Entry-Level Resumes: Neophytes' Keys to the Corporate World

Fresh graduates, who are about to seek employment, often believe that they do not have the edge to win the tough competition among more experienced and senior jobseekers. They think that they lack the skill and personal knowledge about the events in the corporate world, thus leading to their lack of self-confidence.

New grads, however, should not be problematic about it and instead think positively. It's better if they look for ways to outshine competitors.

One of the best ways to do this is to present an exceptional application paper. Yes, they can still get their desired jobs and enjoy a career by just crafting entry-level resumes.

To contradict what these young individuals think and feel, they should know that during this point in time, a lot of companies are looking for applicants who have just finished their tertiary schooling. Yes, this is true. While many believe that they have no place in many companies, the truth is, it is just a misconception.

Get Ready, Be Equipped

Entering the doors to a different world where one is not used to is comparable to the feeling of going to a battlefield where one is obliged to bring a weapon. With regard to job application, aspirants' weapons are their powerful resumes that aim to obtain their hiring managers' approval.

An application summary reflects the job candidate's personality. Additionally, it represents him at the time of the screening when hopefuls are called and invited for an interview. For this reason, it is important that the summary is as interesting as it can be so as to catch the attention of the hiring manager. Outstanding entry-level resumes can really make the difference and can actually help them get there.

How to Make One

Application is not all about professional experiences; rather, it is about showing someone's qualifications. And one of the best ways to establish them is by citing the core competencies or skills of the applicant.

Besides helping define one's abilities, an application squeezed with one's fundamental proficiencies helps connect applicants to appropriate jobs. Above all, these proficiencies are so much powerful for they can influence and convince a recruiter that the candidate is a talented individual.

If you've just graduated from a college or a university and been looking for a job, then, it is the right time to craft your own weapon. You can do this all by yourself. Follow these tips and pieces of advice:

Header Section.Start by introducing yourself. Indicate your name at the top portion of the paper. Make this part attractive. You may use MS Word tools and other features. But see to it that you do not decorate it excessively. Beneath your name, write your complete mailing address, contact numbers (telephone number, mobile phone number, and e-mail address).

Career Objective.As a new grad, it is expected that you write your career goal, something that says about your future plans with the company you wish to become a part of.

Know-hows.Cite all your skills. It is better if you expound on each of your competencies.

Education. Entry-level resumes are expected to highlight this portion of the application because this contains details about your academic achievements and extracurricular activities that may help you qualify for the vacant post.

Other Sections.To further establish your qualifications, cite some pieces of information pertaining to your community involvements, worthwhile activities, and affiliations.

Following these tips will surely help you combat the challenges of entering the corporate world.

Melinda Edwards works as a career consultant and has been invited in many forums and events on human resource management. She is also a time management expert who effectively performs her roles both as a career woman and a mother.

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Guidelines for Writing That Perfect Entry-Level Resume

You're a recent graduate and ready to craft your first resume. As you embark on your journey to craft the perfect resume, it becomes quickly apparent that a typical resume format for a recent graduate (or entry-level candidate) may be quite elusive. Contrary to popular opinion, there are no rigid rules for college graduates when structuring a resume.

Since each graduate has unique requirements, backgrounds and attributes - even crafting a two-page resume is no longer taboo. The rationale is quite simple: Attempting to incorporate too much content into a confined, traditional one-page resume may result in an unappealing cluttered document littered with bullets.

The importance of visual appeal

If your resume lands in a stack on the desk of a hiring manager, instinctively he will scan and gravitate to the resume that is uncluttered and visually appealing (even if it spans two pages). If the initial judgment call is "too cluttered and cumbersome to read," your hard work may be redirected to a circular bin. To err on the side of caution, if employing a second page, make certain your resume covers at least half of the second page.

Provide a glimpse of yourself

The archaic "Job Objective" has gone the way of the dinosaur. Near the top of your resume, under your contact information and branding ("Accountant," "Registered Nurse" or "Project Manager"), incorporate your "Profile" section. This paragraph is a combination of tangible and intangible characteristics that defines your unique image, differentiates you from other candidates and demonstrates your value to the organization. Each company has its own distinct set of problems that require addressing. Your profile statement is your sales pitch, which underscores how you solve these corporate issues through your leadership, technical proficiency and expertise.

Emphasize your scholastics

Your "Education" section (typically located under your profile) is your path to success. This section includes your degree, major, university, academic achievements and volunteer activities. There is absolutely no ambiguity regarding the powerful influence of scholastics when potential entry-level candidates are screened. Seize the opportunity to list honors such as the dean's list and your GPA (if over 3.0). If you participated in a study-abroad program, list it. Incorporate your core course concentration for your major. It serves to underscore the scope of your expertise and adds invaluable keywords that will improve your chances for an interview hit (especially if an Applicant Tracking System is employed).

