Entry Level Resume Questions and Answers

If you're a college graduate or looking to change careers, you might have a hard time writing your resume. Most resume-writing resources are targeted at people with years of experience and multiple certifications. As you work on your entry level resume, you may come across some challenges. Here are a few common resume questions and their answers

How Many Pages Should I Have?

Most resume resources will tell you that resumes should be one page long. However, this isn't a hard and fast rule. Even though you might not have years of industry experience, you might have enough details to make your resume two pages or more.

If possible, try to limit your resume to one page. You don't need to include information about a project you did in sixth grade, nor do you need to include every short-term job you had. But you should take the time to think about what's relevant. If you have enough relevant education or experience, you may need to add an extra page to your resume.

One way to find out if your resume is too long or short is to have a friend read it along with the job listing. Is there anything on the resume that seems irrelevant? Did you make a strong case for yourself? According to the feedback, shorten or lengthen your resume.

Where Should I Put My Education?

If you're a college student or a new graduate, you should place your education section at the start of your resume. But, if you spent most of your time doing related internships and work, you may want to put the experience section first.

This is because the first section plays a major role in the hiring decision. Typically, the first thing an employer reads is what they remember most. Furthermore, a hiring manager might not ever read past the first section. It's in your best interest to start off your resume with the strongest section.

When it comes to writing a resume, you need to rely on your judgment. Write the resume in two different ways, and then compare them. Which looks better and is the most convincing? As an entry level job candidate, it's more important than ever to position your sections carefully.

Should I Include My GPA?

If you've been out of school for 20 years, your GPA isn't necessarily relevant. But, as a recent graduate, you should consider including your GPA somewhere on your resume. Anything above 3.0 out of 4.0 adds value to your resume.

If you have a low GPA, you should consider using your cumulative GPA or using your GPA from the last few semesters. Although you should never lie on your resume, there are ways of changing your GPA in a way that highlights your education.

What Addresses Should I Include?

If you lived in a college dorm, you may be wondering if you should include that address on your resume. The best way to handle addresses is to include the address an employer will find you. If your housing is uncertain, consider using the address of a local family member or your PO Box.

When you're uncertain, you can include both your school and permanent address. As long as the prospective employer can get a hold of you, there shouldn't be a problem.

What Should I Put on My Resume to Make Up for No Experience?

If you don't have much experience in the industry or even in general, you can use other things to compensate. A part-time gig from high school counts as experience because you gained soft skills. Other things, like a foreign language study or a research project, also substitute for experience.

Take some time to think about what employers might hope to see instead of direct experience. For Instance, you might have a unique certification or excellent customer service. Think about extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities, and make note of the skills you obtained.

Should I Only Use Paid Experience?

If you read the answer to the question above, you probably realize that it's acceptable to include unpaid experience on your resume. Even if you aren't paid for an internship or volunteer opportunity, it may deserve a place on your resume.

Prospective employers care more about your skills and abilities than your previous pay. So, those two years you spent volunteering might hold as much weight as an actual paying job. Don't shy away from including unpaid experience on your resume.

What About Pre-College Information?

Under most circumstances, employers don't want to know what happened before college. But this doesn't mean that there's never a reason to include pre-college information on your resume. If you did something noteworthy in high school, include it on your resume.

What is worth mentioning from your teen years? If you won a national award or accomplished something incredible, include it on your resume. Meanwhile, you should avoid mentioning something common, such as scoring well on an exam.

As with everything else on your resume, you should make sure your pre-college information belongs. It should be relevant to the job and noteworthy. If a detail doesn't meet either qualification, then it doesn't belong on your resume.

How Can You Make Your Resume Stand Out?

Even with the answers given above, you might have concerns about your resume. After all, you may be one of the only job applicants with such limited experience. The job hunt can be intimidating for those with no experience.

Fortunately, there are ways to make your resume stand out. You can tailor it to the job listing by ensuring that all your descriptions and skills are directly applicable to the job. As you write your resume, think of buzzwords and specific job duties. Incorporate them as much as possible without keyword stuffing.

If you have a well-thought out and well-written resume, you can improve your chances of a job offer. An employer might overlook your limited experience and make you a top candidate.