Layoffs and hiring freezes turned the September Surge into more of a blip this year, and recent graduates are now vying for entry-level positions with people who’ve already been in the workforce for a while. As a result, it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd.
“With the way that companies evaluate talent, experience is a big gating criteria for access to employment,” says Josh Millet, CEO of Criteria, an HR tech services provider. “When you’re just out of college, you don’t have much experience on your résumé.”
Since résumés are at the heart of the hiring process, having one that’s on the shorter side can make competing against more experienced candidates a challenge. To help your résumé stand out, follow these seven tips:
1. Tailor Every Résumé
“One of the biggest mistakes I see new grads make is sending the same résumé to every job,” says Marissa Morrison, vice president of people at the job search site ZipRecruiter.
Instead, Morrison advises that new grads customize their résumé for each application, by highlighting your skills and experiences. “This targeted approach increases your chances of getting through an applicant tracking system and catching a recruiter’s eye,” she says.
Millet says new grads can often determine the skills that are in demand by closely reading job ads and descriptions. Many will focus on the core skills needed in the job. “Customizing your résumé through attention to the actual skills in the job description is a really great way to ensure that you’re highlighting the skills that are relevant for that role or that employer,” he says.
2. Add a Skills Section
The good news for grads is that skills-based hiring is accelerating. The trend is helping companies fill their talent gaps by focusing on someone’s skills over their education and experience.