College Students and Recent Grads: Include Complete Contact Info On Your Resume

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IP is over the quota

College students and recent grads: Is your resume working as hard for you as it could (and should)?

In this article let's take a look at essential contact information you need on every resume. Recently I've seen some that didn't include phone numbers, even though they did include email addresses.

Here three points of contact you should have -at minimum- on every resume, and why they're important.

1. Phone number

Your resume should always have a phone contact number. Your email isn't enough. Give a potential employer or recruiter every possible way to contact you possible. Be sure to include area code.

On your voicemail be sure to leave a professional message acknowledging the caller, and indicating a time frame by which you'll return the call. Do not leave the generic mobile phone service-provided voice mail. It doesn't confirm to the caller that they've reached the person they are looking for.

"Hi, this is Jeremy Smith. I'm not available to take your call right now, but please leave a brief message and a phone number where I can contact you. I'll return your call as quickly as possible."

Note if you are working on cross border job search:

If your number is a non-US number, be sure to include the specific country code dialing information.If you're in the US working with recruiters outside the country, be sure to include the (+1) country code in front of your US phone number.

2. Email address

Be sure to also include your professional email address. Using a school-provided email may lead employers to question how they'll get a hold of you once you leave school. Plus, as you launch your career you want to present your new professional identify with an equally professional email identity.

Get a Gmail, Yahoo, me.com or other ISP address that presents you in a professional light. Use a first name.lastname@provider.com so employers know exactly whom they're corresponding with.

Once you've got it set up, be sure to put a professional signature block that reflects your new young professional identity. Here's a suggested example for a college student in the job search. Customize for your needs.

Jackson Martin

Oregon Statue University, Class of 2012

Major in Accountancy, with Minor in Finance - 3.5 Core GPA

Voice (+1) 123-345-6789

www.linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname

3. Your LinkedIn URL

When you build a LinkedIn profile, you can generate a URL link that allows you to tell people exactly how to find you on LinkedIn. You can see how it's clear who the profile owner is.

To create your own LinkedIn Profile URL:

Log in to your account.In the upper right hand corner to the left of your name, click the drop down arrow. Select "Settings."Under Helpful Links, click "Edit your public profile."Under Your public profile URL, click "Customize Your Public Profile URL". Select your URL name and LinkedIn will advise if it's available. If your intact name is not available, use some version of your first, middle and last name.

Once you've got your LinkedIn URL, use that as an additional contact point on your resume. Because LinkedIn allows potential employers to send you messages, it provides another option for them to do so.

If you have your email and phone clearly delineated in your LinkedIn profile as well (use a Google Voice number and forward it to your phone if you don't want to publish your personal number) you won't miss any potential connections.

Find the entire video series for college students and recent grads entitled "Should You Fire Your Resume?" You can find it on our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/DegreesOfTransition. See you there!

In College? 6 Reasons to Get on LinkedIn Now

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IP is over the quota

I was recently speaking with college students who told me they hadn't built profiles on LinkedIn. I was kind of surprised, as I always am when I hear this.

When I asked why not, they said, and I quote, "No one at my school is telling me to do that."

Now I'm just going to assume they were in the lunch line when the school was telling them to do so! If you were too, here's the scoop: you need to be on LinkedIn. Here's 6 reasons why.

1. To get in the "people dictionary"

Think of LinkedIn as an online dictionary... of people.

I recently met a woman on cross-country flight. She was a life and leadership coach from Colorado. We traded cards, I looked her up on LinkedIn, looked at her profile and connected with her. Now I can easily find her on-line no matter where I am, to connect with her again.

When you are on LinkedIn people will be able to do the same with you.

LinkedIn provides profile features specifically for students and grads. Take a look on the LinkedIn site for grads and students. And then get listed in the dictionary.

2. To be found in the "people dictionary"

Did you know:

There are 300,000 people on LinkedIn who list some type of recruiting as their job title?According to a Jump Start Social Media poll 75% of hiring managers check LinkedIn to research the credentials of job candidates?

Whether you seek an internship, a summer job, or employment after graduation, having a LinkedIn profile allows you to be found in the people dictionary by others who want to know more about you.

3. To get on the "early access to talent" radar

In a recent Michigan State study Dr. Phil Gardner surveyed over 4,000 companies who hire college students. In that study he identified an emerging trend: corporations entering into partnerships with college and universities.

Why? To get early access to the best academic talent.

Of those who engage in corporate partnerships:

60% partner with career centers39% engage with selected faculty from academic programs37% engage with Deans from specific colleges

Additionally, research continues to show that internships - early and often - best qualify you for a job after graduation.

So...connect with the career center and academic staff you know. When organizations come looking for talent, you'll be on their radar. Continue building relationships with academic and career staff to broaden your network throughout your college experience.

4. To prepare for the future

One of the steps in transitioning through big life changes is to begin envisioning yourself in the future state. Prepare for the transition from college to career, by seeing yourself as a young professional.

Building a profile and getting your online presence up and running is one concrete way to do that.

5. To give yourself a voice

Many university students tell me their lack of work experience deters them from building an online profile.

The student profile suggestions I mention above should help address your concern. Even without deep experience, you can tell potential employers who you are.

Here are a few ideas once you've built your profile.

Record and post a video talking about your value proposition to employersConnect to blogs or social media posts you produce (of a professional nature of course) that reflect your point of view.Upload a PowerPoint or Prezi detailing your accomplishments, accolades, interest, or research.

Maybe you don't know exactly what you want to do when you graduate. You can still articulate the qualities that make you a great potential employee. Use your profile to tell stories about a trans-formative life experience or a key learning that affected your worldview.

6. Because you don't friend your parents on Facebook

LinkedIn is one social media stream to which your parents can be invited. You should connect with them, friends of parents, parents of friends, relatives, any work connections you already have, contacts from church, volunteer work and more.

Invite all the personal connections you already know. It's a quick and easy way to build your network. You may be surprised at what you find in your own back yard!

In conclusion

Clearly talent recruiting processes will continue to morph and change. There's discussion about Facebook opening up a recruiting pipeline. Twitter also generates a lot of recruiting action. For right now, however, it seems that LinkedIn remains the social media starting point upon which you can layer other career pursuit avenues.

We help young professionals find the confidence and stamina they need to excel in any workplace. Join us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/degreesoftransition