sections need to be included in your resume.  Your resume should focus on your strengths.

If you don’t have much relevant work experience, you can omit that section in favor of discussing your projects or classwork.

However, no matter what format you choose, there are a few writing guidelines you should adhere to throughout your resume.

Formatting guidelines for your resume

• Keep your resume to one page! Your resume should only extend to a second page when you have 10+ years of experience.
• Avoid any spelling or grammar errors by double-checking your text and having a friend review your resume. Don’t let typos be the reason why you don’t get an interview.
• Break up your work experience into small, consumable bullet points. Nothing is harder to read than a big wall of text.
• Use reverse-chronological order to keep your most recent experience/projects at the top.
• Don’t include fancy images or graphics. It’s highly likely a computer will read your resume before a human ever does, and images are hard for computers to scan.
• Don’t list more than ten skills on your resume. (We’ll expand on this below.)

Skills to pay the bills

When building your skills section, it can be tempting to list any and every skill you know. You’ll have to resist this temptation.

Before a human reviews your resume, an automated system called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will score your resume based on whether or not it includes the “right” keywords. These filters are largely screening for specific skills.

Doesn’t this mean that you should include as many skills as possible to beat the ATS? Unfortunately, you need to make your resume appealing to both the ATS and a human, and nothing is a bigger red flag to a hiring manager than a candidate with a laundry list of skills!

You’re much better off focusing on  six to ten skills you’re an expert in  than including more that you kind of know. Generally, if you wouldn’t be comfortable being interviewed on a given skill, don’t include it on your resume. 

Work Experience and Projects

In any resume, no matter the career stage, your work experience and projects should take up at least 70 percent of the overall space. These will decide whether you get an interview or not.

Once you have a few years of experience, then the size of your projects section will decrease as the size of your work experience section expands.

If you have an internship relevant to the job you’re applying for, this should be listed in your “work experience” section. As a college student, your work experience can also contain any part-time jobs you had while in school, even if they don’t seem relevant to the position to which you’re applying.

It’s not easy to balance work and school, so having a part-time job demonstrates responsibility and drive.

When talking about your work experience, there are a few key tips you should follow:

• Mention the skills you demonstrated on the job.
• Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible.
• Talk specifically about your role; avoid being too general.
• Use action verbs like “owned” or “led” to highlight your leadership abilities.

Numbers truly speak louder than words, especially on your resume. By providing numerical context around your work, you show your ability to contribute meaningfully to your workplace.

Compare these two descriptions of an internship. Which do you think would be more compelling to a hiring manager?

WRONG – general work experience descriptions

Marketing Science Associates April 2020 – Current, New York NY Digital Marketing Intern

• Created testing plan for Facebook ad copy
• Built key reports for the executive team around KPIs
• Oversaw the creation of the blog for SEO purposes
• Worked closely with clients to understand their product positioning to incorporate into ad copy

RIGHT – specific, quantified descriptions

• Created A/B testing plan for Facebook ad copy, improving ROI by 15%
• Built key reports for the executive team around KPIs such as marketing spend, new leads, revenue generated, and ROI
• Oversaw the creation of the blog for SEO purposes which grew from 1,000 to 5,000 monthly organic visitors
• Worked closely with clients to understand their product positioning to incorporate into ad copy, leading to client satisfaction of 99%

Projects can be anything

If you don’t have much (or any) relevant work experience for your resume, don’t fret. You can still  create a highly effective resume  by showcasing your projects.

As a college student, you’ve likely done a lot of class projects that are relevant to the job or internship you’re looking to get. This is the perfect place to talk about those projects. You can even mention projects you completed outside of class. Talk about your goals, the methods/skills you used, and the project’s outcome.

The key is to include anything that will convince the hiring manager you have the drive, skills, and ability to translate your academic knowledge to the real world and contribute to the roles for which you’re applying.

