Why You Need a Resume

Best College Resumes

Most college students utter an audible grunt the first time the "resume reality" hits them: "Uugghhh. I gotta do that resume thing." Do you really need a resume? Yes, you really need a resume. It will not get you the job, but you will not get the job without it. Anyone who tells you that you do not need a resume is out of touch with the entry level job market. Do not depend on it to magically produce the job offer for you, but know that anytime you make a serious job contact (including networking and interviews, both on campus and off), your resume will be a requirement.

Do not procrastinate on this important activity. College students often tend to wait until a resume is required before developing theirs. Then it is often cranked out with just the basics in hopes that it will free them to go on to the more important steps. But if you properly understand the purpose of the resume and where it fits into the entry level hiring process, you will see that it requires a great deal more thought and preparation than just "cranking it out" one evening after class.

Your college resume is a professional reflection of you as the potential product. Professional resume, professional product. Poor resume, poor product. Take the time to develop your resume as the very best reflection of you.

A New Perspective on Resumes

From the perspective of the employer, your resume is your initial marketing brochure. Nothing more and nothing less. Once you view the resume from a marketing perspective, you are on your way toward developing one that is more effective. It cannot "make the sale" any more than a marketing brochure can sell you a car—there still has to be a look under the hood, a chance to kick the tires and the test drive. But if the marketing brochure is effective, you are already sold on the car before you enter the showroom. The same holds true for college resumes.