So you’ve recently graduated from college and are seeking your first post-grad job. First of all, congratulations! Now is the time to ensure your resume is in a good spot before submitting job applications. In this blog, we’ll break down the purpose of resumes, the most common mistakes when creating a resume, the format you should follow and how to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for.

The purpose of resumes

Think about your resume as a “snapshot” of you that provides recruiters and hiring managers with a summary of your skills, abilities and accomplishments. The intent is to capture and emphasize your capabilities and interests, but most importantly, to secure a job interview. So, how can you make your resume stand out? 

First, you’ll need to make sure that you’re avoiding these common mistakes.

It should go without saying, be certain that you’re using correct tenses, punctuation and avoiding spelling errors. If you have grammatical mistakes on your resume, your likelihood of getting an interview opportunity is slim to none.

Another common mistake is not effectively articulating transferable skills from previous jobs and roles. If the recruiter or hiring manager reviewing your resume doesn’t understand the value you have to offer (or thinks your skills don’t apply to the job listing), then how can you expect them to invite you to an interview? 

To fix this, we suggest the following:

• Start by writing out your skills in the simplest way possible 

• Try to align your wording to relate to the job description

• Adjust and tailor the wording to each job listing that you apply for 

While it is tedious, it’s a great way to stand out among other applicants—don’t fret just yet though, we’ll cover this later on.

The last common mistake we’ll touch on? Listing ALL of your job experiences on your resume. As an example, let’s say you’re applying for a digital marketing role. Do you really need to include your experiences as a dog walker or babysitter? Probably not. Be sure to only include previous job experiences that are applicable to the position you’re applying for. 

When crafting your resume, make sure you follow this format to ensure it creates a strong first impression: 

• Maintain around 20-30% white space for clarity and readability 

• Organize your sections, including Education and Work Experience (in any order), and optionally, either Skills or Certifications (this can also be called a Projects or Highlights of Qualifications section)

• Omit sections like Objective/Goal and Personal Interests

Remember that consistency is key in formatting: 

• Keep everything either left-aligned or right-aligned 

• Use a professional font like Arial or Calibri at 11pt or larger (never use Times New Roman) 

Make your bullet points impactful by starting with dynamic action verbs: 

• Use present tense for your current role

• Ensure flawless grammar, spelling and consistent past tense for previous roles

• Keep your resume to one page as a recent graduate (two pages are for those with 10+ years of experience)

Tell a compelling story with your resume. Each bullet should follow Action → Result → Significance to show its value. Include role-relevant keywords and positive qualities like teamwork and leadership while avoiding excessive corporate jargon.

Lastly, incorporate metrics to showcase achievements with clarity. Use numbers like "managed $XX budget" or "achieved YY% year-over-year growth," providing context for understanding.

Your resume shouldn’t just list your experiences—it should also show why you would be a good fit for the role. To do this, check the job description of the position you’re applying for and make a list of the specific skills, experience and certifications they are seeking. 

Once you’ve done this, now is the time to check your resume: 

• Each bullet point should show why you are a great fit for the role 

• Use the same language as the job description

If so, you’re in a great position to hear back from recruiters or hiring managers.

By following our recommendations listed above, your resume should be ready to be seen by the hiring world! A well-crafted resume is one of the keys to opening doors in your career journey, as it’s not just a document, but a reflection of your skills, experiences and areas of expertise. 

As you continue your path of perfecting your resume, keep in mind that it should be an evolving document that grows alongside you and your professional career. Continue to refine it, seek feedback from mentors, family and friends and adapt it to the unique job listings you pursue. 

We wish you the best of luck on your job search, and may your resume help you seize the career opportunities that lie ahead! 

Through the power of peer connections, COOP’s program has propelled thousands of underemployed college grads into career success. Within 12 months of program completion, four-in-five COOP alumni are fully employed, earning an average of $50,000 per year. 

Learn more about how COOP can help you build the skills and connections you need for the career you deserve.

Fill out an interest form today to learn more about the COOP program.