How to build a killer resume before you graduate
Preparing for life after graduation? It might seem far off, but if you do start now, you'll have a head start on everyone else. How do you create a resume that quickly lands you a great job? Recruiter Jorn shares his insider tips with you.
Know what you want
The first step is to recognize your motivations and talents. A one-on-one conversation with a recruiter can help: they know how to find the right traineeships and can tell you what’s needed to succeed.
Internship on your resume?
An internship allows you to gain work experience in your field for a few weeks or months. You learn what a job in your industry is really like and collaborate with experienced colleagues. That looks great on your resume!
Recruiter Jorn explains that this internship should take place during your studies, not, for example, the six months after graduation.
Jorn: “Otherwise, you might as well start a traineeship right away.”

Do a board year
Should you include your part-time jobs on your resume?
Including part-time jobs on your resume is a good idea, as long as they are relevant. Your resume doesn’t need to be filled with ten different part-time jobs; it’s better to keep it short but impactful. In any case, if you’ve worked a lot during your studies, it shows that you take responsibility for your own finances.
And what about your grades...

Gaps in your resume
What recruiters pay close attention to is whether there are any so-called gaps in your resume. “I want to see the exact months and years for each activity you’ve started and completed. If it took you four years to finish a three-year bachelor’s, that’s fine, but I do want to read an explanation for it,” advises Jorn.
Such an explanation could simply be: “due to personal circumstances,” as long as it’s clear. Providing clarity is better than being vague, and it increases your chances of getting an invitation from recruiters.
Incomplete degree
The same goes for incomplete degrees. If after a year or two you realize that a degree wasn’t the right fit, it’s a good idea to include that on your resume as an explanation for a gap.
“You really don’t need to be ashamed of it,” says Jorn. “But people need to understand their situation. If you’re 27 and just graduating with your bachelor’s, you need to make it clear on your resume why it took so long and what you learned from it.”
How to include travel on your resume?

Golden tip
Find a role that truly fits you!
Check out our traineeships! Prefer a chat with a recruiter to discover what suits you? Feel free to send a message.