Here are some potential projects you can work on for different majors:

Project ideas for college students

• Are you a business student? Detail a case study that you analyzed and presented in a class.
• If you’re a marketing student, you can write a short blog post about how you’d improve the paid marketing strategy for a company you admire.
• As a graphic designer, this is a great opportunity to talk about some of the projects in your portfolio.
• If you’re looking for a data analyst role, talk about how you analyzed stock data to determine areas of opportunity.
• As a human resources major, you’ve likely created processes for companies as part of a class, so talk about that.
• Software engineering students complete meaningful coding assignments all the time. Discuss one of those or talk about your side project.
• If you’re looking to break into product management, discuss a hackathon you were part of or create a case study for a feature your favorite product is missing.

Basically, the projects you include on your resume can be just about anything. They simply have to demonstrate you know what is required of the kind of role you’re applying to, and that you can meet those requirements.

Your Education Section

As a college student, it should go without saying that you need to include an education section on your resume.

Here’s what you need to include in your education section no matter what:

• The school you’re currently attending (or recently graduated from). You do not need to include your high school.
• Your graduation date (or expected graduation date). You can give just the month and year.
• The kind of degree you’re working toward (bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, master’s, etc.).
• Your field of study.

Once you include all that, there’s more flexibility. If you have a strong GPA (greater than 3.5), you should include it, too.

If you don’t have much experience yet, then you can add relevant courses or awards to your education section, provided they’re relevant to the job for which you’re applying.

For example, if you’re applying for a role as a data scientist, then it makes sense to include any math, economics, or programming classes you completed.

Here’s an example of an effective education section for a college student looking for a marketing role:

If you received any awards or honors during your time in college, list them here. These can include getting on the Dean’s List, any department-specific awards relevant to your major, or formal recognition for your work or volunteer efforts.

Resume Builder for College Students

There you have it—we’ve discussed the building blocks to help you land a job or internship as a college student!

In summary, here are the keys to making an effective resume as a college student:

• Inject your personality into your resume objective and customize it for each company to which you apply.
• Your resume format should include a header, resume objective, skills section, education, and work/ project experience.
• Include any relevant internships or part-time jobs you’ve had during college and quantify the impact of your work.
• If you don’t have much working experience, include relevant projects you’ve completed either in the classroom or on your own time.
• Your education section is your chance to highlight classes you’ve completed that will convince the hiring manager you have the right tools for the job.

Finding a job or internship as a college student can be incredibly stressful.  Building your resume  is a huge first step, so pat yourself on the back. After you’re done with the writing, you can  check your resume  against our AI-powered tips to see how your resume matches up.

Just remember, it does get easier after you get some experience first. We can’t wait to see where you’ll go!

• We’ll show you how, step-by-step • Real, practical tips and tools • 100% free

Career Advice for Job Seekers

8 resume writing tips for that second job search out of college

Whenever possible, include numbers and statistics, says McGuiness. These jump out to a recruiter and are a quick way to indicate your impact and value in previous positions. “Increased donations by 30% after implementing an annual silent auction” or “Managed a call center that received over 1,000 calls daily.”

4. Highlight certifications, training programs, stretch assignments and ongoing career or professional development

“It’s important for employers to know that you are invested in your career and are hungry to keep learning and developing,” says Eison.

If you attended a key industry conference, completed a certification or training class (whether online or in-person), reference this. For example, if you work in digital marketing and became Google AdWords Certified, or if you were trained on Adobe Experience Manager, list that. Better yet, list that with a success story/project example using those skills/programs.

In addition, recruiters are looking for candidates with great leadership skills. If you have taken on any additional responsibilities, projects or stretch assignments at your first job, you should include this on your resume.

“Companies are looking for ambitious leaders who are eager to learn and grow with their organizations,” says Eison

5. Highlight soft skills

Listing soft skills is important when writing a resume, because if a company is going to hire you, they will often train you using their own, unique processes.

“Those soft skills – like leadership, communication and team work – are harder to train, so companies want people that have those skills coming into the role,” says McGuiness.

But don’t just say you’re a “strong communicator” on your resume. Instead, show how you’re a strong communicator: “Presented quarterly earnings to senior directors and relayed their recommendations back to the team.”

