When it comes to resume must-haves there does seem to be a consensus. Here’s what I found after looking into the best resume must haves as a young professional:
Top must-haves on your resume as a young professional: 1) Keywords from the job description 2) Adding your LinkedIn address to your resume 3) Having a professional email listed 4) Putting your anticipated graduation date instead of enrollment date 5) Adding your website portfolio 6) Having metrics and other measurables listed.
Let’s look into what these resume must haves as a young professional in more detail.
1. Keywords from the job description
When submitting your resume online, most companies are some type of resume reading program. These programs are called applicant tracking systems (ATS). These systems are looking for keywords and other indicators that demonstrate your relatability to the position being applied to. So, if you put certain words from the job description into your resume it can help your resume more easily get noticed by the system.
2. Add your LinkedIn address to your resume
Adding your LinkedIn address is the new personal address but way more important. Linking your LinkedIn profile on your resume is a must for college students and young professionals today. If a company likes your resume and wants to learn more about you, you have given them the method to find out more and contact you directly. Now, this step does assume that you have a LinkedIn profile. If you don’t, be sure to make one. It’s free and can be your tool for learning about the careers and industries of interest to you.
Check out my article titled “How to Network More As A Young Adult” to learn more about how LinkedIn can help you. Note that you should put this address somewhere easily noticeable – I put mine right below my name with my email.
3. Have your email on your resume
Your email is a necessity in the workplace of today. It needs to be on your resume, easily noticeable, and preferably, easy to remember.
Additionally, be sure that the email you add to your resume is presentable. So, no powerrangermaster@gmail.com. Let that be your junk email, not the one that you use in the professional world. Keep the professional email simple. If you have a unique name, just make the email your name.
If you have a more generic name like me, we have to get a little more creative. You can add a meaningful number combination at the end of your name or a middle initial. Just remember you want your professional email to be easy to remember and of course professional.
Also, a tip just to provide some consistency in your professional profile, use the same email on your LinkedIn and resume.
4. Put Your Anticipated Graduation Date
It is best to put your anticipated graduation date rather than your enrollment date. When adding your graduation date be sure to put both the month and the year. Now, depending on how you have your resume set up you could abbreviate the month.
If you do abbreviate, be sure to follow that style throughout the whole resume. When you begin to list your work and internship experience, you would need to also abbreviate the months in those sections as well.
5. Add your professional website if you are a creator or artist
Show off your portfolio! Why wouldn’t you? Be sure to leave an address where your projects and achievements can be seen. Friends in the creative arena say that a personal website is a must-have for them. If you are looking to find a way to create your own website to showcase your portfolio there are plenty of affordable website creators out there.
Check around and see which of them best fits your needs and your budget. It could be a very important investment for you, as you grow your portfolio.
6. Have metrics and other measurables
Your resume is a short document that advocates for you. In order to properly advocate, you must be able to properly detail the type of impact you have had. You should find every way possible to quantify your impact in past positions. Phrases like “increases overall sales by %” or “created x amount of software solutions” give the reviewer an idea of your ability to add value. Think of what you brought to the table in your past positions and see if you can find data to use in your resume. Solid, metrics and measurables are a must. Do not miss out on the opportunity to explicitly show your impact and potential.
Putting It All Together
Making sure to have these items on your resume is key to depicting a full picture of yourself as a qualified applicant. As a recap, always find a way to use keywords from the job description in your resume. Have your LinkedIn address and professional email address in an easily noticeable location – preferably right under your name. Put your anticipated graduation date instead of your enrollment date. If you are a creator of some kind, be sure to add your website address where your portfolio can be seen.
Lastly, have metrics and other measurables on your resume. This shows the impact you have and gives the reviewer some idea of your potential. Good luck in your application process and best of luck to you on your Adulting Starts Here journey!
Best of luck adulting!
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