7 steps new grads can take to help their résumé stand out

Layoffs and hiring freezes turned the September Surge into more of a blip this year, and recent graduates are now vying for entry-level positions with people who’ve already been in the workforce for a while. As a result, it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd.

“With the way that companies evaluate talent, experience is a big gating criteria for access to employment,” says Josh Millet, CEO of Criteria, an HR tech services provider. “When you’re just out of college, you don’t have much experience on your résumé.”

Since résumés are at the heart of the hiring process, having one that’s on the shorter side can make competing against more experienced candidates a challenge. To help your résumé stand out, follow these seven tips:

1. Tailor Every Résumé

“One of the biggest mistakes I see new grads make is sending the same résumé to every job,” says Marissa Morrison, vice president of people at the job search site ZipRecruiter.

Instead, Morrison advises that new grads customize their résumé for each application, by highlighting your skills and experiences. “This targeted approach increases your chances of getting through an applicant tracking system and catching a recruiter’s eye,” she says.

Millet says new grads can often determine the skills that are in demand by closely reading job ads and descriptions. Many will focus on the core skills needed in the job. “Customizing your résumé through attention to the actual skills in the job description is a really great way to ensure that you’re highlighting the skills that are relevant for that role or that employer,” he says.

2. Add a Skills Section

The good news for grads is that skills-based hiring is accelerating. The trend is helping companies fill their talent gaps by focusing on someone’s skills over their education and experience.

“Employers are starting to focus a little less on experience and a little less on a degree,” says Millet. “Skills-based hiring argues against experience requirements that are somewhat arbitrary, especially for entry level type roles. That’s a good trend for people who are early career.”

With AI tools being used to review résumés, Millet recommends that recent grads include a section on their résumés labeled “skills,” listing both hard and soft skills. “This is very machine friendly and a good way to get noticed,” he says. “Appeal to that system as much as you can by making sure you list your skills in a comprehensive way.”

It’s also important to think beyond the classroom when highlighting your skills, adds Marc Cenedella, founder of Ladders, Inc., a job site focusing on jobs that pay more than $100,000 per year.

“Most employers want employees with some AI knowledge, even in non-tech fields,” he says. “AI technology is moving so quickly that educators can’t keep up. It’s up to the graduate to show prospective employers that they stay up-to-date with the latest tech independently.”

Cenedella says you can set yourself apart from other applicants by practicing with AI tools in your free time or by taking an online course to get a certification.

3. Include College Experiences

Companies like to take a multi-dimensional view of candidates, especially those who have relatively little job experience on their résumé, says Millet. One way a candidate can stand out is to emphasize the soft skills they acquired through means such as clubs, extracurriculars, sports, and Greek organizations.

For example, maybe you were treasurer of your sorority, a teaching assistant in a class in your major, or even a mascot for your school’s team. College experiences like those likely taught you skills such as organization and leadership.

“Some employers do not think Gen Z applicants are workplace-ready in terms of soft skills,” says Millet. “Make it clear that you’ve worked in team settings and thrived in those group settings. If you don’t have much actual job experience, you have to emphasize what you do have. Whether it’s organizations or volunteering, always look at it from a skills lens, because some of those skills are transferable.”

4. Don’t Forget High School Jobs

In the absence of an employment history, it can help to include jobs you took while going to school, such as working in a fast-food restaurant. “Some is better than none when it comes to employment history,” says Millet.

Highlight the transferable skills you acquired while on these jobs, says Morrison, focusing on skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability.

“Transferable skills can often be just as important as specific experiences, as they demonstrate your ability to contribute to a team and adapt to new challenges,” she says.

5. Highlight the Value You Brought

In a tight job market, new grads need to quantify their value to a potential employer instead of simply listing their on-campus activities, says Cenedella.

“They must demonstrate how their experience could benefit an employer,” he says. “For example, don’t say, ‘Served as community service club treasurer.’ Instead say, ‘Increased community service club donations 15% by implementing a new AI tool to help identify likely donors.’”

Make sure your résumé includes data. Cenedella recommends using this formula for any accomplishment: [Impressive metric] + [How I did it].

6. Act Fast

According to Morrison, the largest percentage of new jobs are posted on ZipRecruiter on Tuesdays, making it the ideal day to be on the lookout for new roles. What’s more, she says some companies receive hundreds of résumés within a day or two of posting.

“Try to apply within the first 48 hours,” says Morrison. “If you wait too long, your résumé is more likely to get lost in the shuffle of applicants. Even worse, if it’s a popular role, a company may close it as soon as they reach a certain threshold of applicants, so you could miss out on the application opportunity altogether.”

7. Leverage Your Connections

Once you’ve submitted your résumé, take additional steps to stand out. Don’t be afraid to tap into your network. Check LinkedIn to see if you’re connected to anyone in the company in which you applied. If not, look for a second- or third-degree connection who might be willing to help.

“People are typically eager to help those who are first starting in their career, and making a connection is an easy way for them to support your journey,” says Morrison. “Don’t forget to send a follow up note to those who’ve helped you.”

Standing out means taking the time to tailor your application and looking for a warm connection who can help get the right eyes on your résumé. The added effort could put you at the top of a hiring manager’s list by demonstrating your enthusiasm for the role and the work it takes to get it.