Related: Communication skills factor into who gets promoted

6. Write the resume to fit the job description

“When applying for any position, at any level in your career, scan the job description and mimic frequently used keywords,” says McGuiness. “Most large employer utilize applicant tracking systems to help them sort hundreds, sometimes thousands of resumes to find the strongest candidates.”

The resumes that are a match to that job description, get noticed.

Related: Avoid common resume mistakes and stand out

7. Open with a strong summary statement

Take the guess work out of the recruiters hands and let them know what position you are interested in based on your skill sets, goals and passion, by creating a strong opening summary statement, says Eison. This isn’t a long-winded paragraph. This is short and to the point, like this:

Seeking financial analyst role where 2+ years of experience at a Fortune 100 organization will add value.

Bold the key terms, results, and language in that summary, and throughout the resume.

“Your resume will be skimmed at first, so make sure to bold your titles and other areas where you want to capture the hiring manager’s attention,” says McGuiness. “If they are intrigued, they’ll read more.”

Said Eison: “If you don’t have a clear summary, recruiters may wrongly assume the role you are applying to or they may not be able to decide where your skills would be an asset for the organization and your resume may be placed in the no pile.”

8. Proofread proofread proofread

“My biggest pet peeve is misspelled words and grammatical errors on resumes,” says Eison.

But it’s difficult to catch your own resume writing mistakes, so have a career coach, trusted colleague, roommate, significant other, or family member proofread your resume. Let’s be clear though: Asking someone (other than a career coach or recruiter whom you may know) to review your resume in terms of resume format or resume layout, is asking for trouble. Your roommate may be a great salesperson, but that doesn’t mean they are skilled at critiquing resumes. Your mom or dad be able to catch grammatical errors, but unless they work in HR, hire, recruit, or manage employees, their specialty is not “critiquing resumes” so save that for the professionals. But proofreading, that’s important. And anyone who can assist reading/reviewing the resume can catch mistakes.

Go to the last page of your resume and read it from the bottom to the top. Looking at it this way can give you another view and help provide clarity to each sentence and give one final proof for spelling, grammar, and/or formatting issues.

“The attention to detail in formatting, spelling, and grammar may seem trivial, but it can certainly make a huge difference and this may help you land an interview and ultimately getting your next job,” says Eison.

Use these resume writing tips to stand out, get noticed, and get an interview. Then in time, you’ll land that second job out of college, and continue to advance in your career.

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Related Articles

How To Build Your First Resume After College

As soon as you graduate from college, the pressure is on to start your post-studies career. However, if you don’t have any significant work experience to present, it can be stressful to make that first resume after college strong enough for employers to seriously consider.

These are the basics on how to put together your first resume after college graduation.

Don’t sweat the SAT or ACT. Take a minute to learn how we can help you with our year-round SAT prep and ACT prep courses today before they have to take either test.

Resume Basics

Start with your contact information and objective.

The first thing to include is your contact information. You should include the following:

• Phone Number
• Email Address

Don’t worry about including a home address. If you already have an established Linkedin profile, consider including that too but it’s not necessary. Give recruiters the basic information they’ll need to get ahold of you if interested.

Anything more than that is unnecessary. Your objective simply states who you are as a new professional (statement of your college degree will help) and the kind of position you are looking to obtain now.

Emphasize Your Education

Your strongest asset is your education.

Include an ‘Education’ section at the top of your resume, beneath contact information and objective. Include information like:

• Graduating College
• Graduation Date
• GPA (if exceptional)

You can also include any study abroad experiences too, so employers can see you’ve gained that kind of experience. It could help if it’s a position that requires travel.

Highlight Relevant Experience

Include any experiences you’ve gained besides academic.

Helpful examples include:

• Previous work experience
• Volunteer experience
• Internships
• School organizational leadership roles

The point is an employer can see that besides going to class, you’ve invested time in outside extracurriculars and jobs that provided you helpful life experience. A potential employer will like seeing that you’ve spent time in the real world, as well as the classroom.

