A lot of college graduates don’t know how to write a resume. Larry Polhill has seen it time and time again: a graduate with the brains to be the next director of investors at APFC, or the president of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), but not idea on how to sell themselves on paper. He hopes, therefore, that the following information will help with this.
Larry Polhill on Resume Development
A resume is something that tells employers who you are, what you have done, and why you are great. It is a tool used by you to sell yourself. This is why you need to write your CV in a way that is interesting and engaging. Essentially, you want prospective employers to buy into the idea of you.
Not having a lot of experience doesn’t have to be a real problem. It is expected that someone fresh out of college hasn’t worked much yet. However, if you have done any work, for instance in college, as part of an internship, or as a volunteer, then make sure this is included on your CV. Do also relate how your experience links to the skills the company wants to see in their applicants.
Larry Polhill believes graduates must see their resume as a piece of a puzzle. It should fit exactly into the spot that is available within the organization that they have applied for. It must, therefore, demonstrate how you fit in with the requirements they have set. You can use your cover letter for this, highlighting that you understand what they are looking for, and that you are the person they need.
Because you are unlikely to have a lot of experience yet, you also have to make sure that you highlight any accomplishments you have had. It doesn’t matter whether those were professional, academic, or personal. Anything that shows you are good at what you do, that you have taken an initiative, or that you have been successful, is important.
Do remember that your resume has to be factual. The old saying that “everybody lies on their CV” is absolutely not true, and you will get found out. If you are hired for a position based on lies, it will eventually become clear that you didn’t tell the truth. This is likely to not just cost you your job, but also to leave you with a bad mark on a record permanently. Word gets around, even if you don’t have to supply references.
Larry Polhill believes there are a few more key elements of importance to remember. Those include:
- To write a resume on good quality, clean paper.
- To make sure there are no grammar or spelling mistakes.
- To try to fit a resume on two pages.
- To put identifying information and personal statement on the first half of the first page.
Even graduates with no professional experience can write a good resume and use that to find a job after graduation.