Compiling Your Resume

myFOX Job Shop - New graduates tend to find themselves in a catch-22 situation: you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. First of all, you might have more experience than you think. Look back on anything you’ve done that relates to the positions you’re interested in—coursework, volunteer opportunities and even summer jobs. Then, showcase this past experience on your resume.

Much like snowflakes, no two resumes are alike. However, most job seekers display background into one of a few types of resumes, and the best suited for new grads are chronological and functional. Depending on your specific background, these will best highlight your strengths and downplay your limited experience.

Chronological resume

Chronological resumes are the most popular type of resume and most preferred by employers. Typically, you’ll list your work history followed by education and skills. However, as a new grad, list your education first—lead with your strong suit. Then, list your work history (consider naming this your “Professional and Academic Experience” if you include large projects or programs in this section). In addition, you will typically include a skills section, to highlight technical abilities, laboratory skills, languages, etc.

Functional resume

A functional resume focuses more on the skills you have acquired, as opposed to a list of positions you have held. Functional resumes usually highlight a few key areas of experience and list responsibilities and accomplishments for each experience area. These skill “clusters” should be specific and filled with lots of context—much like a good cream-filled doughnut! Don’t skimp.

Functional resumes are a good option for new graduates who possess little professional experience. Keep in mind that many recruiters and employers do not prefer functional resumes and they are not accepted on most online employer career pages and job sites.