Use Helpful Keywords

Mirror the job listing in your resume.

If the particular job listing you’re applying to has repeating keywords in it, then try to incorporate them into your resume. For example, if they want someone with strong Excel skills, then include a Skills section and list “Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, etc.).

You can include these keywords in:

• Your resume summary
• Relevant section headings
• Experience descriptions

Understand that the more an employer sees these words in your resume, the better chance they’ll take that extra second to review your document.

Always Edit

Don’t underestimate the power of editing.

Constantly proofread each version of your resume. Correct every spelling and grammar error. Even minor mistakes can cost you if the employer is paying close attention. Also, make sure to use a consistent format.

For example, if you’re using bullet points, make sure they are all the same color and indentation. If the spacing or bullet types fluctuate, an employer will interpret this as sloppiness.

To make things easier, after each version is edited, have a family member or career counselor look it over. They can quickly assess any major problems that need correction with fresh eyes.

List Skills And Interests

Employers want a sense of who you are as a person.

First, include any hard skills you’ve acquired during high school or college:

• Coding skills
• Software tool skills (Photoshop, Google or Microsoft Office, Marketing tools)

Don’t put down anything vague like “leadership” or “communication”. Employers will already assume you have these kinds of soft skills as a given.

Emphasize anything relevant to the position itself. If you’re applying for an online marketing job, for example, listing ‘SEO’ and ‘social media tools’ won’t hurt.

Besides skills, also list your personal interests. If you like sports and the arts, don’t be afraid to put them down. Give an employer an idea of what you like doing in your spare time because it can provide insight into your personality.

For more test strategy, college admissions, and scholarship application tips sign up for our FREE class happening right now!

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• What to Expect From Your...

What to Expect From Your First Job Out of College

8 min read · Updated on December 11, 2019

Ready to launch your career? Here's what to expect from your first job out of college.

You've graduated college — congratulations! You are now ready to enter the professional world and start building your career with your first job out of college. The prospect can be very exciting and more than a little intimidating.

Remember how big your college campus seemed when you first arrived as a freshman? You were unfamiliar with the buildings and there were a lot of new people. But by your sophomore and junior year, you had it all figured out. As a senior, you felt as comfortable at college as you did at home.

Get ready to feel like a freshman again. Your first job out of college is a foray into the unknown, but that doesn't mean you have to go into it completely blind. Here are few things you should expect from your first job after college. But first, what does "entry level" even mean?

What does “entry level” mean in terms of your first job after college?

Just like it sounds, an entry-level job is meant to get your foot in the door at a company. It may not require a lot of the specific skills that are expected of higher-level employees — it's a training ground for new employees. However, the competition can be steep, so don't assume you'll get the first job you apply for just because you have that shiny new degree. You'll need to think carefully about what you accomplished in college outside of the classroom and frame that properly on your resume. Did you have a part-time job, an internship, or work-study? Perhaps you were the leader of a campus organization. Anything that you can leverage to show that you've learned discipline and leadership skills can help give you an edge over the competition.

Now that you know what “entry level” means, here's what you should expect when you land the job.

You need to be communicative

The ability to communicate clearly and effectively both in person and in print is an essential part of most businesses. Employers look for that in candidates — especially when it comes to entry-level candidates. An applicant with a strong resume but poor communication skills may lose out to a lesser qualified candidate who knows how to get his or her point across clearly.

Why? Because the same holds true after the person is hired. In today's workforce, the ability to communicate is crucial. Whether it's person to person, in meetings, or via email, communication skills are a must-have for employees at any level. But don't just declare that you're a good communicator; employers need to see it in action.

Make note of any internships, jobs, or even hobbies that showcased your ability to communicate verbally or otherwise. Most importantly, when you are looking for that entry-level job, make sure that everything they see shows how well you communicate. Your Linkedin bio, other social media, and especially your cover letter should be interesting and clearly get your message across.

If you do all of those well, you'll set the table for a great first interview.