Work experience

As a recent or pending graduate, ensure you incorporate relevant work experience. Washing floors at a local doughnut chain, although admirable, will not impress a hiring manager unless you're applying for a custodial role. Filling an "Employment Experience" section with irrelevant part-time jobs will not motivate the reader and will only compromise your immediate objective. If an internship has a direct correlation with your major, ensure it's listed on the first page under "Internships" or "Professional Experience," as opposed to "Employment Experience."

Overcome a hurdle - humility

Writing about yourself is not intended to be an easy task. Your resume is a persuasive sales document. Humility is the greatest deterrent to crafting an inspiring resume. By overcoming your humility and emphasizing your achievements, you immediately increase your success rate for a job interview. As a persuasive sales document, the sole purpose of your resume is to open the interview door. Once the door is open, the resume has performed its role.

Lenny Keitel runs Hudson Valley Resumes in Monroe, NY, a premier nationwide Resume Writing Service with a penchant for crafting compelling resumes that motivate the hiring manager through its inspirational content, clarity, and visual appeal. Contact us for a free copy of our 'Interview Tune-Up Guide'.

http://www.hudsonvalleyresumes.com/

info@hudsonvalleyresumes.com (email), (845) 782-6714 (phone/fax), (914) 782-6714 (mobile)

http://www.linkedin.com/in/lennykeitel

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Resume Cover Letter for Undergraduate Students Seeking Entry-Level Job

A resume cover letter is an important aspect of your resume document and if you are at an entry_level, it becomes a challenge to write.

So, all you freshers out there who have just walked out of their colleges, schools or universities, are you all set to start your career? So what is the next step? Yes, you got it right. Search for a suitable job. Hence, to get it, you need to write a good resume with an effective resume letter to impress the employer. So first and the primary thing to think about is what to write and how to write in the letter. When you don't have any experience in your field, it is a challenge to write the resume and letter. You need to highlight specific areas to get the job. Here smart work is indeed needed.

You can get much information on internet, or you can even seek a career expert's advice while writing your resume and letter. But if you want to write on your own, here is a little help for you. Let us focus on how to write a good resume cover letter:

• Copy the header of your resume and put it on top of your cover letter. Then add the name of the person you are referring in the organization who will be judging your cover letter. Also put the company's name and address.

• The next step to do is start the letter with a formal call like, 'Dear Ms. Jinny' and following it with the introduction paragraph. It should explain who you are and, what education you have pursued, and which position you are exactly seeking for in the organization. It should not exceed more than 3 to 4 sentences.

• Then is the body of the cover letter, which should include all your qualifications (3 to 4), which the entry_level position requires. Also tell about your accomplishments, skills relevant to the job you are seeking. You should convince through your resume cover letter that you are a perfect fit for the job.

• While concluding the letter, also show that you are keen on the job and will get in touch further with the recipient to discuss the position. Also thank her for the time and consideration that the recruiter took to review your profile. End on a note of 'Sincerely yours'. Then put your name and get the printed copy of your cover letter and sign it between your name and complimentary closure. You will for sure get the attention if you follow these steps.

I'm a commercial writer that specializes in writing and providing tips for resume cover letters and resume objectives. Check out my Concept-and page to see something new and fresh!

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The Perfect Objective Statement for That Entry-Level Job

By Jessica M Holbrook Jessica M Holbrook
Level: Platinum

Jessica Holbrook is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter. She has written more than 100 articles that are featured ...

This week a recent college graduate sent me her resume, along with this question: "How can I update my objective statement to fit this specific job?" While I appreciated her recognizing the need to customize her resume for each specific application, the best way to update an objective statement is to delete it altogether.

Even if you're looking for entry-level work, the very fact that you're applying for a particular job indicates that your objective is to acquire that job. Using your cover letter to explain why you desire this specific job will generally help your case, but adding an objective statement saying that you want the job only wastes space on your resume. Worse still, many hiring managers say one of their pet peeves is receiving resumes with objective statements that have nothing to do with the position for which they're hiring! For instance, someone submitting a resume for an educational nonprofit that says their objective is to be an optometrist.

If you've been in the workforce for a while, your experience will generally make logical sense in connection to the jobs for which you apply. If you're changing careers or looking for entry-level work, the content of your resume may be less directly relevant. Resist the temptation to tell the employer what you want. Instead, use that valuable space to summarize what you bring to the table as a candidate. Not only is this a much more effective strategy for getting your resume into the coveted interview stack, but it makes the application process much easier for you as a job seeker. Objective statements get people into trouble whenever they don't match a job description exactly-which requires the job seeker to tweak his or her objective each time they submit a resume. On the other hand, a summary statement capturing your essence as a candidate is something you can carry from resume to resume-as well as onto other media such as your LinkedIn profile or professional blog.

As you may have guessed, my response to the recent college grad was to lose her objective statement and simply sell her relevant skills. This strategy is effective no matter how long you've been in the workforce!

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com/ or call 1.800.991.5187.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_M_Holbrook

This article has been viewed 76 time(s).
Article Submitted On: December 22, 2010

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