Career Resources for Students Including Help With Resumes & Cover Letters

The transition from college student to graduate can be challenging, but the right career tools can make landing a job in the current market that bit easier. AI career app Kickresume shares how advanced AI tools can prepare students and help them land their first jobs.

Below is a comprehensive list of the career tools and support available for students to help them navigate a challenging job market, presented as a checklist from narrowing down possible career paths all the way to securing a job.

1. Decide what you want to do

Many students may be unsure what direction to go in after graduating, but there are lots of ways to get the ball rolling. Accessing the college career service will be a great first step, as the team is able to provide one-to-one advice, as well as running events like careers fairs.

One of the most supportive tools available for students is an AI career coach like the one offered by Kickresume. This handy feature scans your resume to identify any skills gaps that may be blocking you, potentially stalling your job hunt. An AI career coach can then provide students with resources and advice on what they can do to get the job they want.

A career map like Kickresume’s tool can also help students explore their options, as it maps out potential career options with salary ranges included. After answering a few questions and uploading their resume, students can then explore some potential job options.

2. AI resume letter and cover letter writer

To help students craft a strong resume and cover letter, AI tools like resume and cover letter writers can help students create a solid foundation for their job search. Students looking for their first job may struggle to put together an effective resume for the first time, which is where this feature can help. AI tools like these can help students form the basic outline of their resumes and cover letters, quickly and efficiently. This can help support first-time applicants in their post-graduation job search or their hunt for an internship or temporary placement.

An important thing for students to know when creating a resume is to be aware of Applicant Tracking Systems scanners (ATS scanners) that companies use to organize resumes. Students can use an ATS checker tool that allows them to create an ATS-friendly resume through optimizing it for these scanners, helping make sure their resumes won’t be filtered out, and land in the hands of a hiring manager.

Kickresume shares what a strong ATS-friendly resume should include:

• Reverse chronological order: List the most recent experience first. Students should also put their ‘Education’ section at the top, before work experience.
• One or two pages long: To keep things concise, a resume should be about 1-2 pages long.
• Snappy professional summary at the top: This section should be no longer than 5-6 short bullet points.
• Key skills section: This should include both soft skills (interpersonal skills like collaboration) and hard skills (technical skills like coding or languages).
• Bullet points and bold font: This formatting helps to keep resumes scannable and organized.

3. Personal website builder

Often, students don’t have much work experience, which makes up the bulk of a resume. Instead of experience, students usually have skills that they’ve picked up at college to use instead. This is where a personal website builder can play a big part in helping students stand out.

A personal website builder helps students showcase their skills, achievements and projects in one place, acting as a portfolio. This gives students a chance to include their college work or side projects when applying for jobs. Having an easy way to show off this work can help those with limited work experience stand out against other applicants.

4. Browsing a frequently updated blog by HR experts

One way students can get ahead when looking for a job is to browse online blogs and career related articles from HR experts. Blogs written by professionals can provide students with expertise and tips across various career topics.

Kickresume’s comprehensive career toolkit contains all of the tools above, and their premium features are available for students and teachers for free.

Peter Duris, Co-founder and CEO of Kickresume, comments

“We know how hard it can be for students to find their first job after college. Our toolkit can help support graduates who are new to the world of resume-writing and job-applying. We want to support students at every stage of their career, from deciding on which path to take to practicing for their interviews.

“We understand the transition from student to graduate can be a tricky one, which is why our all-in-one toolkit can help do the heavy lifting and offer support when you need it.”