You won't get paid a lot

Most entry-level jobs come with entry-level pay. Think carefully before you accept a job offer. This will likely be your pay for the next year. Most employers do not negotiate or give raises after three or six months anymore. On the bright side, while it may not pay as much as you were hoping to make, it's probably a lot more than you were making in college.

Remember, it's not about this job; it's about where this first job out of college can take you. Do you know what you want to be doing in five years? Think about it because employers will ask, and they want to know that you have a plan.

Related:   How to Answer “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

You won't get the “fun” tasks

You chose your field of study with certain jobs in mind. However, those jobs are probably at the higher end of the pay scale. For your first job out of college, you will find yourself doing things that may seem menial or beneath you. There are a few reasons for this.

First, as an entry-level employee, you're at the lower end of the pay scale, therefore the lower-end tasks go to you. Secondly, and this is really important for you to realize quickly, you're being tested.

If you want to get bigger, more exciting tasks to handle at your new job, you need to knock those trivial ones out of the park. Don't just shuffle through them. Take care of your assignments and maybe even see if there is a better way to do them. When you show that you can handle these little jobs, and handle them well, you'll earn the opportunity to get cooler assignments.

You need to embrace variety

Not only will you be doing things that may seem trivial to you, but they may not be relevant to your field of study at all. This can be challenging or even frustrating, but at this stage of your career, you can do yourself a big favor by embracing these diverse tasks. Why? By engaging yourself fully in a variety of jobs, you will give yourself a chance to discover what you really like to do. Maybe what you thought you'd like isn't what you do best.

In any case, you'll want to work to the best of your ability at this first job. Even if you find out what you don't like doing, that can help you guide your career.

Your attitude matters more than ever

In college, you just needed to get your work done and done well. Once you enter the workforce, there's a lot more to it. It's not just what you do and how well it's done — it's how you do it. Do you roll your eyes when given an undesirable task? Do you pay attention in meetings, or are you zoned out or playing with your phone? Once you have a foothold on your career path, it's not just about getting the work done, it's about finding better ways to do it. Always be engaged and enthusiastic.

Does this mean you can't challenge your boss on certain things? Absolutely not. If you believe you're being treated unfairly or need a change of scenery, you need to speak up for yourself. Get your thoughts together and have a detailed argument for your points. A good boss respects an employee who is willing to speak up when they have a legitimate complaint.

You have more to worry about than just yourself now

You've grown used to being on your own and realizing that the choices you make impact your life. Once you join a new company in your new first job out of college, there's more to it. It's not just about you. The choices you make can affect those in your department or even across the whole company.

Sick days are a great example of this. They're willing to pay you not to come to work when you don't feel good. How cool is that? However, think about what will happen at work if you do call in sick. Who has to cover for you? Will they have to call someone else in on their day off? Will another worker be responsible for their own job plus yours?

You're part of a team now, and while it's okay to use sick days when you're really sick, you have to be aware of how your choices affect the rest of your team. This same mode of thinking needs to go into every work decision that you make. Your employer needs to know that they can depend on you .

Learn all you can

Just because you've finished college doesn't mean that you're done learning. If you're smart, you're just beginning. First jobs out of college come with their challenges: the pay is not great, you may not love every task assigned to you, and everything that you do will be judged.

Still, accept the challenge. Think of it as a one-year boot camp to gain entry into the career of your dreams. Don't just do the job — excel at it every day. The fastest way out of the entry-level category is to do exceptional work. In no time, you'll feel like you did as a senior in college. You'll be comfortable, happy, and in charge of your own destiny again.

Click on the following link for more advice on how to get ahead .

Will your resume help you stand out from other recent college graduates? Check with a free resume critique .

Recommended Reading:

How to Write an Entry-Level Resume for Your First Post-College Job

6 Ways to Rock Your First Entry-Level Job After Graduation

Top Entry-level Jobs for Recent College Grads

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How to Get a Job After College

When you are finishing college, you can network with other professionals and apply for entry-level jobs in your field that expand on your education, skills and any experience you gained through internships. In this article, you can learn the steps to take for getting your first job after college.

