How to Write a Winning Entry-Level Resume if You Lack Job Experience

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How to Write a Winning Entry-Level Resume if You Lack Job Experience

Entry-Level Resume Tips

Writing a resume can be challenging, at the best of times, but if your job experience is slim, it can seem overwhelming. If you’ve recently graduated, you may feel lost in the entire process. But even with limited on-the-job experience, you can still create a dynamic entry-level resume that will make a dramatic first impression. Check out these simple ways to make your resume stand out, despite your lack of job experience.

Fonts Matter

Resist the urge to flex your artistic muscles when it comes to creating a winning resume. The font you choose is the first thing your new employer sees, make it count! Pick a font that aligns professionally with your chosen field or industry. Standard business-appropriate fonts include Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri. You may decide on another font selection, and that’s fine, so long as it isn’t too trendy or casual. Typically resumes are done in a 10-point size.

Contact Info

It’s a good plan of action to make your name a few point sizes larger than the rest of your resume, making it stand out; use bold. Don’t forget to include your email address, phone number, and your LinkedIn Profile. A physical street address isn’t a ‘must-have,’ so if you’re running out of space, you can leave it out. Keep an eye on the overall design of your resume, making sure your contact info doesn’t chew up valuable top-of-the-page space!

Email Address

A word about email address choices: they matter. A professional email address, such as janesmith789@gmail.com is much more likely to attract a recruiter than WassupDude@hotmail.com. Casual email addresses are perfect for social sites, but keep them off of the resume.

Career Objective

Objectives are really only appropriate if you write them for a particular position or career path. For example, if your career objective states, ‘Seeking social media intern role for Summer, 2016,’ you’re helping the recruiter determine whether you’re a good fit for the position in question. However, if your career objective is more along the lines of, ‘Seeking full-time employment in an organization where I can build on my education,’ you’re wasting space.

Education

Education is important on an entry-level resume, especially if you’re a recent grad. Be sure to include your education at the top of your resume. Include your GPA if you scored higher than 3.3 and don’t forget to include any pertinent coursework.

Experience

The experience section is where you can document any volunteering, internships, or other outside-the-classroom activities relevant to the vacancy. Check out the job posting and look at the top three or four required skills. Now it’s your turn to think of what you’ve accomplished or experienced that demonstrates you have that talent!

Skills & Abilities

Detailing your software, hardware or mechanical talents can be a great way to stand out from the crowd! Do you speak more than one language? Are you a whiz at coding? Do you create spreadsheets better than anyone else you know? Think about what you can you do, that the competition can’t.

Proofread

Don’t loose out on a great job because of omitted spaces or different dash sizes. Print out your resume and check it. Try reading it out loud – you’ll be surprised how many errors you can catch that way.

In a Nutshell

Make your entry-level resume count. Remember that the person who will be reading your resume is busy. A well-built resume will grab their attention, and keep them interested enough to read all the way to the end.

Do you need help crafting a winning resume? Have you recently graduated and now you’re ready to start searching for your first job? Let the talented professionals at Top Notch Personnel help you to stand apart from the competition.

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