Yes, a strong college graduate resume that speaks about your education, skills, and extracurricular activities to the hiring managers. Today we will talk about the resume of recent college graduates using examples, similar resumes with different education, how to write your own resume, and relevant information.
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Here is a list of sample resumes and example guides to help you figure out the resume writing process from scratch. The examples below contain professional resumes with a wide variety of academic qualifications.
- Programmer Resume Guide
- IT Technician Resume Guide
- Cyber Security Resume Example
- Game Designer Resume Example
- Car Salesman Resume Guide
- Sales Associate Resume Guide
- Sales Representative Resume
- Entry-level Marketing Resume
- Community Manager Resume
- Simple Advertiser Resume
- Digital Marketing Resume
- Accounting Assistant Resume
- Tax Specialist Resume Guide
- Fundraiser Resume Examples
- Accountant Resume Guide
- Loan Officer Resume Guide
- Sample Secretary Resume
- Administrative Assistants Resume
- Administrative Coordinator Resume
- Compliance Officer Resume
Recent College Graduate Resume Example - Intern
The following college graduate resume example is of an admin intern with a relatable work background. In simple words, an entry-level college graduate resume with some experience. After that, we will discuss a college graduate resume example without relevant work background.
Recent College Graduate Resume Example - No Professional Experience
Let’s assume Tony Ruskin is a student who never indulged in a part-time job or any activity that could be considered professional work experience. In that case, what would the recent college graduate resume look like? Read below.
Sales Intern
Newark, New Jersey
+1 963-852-7410
tonyruskin@gmail.comObjective
Native English speaker with knowledge of selling household products at a local supermarket having a bachelor's degree in commerce is seeking a role as a sales associate at Allen's Groceries.
Volunteer Activity
Volunteer
Newark Community Services
2019-2021
- Volunteered in planting 1000+ saplings in the neighborhood under the program "Giving Back to Nature".
- Worked at elderly care homes every weekend to help elders with daily chores, reading, food, and personal hygiene.
- Participate in the food fest program organized by the local chapter of a famous NGO - the Helping Hands.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce
New Jersey University
Newark, New Jersey
2015-2018
Skills
- Communication skills
- Hard-working
- Creative
- Responsible
- Reliable
- Compassionate
- Puntual
- Problem-solving attitude
- English (native)
- Spanish (intermediate)
Founder/Member
Caring & Sharing Club
2016-2018
Two college graduate resume examples we concluded right now. One with internship experience and the other has volunteer experience. Okay, now here's the deal.
The resume writing process doesn't become complex if you write about internship experience or volunteer experience. A few tweaks and turns are anticipated otherwise the majority of the portion remains the same. Let's proceed with writing the college graduate resume.
How to Write the College Graduate Resume?
The resume of a recent college grad is like a cherry pie because there are no complex details to be included. Now when you make a simple and readable resume rich in information it is naturally going to attract the hiring manager's attention.
That's what we need. The total attention of the hiring manager. To do that you need to follow an outline. A sketch that defines how content in a resume will be managed and arranged at the same time. We will begin with the resume structure and then proceed with other details.
Structure of the College Graduate Resume
The structure of a college grad resume is similar to resumes that you have come across online. There are subtle variations in the resume section otherwise rest of the elements are the same.
Below is the easiest resume structure if this is the first resume that you are planning to write.
- Header (with job title)
- Resume summary/objective
- Relevant experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional details
For a completely new candidate, the summary becomes resume objective and the relevant experience will be exchanged with volunteer work history.
Format of the College Graduate Resume
Ideally, more than 85% percent of college grad resumes use the reverse chronological format where the latest details come first followed by the older ones. Even other applicants having years of experience use the reverse chronological format.
Those having employment gaps consider the functional resume format since the functional resume highlights soft skills, technical skills, transferable skills, and specific skills that are related to the job profile.
For working examples of reverse format browse our list of sample resumes given above.
Header in the College Graduate Resume
Whether you are writing an entry-level resume or an experienced one the header section remains the same without a single difference. Even our sample resume has the same details in the header segment.
Writing contact details is not a tough job but writing unprofessional or unfurnished info can keep you way behind other applicants. Additionally, job seekers don't use job title and professional email address in the header which gives an amateurish impression to prospective employers.
The examples below teach you how to write headers in resumes for entry-level position.