How to get a job after college

Finding your first job after college might be intimidating if you recently graduated. But be reassured, with some strategy and effort, you can launch your career with ease. 

Here are 10 tips to help you increase your chance to get your first job:

1. First, talk to the people in your personal network

Start with the people you already know. Express your interests and listen as they tell you about their professional experience. For example, any conversation with fellow students or teachers could bring you to your next step. Make a list of your interests and what you are looking for in a job. 

2. Second, create a LinkedIn profile to start a professional network

You can create a LinkedIn profile to start networking online. Even if it is a simple list of the high school you attended, your skills, your extra-curricular activities and a description of the career you look forward to. You can include summer jobs to show that you can handle responsibilities. The primary objective is to build your presence on LinkedIn and connect with as many people as possible. Keep in mind that every person you meet is a possible resource for your network, so keep in touch. If they remember you, they will think of you once a job opening pops up in their company.

3. Third, visit your university’s career center for guidance

Use the available resources from your college counselor or career center. They have experts who can help you write your cover letter, prepare your resume and practice the interview. They can provide a list of alumni working in different areas, and even some you can contact to learn about their professional experience. Take advantage of visits from individual recruiters at your college, visit career fairs on campus and other recruitment events. Participate in alumni networking programs if they are available.

You can also take a self-assessment test in your career center. The more you know yourself, the better you will target positions that suit you.

4. Fourth, start a blog or website

Start a blog about a subject of your interest. Professional topics are preferable, but if you don’t feel confident enough in the area, blog about your passion. You can also create a website with work samples. The idea is to develop an online display of your personality and knowledge.

5. Fifth, get an internship

Whether it is a paid internship or not, it a good investment for your future. It is an opportunity to discover the professional world, network and gain valuable experience. You will learn time management and communication skills. Pick your internship according to your interests in a field where you see yourself building a career. It will be an excellent way to test jobs and confirm what could suit you best. If possible, try to get an internship with a company that has brand recognition as it will stand out on your resume and open doors.

6. Sixth, find a mentor

If there is no potential mentor in your personal network, do your research on the internet. Search the name of the brand you admire and the field that interests you. Then you can send emails to all the names you find and ask for a meeting.

Reach out to alumni who work in the field of your interest and ask them if you could meet or organize a phone call so they can talk to you about their career.

If the idea of meeting people you don’t know makes you uncomfortable, be reassured. Most professionals are willing to help young students like you because they remember they were once in your position. Once you meet a person, keep in touch. If you make a good impression, they will most likely think of you once a job opens up in their company.

7. Seventh, update your resume by reviewing job postings

Adapt your resume to a job description, using the same keywords as in the job posting. Many employers use applicant tracking systems that scan the resume for keywords, so your application could be rejected if you didn’t include them.

Start your day by looking for new job postings to ensure you are one of the first applicants. Send between 20 and 30 applications per week. The more you apply, the higher the chance to get an answer.

8. Eighth, get ready for interviews

Even if you don’t have an appointment yet, you want to prepare for the interview. It will help you gain confidence and overcome the stress of that critical step towards your new career. Look up some of the most frequent interview questions and prepare your answers. 

You should also do some research about the company you applied to and their business. The employers usually ask a few questions to verify your interest. The fact that you informed yourself before meeting them is a sign of motivation.

9. Ninth, pay attention to the details

Record a well-spoken and mature message on your voicemail, clearly stating your name. Review your wardrobe and pick the right outfit for your appointment. Update your social media accounts to make sure you don’t send the wrong message to employers.

10. Tenth, stay open to each opportunity in the process

Your first job doesn’t have to be your dream job. It is an opportunity to discover the professional work environment, gain skills, discover an industry and to network. Everything you will learn in this first experience will be an asset for the future of your career. Instead of freezing at the idea that you might make the wrong choice with your first job, take the first step. Focus on what it might bring you. The importance is to pick something that interests and challenges you, something that makes you more valuable. So, keep an open mind and avoid staying stuck with one industry or job position.