Finally, you graduated! Four to five years of hard work and sleepless nights finally paid off. And now that you are off to find a job, you realize it’s not as easy as it looks. You need to prepare documents, an application letter, and the perfect resume to get you the job.
And while you know how to make a resume, as a fresh IT graduate, you lack the right professional experience for your dream job. But did you know that you can create a compelling and strong resume that will help you get the job you want?
Likewise, this article will teach you how to write a resume for a job with no experience and five (5) resume tips for fresh IT graduates.
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Why Is a Resume Important?
A resume is a document that contains all the information about the applicant’s qualifications and credentials. It summarizes your work experience, education, skills, and accomplishments.
The resume is usually the first thing a recruiter looks at when they want to recruit someone for a job. It is the first impression you give to an employer, and it can make or break your chances of getting a job.
Likewise, it is essential because it can make or break the chances of getting interviewed. In addition, a good resume will highlight your strengths and showcase the value you can bring to an organization. Moreover, a well-crafted resume will help you stand out from the crowd of candidates applying for jobs.
5 Tips in Making Your Resume
It is essential to know how to make a resume for the first job. It should be concise and highlight the most critical information about you to make it easy for employers to understand. Here are five tips on how to write a simple resume.
Tip #1 – Write A Professional Summary or A Career Objective
One of the most important resume tips for fresh IT graduates is adding a professional summary or career objectives.
While a summary in a resume is best for professionals with experience, fresh graduates can also use it in their resumes. Adding this section can help you highlight your most relevant experience to the job.
You can emphasize any training you received in your education, volunteer experiences, organization involvement, or an internship or apprenticeship.
Below is a sample Professional Summary for IT professionals.
“I am a flexible and accountable graduate of computer science, seeking an entry-level position in development or IT. I have previously interned with ABC Company, working closely with Senior Web Developer and Team Lead in implementing website changes and detecting issues in client’s websites.”
However, as a fresh graduate, you have little to no experience. So instead of adding a summary, you can include a career objective. Its primary purpose is to get the recruiters’ attention and see if your goal is aligned with the job you are applying for and the company.
Ensure your knowledge, skills, and abilities that will match the job description. Mention your degree and the most vital traits you can provide.
Below is a sample career objective for Fresh Graduates looking for a digital marketing job.
“I am a creative and motivated marketing graduate looking for a job in digital marketing. I can offer my extensive knowledge and ideas in marketing program, techniques, new trends, and extraordinary communication skills.”
Tip #2 – Add Sections That Will Highlight Your Capabilities
An easy-to-navigate resume should be your main focus when creating one. While adding all experiences and skills you can think of, it’s essential to keep it clean and consistent. Likewise, one most crucial vital resume tips for fresh IT graduates is keeping in mind the things you put in your resume.
Here are some of the most important details your resume should have. e
- Name and contact information – This part is probably an essential section you need to include. Your resume should have your name, location, and contact information (mobile number & email address. Place this information on the top of your document. You can also include your online portfolio, website, or social media accounts such as LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.
- Educations – While most resumes start with work experience, a fresh graduate resume should begin with the highest educational attainment. If you are applying for a level entry job, usually, recruiters will look at your degree and see if it is relevant to the job. To add your academic qualifications, start with the latest one. Write down your degree, university, and year of graduation. You can also mention your GPA and relevant courses to the job. If you have written a thesis, this is also worth mentioning.
- Experiences – If you have extracurricular activities, it is worth mentioning in your job. Write down your internship, part-time jobs, volunteer experiences, etc. Mention what you have contributed to the company or project.
- Certifications and Licenses – While both are not necessities, you can also include any certificates or professional licenses you acquired. For example, if you are a marketing major, you can consist of any Digital Marketing Certification that you might think is necessary for the job.
Tip #3 – Include top skills relevant to the job you are applying
According to CareerBuilder, 63% of recruiters want to receive resumes tailored to vacant positions. Likewise, 10% of these applications result from interviewing invites, and out of those invited to an interview, 20% are offered the job.
Likewise, one of the top resume tips for fresh IT graduates is to include top skills that they have that are relevant to the job. Since you are a new graduate, you probably do not have any professional skills yet. Just include any skills you learned through your course or internship,
For best results, go through the job description and look for the job competencies. Match your skills with their requirements. However, do not simply write down what they are looking for. Make sure you are capable of doing these things you provided.
Here are some examples of skills for a junior web developer.
- Basic understanding of web design and development principles
- Good planning and decision-making skills.
- Strong communication skills
- Experience in using WordPress and implementation of Web Pages
Tip #4 – Highlight job-specific experiences
Employers look for candidates with a diverse set of skills and experiences. So, they are more likely to hire someone who has a wide range of job-specific experiences. And while you don’t have a full-time experience as a fresh graduate, you can highlight key experiences to show that you have the skills and qualifications they are looking for.
Here are a few things that can establish your qualifications:
- Conferences, courses, and certificates
- Student organizations, clubs, or networks
- Publications and awards
- Volunteer Experience
- Personal Projects
Tip #5 – Pick the correct type of resume
Finally, the last and final resume tips for fresh IT graduates is picking the correct type of resume. Resumes can come in different formats and kinds. You need to select the best one that will shell out your skills, accomplishments, and experiences. Here is the most common one that works well with fresh graduates.
- Chronological Resume – This type of resume lists all your details (academics, experiences, etc.) in chronological order from the most recent to the past. This resume is excellent for highlighting the most pertinent information right on the top.
- Functional Resume – This type of resume is focused on showcasing your skills over your details. It can help you list down the most prominent skills relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Hybrid Resume – This resume is a mixture of both chronological and functional resumes. It lists down your superior experiences while having a section that highlights your skills.
Ready to Apply for IT Jobs?
And that’s it. You are probably ready to ace that resume writing and apply for new jobs by now. Make sure to include an application letter along with your latest professional photo with your resume. You can also include any portfolio you have along with your references.
Make sure to visit our Career Page! And get hired for your dream IT job!
Pamela is a full-time content writer and a lifelong Philomath. Her previous experience as a research analyst made her passionate about traveling the world and understanding how it works. During her day off, you can often find her indoors, writing stories or oil painting.
