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

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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!

How to Contact Potential Employers

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"Know How to make Cold Calls and why they work.

Why cold call?

Very few people like cold calling, and resultingly, very few people actually do it. However, a clever cold call to a targeted employer can quite simply be an extremely fast and effective way of getting the job you want.

It can knock months off your job search. Most people apply only for jobs they see advertised, along with hundreds of other people each day. Instead of waiting weeks to hear if you have secured an interview, this method can get you an interview and job offer in a matter of days.

Why does cold calling work?

It shows top levels of initiative, drive, motivation, and confidence- crucial skills virtually all employers look for in potential employees, across any sector. Future bosses will admire and respect anyone who has the bravery to call them. You stand out from all the other applicants who don't call up but merely wait for the company to advertise.

This job search method has been much researched and thoroughly proven to be highly effective. (This is how all those recruitment agencies get their vacancies).

How to cold call

Make a list of companies to call; search internet job sites for the hundreds of Companies advertising; search online business directories for Company listings in your sector.

Do your preparation. Know what you want to say before you pick up the phone. Research the company and be able to say why you want to work specifically for them - what is it about them that makes them successful, what is their mission statement and philosophy. You can usually find all the information you need from a quick search of their website.

Speak to the right person. You need to get through to the Boss. It doesn't have to be the CEO, but try to speak to the Manager of the department you would work for, who will be the decision maker. Don't ask for Personnel, they rarely take speculative calls. Try to research his/her name - look on the company website, LinkedIn, Facebook. If you are not able to get through to them (and it's unlikely with the first attempt) try to get a good time to call them back.

Know your Resume inside and out - have it in front of you when you make your calls. Be ready to answer any questions about your work history and skills.

Write a script if you feel it would help you, that way you will never be caught out off guard by possible questions. Prepare your opening line. Keep it short and to the point. You really have the first 30 seconds to explain why you are calling and get their attention. Don't ask if there are any vacancies. Introduce yourself, and tell them about your experience in the job you would like to do for them- in a couple of sentences only. Then ask if you would be able to pop in and see them for a "quick chat" which "would only take 5 minutes". The objective here is to really try to get that quick face to face meeting. With the over reliance of Personnel asking for all applications to be online, this may not always be possible, however smaller companies do tend to be more flexible and open to the suggestion than perhaps the multinational organizations.

Make calls when you are in the most positive frame of mind. Smile when you are talking, people recognise that, even if you do feel nervous. Feeling nervous and scared of making that call is natural -even top sales people have their off days when they dread making those calls.

For further information and advice, visit http://jobseekeremploymentadvice.com/