GRADUATING COLLEGE STUDENTS

Although you may not have a lot of work experience, make the most of what you have, especially any experience related to what you want to do. Bookkeeping, for example, is valuable experience for an accounting major. It’s not the same as accounting, but it is excellent, practical experience and is recognized as such by employers. A forestry major would emphasize any work with a timber company, even if it was only menial summer work.

As a recent or soon‑to‑be graduate, you have four things to sell: your education, your personality and character, related work experience, and work experience in general. If you have little or no related work experience, most of your resume will be devoted to revealing your personality, character, and work ethic. Employers need to sense the type of employee you will be. College graduates typically remain with their first employers for less than two years, so it’s fair for employers to seek those who will quickly contribute to the organization.

Make the most out of whatever work experience you have. Internships and jobs where you’ve had a high level of responsibility, are particularly valuable. In John Etter’s sample resume on page 149, only one job was actually described because its value was so much greater than the other summer jobs. You, on the other hand, may want to describe each of your summer jobs. Do your best to identify a result in each one. It doesn’t have to be big, after all, it was a part-time or temporary job.

Look for ways to reveal your personal qualities. Citing offices held in high school and college reveals leadership and responsibility. Lettering in sports indicates learning the value of teamwork and cooperation. Excellent grades indicate discipline and intellectual capacity. Participation in debate and theater can reveal speaking ability, quick thinking, and willingness to take risks. Participating in school committees and organizations reveals responsibility, willingness to put out a little extra, and loyalty.

The qualifications section of a resume is an excellent place to describe and call attention to some of the qualities you want an employer to know about, as the example below demonstrates.

OBJECTIVE: Mathematics/Statistics

QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent training in math and statistics.

Maintain excellent relations with supervisors. Always a valued employee. Loyal, cooperative, and easy to work with.

Work well under pressure, learn quickly, hard working.

You may have noticed that none of these statements was backed up with facts. The student who wrote this statement picked qualities which she knows to be true about herself; she is more than ready to give details or examples during an interview. Carefully select the qualities you mention. Be sure they are accurate—don’t pick them just because they sound good. You may get an interview as a result, but you’ll never get the job unless the “you” in person matches the “you” on paper.

Most graduates should expect to write a one‑page resume, but a two page resume is certainly acceptable. Students who earn more than 50% of their total college and living expenses or who are willing to relocate, should consider stating it in the resume. These items may be stated in the following way:

PERSONAL

Earned 60% of college expenses

Willing to relocate

Offices held while in college should nearly always be mentioned. If you’re proud of some of your results, describe those results rather than merely listing the offices you held.

Class projects are often worth mentioning in a special projects or education section. Perhaps you were in a group with business students who developed a marketing plan for a small company or in a group of industrial engineering students who solved an actual manufacturing problem. Below is a special projects section by a student who was very active on campus:

Planned and organized the University of Puget Sound 1999 Spring Parents Weekend and set a new record for attendance. Arranged programs and activities, obtained speakers, made hotel arrangements, ordered food, and headed up a four-person committee. Increased attendance 20% over the previous year. Evaluations by parents indicated it was the best organized program since its inception in 1977.

Published the first Parents Association Newsletter which was sent to 3,500 parents of UPS students. The first two editions were well-received and the newsletter has become an official school publication, published three times each year.

Training and Development Times

JOHN ETTER

Current Address Permanent Address

426 Harris Hall 1227 Pineway N.W.

Burlington, Vermont 05401 Ascutney, Vermont 05030

(802) 795-2631 (802) 683-2796

OBJECTIVE: Entry-Level Training and Development Position

QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent program development skills. Developed new intramural programs and increased participation by women 220%.

Strong research and writing ability. Published an article in the Vermont Historical Society Quarterly.

Speak well before the public. Won numerous debate tournaments and placed fifth in the 1999 national tournament.

Cooperate well with supervisors; reliable and responsible; work hard and complete projects on schedule.

EDUCATION

B.A. - History, University of Vermont, will graduate June 2000 (3.6 GPA)

Business Courses: History of 20th Century Business, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics

PUBLICATIONS

“Effects of the Abolition Movement in Burlington, Vermont 1826 to 1866”

Vermont Historical Society Quarterly, January 2000 edition

AWARDS

“Outstanding History Senior” selected by the History Faculty (2000)

Fifth place, national debate tournament, extemporaneous speaking (1999)

EMPLOYMENT

University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 9/97 to Present

Director of Intramural Sports - Planned, staffed, and organized the intramural sports program. Working with a tight budget, assessed equipment needs, received bids from sporting goods suppliers, and purchased sports equipment. Supervised two assistants and recruited and supervised dozens of volunteers. Developed a new concept in women’s athletics and actively promoted the program. Participation by women grew from 20% in previous years to 76%. Maintained the high participation rate in the men’s program and organized a successful basketball refereeing clinic.

Summer Employment:

Records Clerk, Stephenson Steel, Ascutney, Vermont 6/98 to 9/98

Mail Sorter, U.S. Postal Service, Ascutney, Vermont 6/97 to 9/97

Laborer, Isaacson Contracting, Ascutney, Vermont 6/96 to 9/96

Farm Worker, John Tyler, Ascutney, Vermont 6/95 to 9/95

College Graduate Times

POLLY GLADSON

275 S. Pine Blvd.

Henniker, New Hampshire

(603) 971‑2653

OBJECTIVE: Entry level accounting position with a CPA firm.

QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent college training and on‑the‑job experience. Have worked closely with a CPA firm and helped prepare taxes. Prepared documents for an IRS audit. Have practical business experience handling all bookkeeping functions at a busy restaurant.

EDUCATION

B.A. ‑ Accounting, New England College, 3.21 GPA (June, 2000)

EXPERIENCE

Gulliver’s Restaurant, Henniker, New Hampshire (1/94 to Present, full time)

Waitress (2/99 to Present). Provide outstanding service and consistently receive the highest tips among the restaurant staff. Highly professional.

Bookkeeper (4/95 to 2/99). Responsible for accounts receivable, reconciling charge slips, payroll, balancing five registers, recovering on bad checks, reconciling petty cash and inventorying bar supplies monthly. Monitored costs by preparing monthly reports comparing gross sales to labor costs for each department.

Worked closely with accountant and prepared figures as requested. Each year helped auditor track and reconcile all financial transactions. A 1995 IRS audit stated the books were very complete and accurate. Highly respected and trusted ‑ had full access to safe and every part of restaurant.

Podium Hostess (1/94 to 4/95). Redesigned the reservation system which significantly improved service to customers. Developed excellent relations with customers and helped create a loyal clientele. Trained seating hostesses in all facets of the job.

Village Inn, Henniker, New Hampshire (6/92 to 1/94, full time)

Hostess/Waitress ‑ Greeted and seated customers, opened and closed the restaurant, and prepared the registers each day.

ACTIVITIES

Member, American Society of Women Accountants

Active in jazz dancing and dog obedience training