Good and Bad Examples of Headers in Recent College Grad Resume
Admin Intern
Newark, New Jersey
+1 963-852-7410
tonyruskin@gmail.comInternship Experience
4562 Country Villa DriveNewark, New Jersey
+1 963-852-7410
+1 741-258-3690 (tina) tony_bond007@yahoo.comRecent College Graduate Resume Summary
A professional summary aka resume summary gives the hiring manager an overview of your career goals and the professional achievements that you have earned so far. But that's possible only when you are writing real-time industry experience and not some volunteer work.
To write a compelling resume summary always read the job description and see what the hiring managers are looking for in an applicant. Read the examples below.
Good and Bad Examples of Recent College Grad Resume Summary
Recent College Graduate Resume Objective
Resume objectives are for those without substantial or necessary industry experience. Hence, when you don't have one what will you write in the career objective statement?
Here are the details that you can use to frame resume objectives. For example, relevant coursework, relevant internships, academic awards, college education, and relevant skills. Professional achievements won't be part of the resume objective. Refer to the examples below to write a career objective for an entry-level position.
Good and Bad Examples of College Grad Resume Objective
Job Experience in Recent College Graduate Resume
Entry-level positions generally skip writing experience because they have none. But when you have an intern or a part-time work history then mentioning them is worthwhile to make the hiring managers trust you. One more thing, refer to the job ad published by the employer to use keywords. The examples below explain how you must write it.
Good and Bad Examples of Job Experience in College Grad Resume
Alison Trading Co.
Newark, New Jersey
2019-2021
- Attending phone calls, making notes of customers’ queries, converting hand-written notes into digital documents, and forwarding them to the concerned person.
- Taking notes of meetings held in-house with vendors, and customers.
- Assisting the manager to prepare trading reports and sending them to senior management for further rectification and authorization.
- Maintained incoming and outgoing stock register, appropriately filed bills receivables and payables year-wise for auditors for tax purposes.
Alison Trading Co.
Newark, New Jersey
2019-2021
- Attending phone calls of customers.
- Taking in-house meeting notes.
- Assisting the manager to prepare reports.
- Maintained incoming and outgoing registers.
Education Section in Recent College Graduate Resume
The education section is similar to writing the header of a resume. No complications and no buzz while writing both of them. Just one tip to write the education section - mention the highest degree. Sometimes the degree course is still in the process and the candidate begins the job search.
In that case, write the expected graduation date. Yes, you can do that. Our resume experts recommend doing this for many entry-level positions for students.
See the examples below or refer to the college graduate resume example written in the beginning.
Good and Bad Examples of Education in College Grad Resume
New Jersey University
Newark, New Jersey
2015-2018
New Jersey
Graduation Date 2018Skills Section in Recent College Graduate Resume
The general notion with writing the skills section is that we consider soft skills as key skills leaving behind a lot on the table. Soft skills are undoubtedly part of the resume but mentioning technical skills in bullet points will be more impactful. See below how skills can be written in the resumes of a recent graduate.
Good and Bad Examples of Skills Section in College Grad Resume
- Served as an admin staff support
- Efficient in making travel arrangements
- Competent in managing office calendar
- Knowledge of scheduling appointments
- Ability to type 48 words per minute
- Supportive
- Efficient
- Office calendar
- Appointments
- Typing
Additional Details in A Recent College Graduate Resume
Languages, certificates, awards, and college club activities can be part of the resume. Job candidates can even include a personal blog link immaterial of the fan following it has accumulated. Describe every single detail under a separate header using bullet points. All these elements make the resume interesting. Refer to the examples below.
Good and Bad Examples of Additional Details in College Graduate Resume
- English (native)
- Spanish (intermediate)
- Admin Internship Completion Certificate
- Speed Typing Champ (48 WPM)
Business & Economics
2016-2018
- English and Spanish
- Admin Internship Completion Certificate
- Speed Typing Champ (48 WPM)
- Founder/Member, Caring & Sharing Club, 2016-2018
List of Words to Include in the Resume of a Recent Graduate
The list below is not eternal however it will help you to write an engaging resume that will impress hiring managers and pass the applicant tracking system. Here it is.
- Relevant coursework
- Academic excellence
- Relevant internships
- Academic awards
- College education
- Relevant skills
- College career goals
- College years
- Critical thinking
- Key skills
- Key accomplishments
- Recent graduate
- Extracurricular activities
- Education bachelor
Frequently Asked Questions
A college graduate resume template is a readymade (sometimes custom-made) online document with designs, format, and structure. In other words, a template is a resume ready design in which a user fills details.
It depends on the employers whether they have specifically asked for a cover letter in the email or job description. Unless you have clear instructions - yes you must send a cover letter with the resume.