Review of Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads

The book starts from scratch, assuming that you may not know what talents to list or what job to target. It defines hard skills, soft skills, and always valuable skills so that the new college grad can understand what skills apply to any job market and what skills are specific to the job you are applying for.

While it does go over cover letters, the majority of the book features different resume formats and examples of resumes for specific industries. For example, #79 is geared toward a Communications or Human Relations Major applying for a leadership position. Resume #8 and #9 are for a college graduate with experience in Technical Support.

Sample resumes are divided by degree so that you can easily find common ingredients for the resume of a Bachelor's Degree student versus a Master's Degree or Associate's Degree student. It also groups together specific fields like Marketing, Education, and Engineering. At the beginning of each section, there is a chart which lists every resume in that chapter. Each chart shows the resume number, the college degree and major, and what position is being applied for. In the 2003 edition, page 55 contains the chart for Associates Degrees, page 86 shows the Bachelor's Degree listings, and page 150 details resumes for Advanced Degrees (MA, JD, or MD).

Reading this, you might assume that Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads is relevant only for college students, but that is not the case. This book is valuable for applicants seeking a career change because it shows how you can utilize coursework, volunteer experience, and other skills in place of specific work experience. With this book, you can learn how to gracefully present these facts without drawing too much attention to your work history.

What I love about this book is that it shows how you can go beyond a computer generated resume template to something that will catch the eye and make reading simpler. You'll see examples of how to use a two column resume, place graphics for effect, and change the order and placement of your headings. Just because your resume appears in black and white does not mean it has to be boring. I found that a new two column format made my resume much easier to follow and gave me a professional appearance.

If you are just graduating from college, if you are changing your career path, or you just want inspiration for new ways to organize your resume, Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads is a terrific investment!