If you’re on track to meet your graduation goal, congratulations! Finishing trade school and starting a career in the trade of your choice requires hard work—and a polished resume. At Apex Technical School, our job placement assistance team helps you learn how to create a resume you can send to companies as you prepare to pursue an entry-level position. To help you get started, we’ve listed four elements you can add to your new graduate resume.
Education
As you learn how to write a resume, it’s important to accurately and professionally represent yourself. Provide details about where you attended school, including high school and trade or technical school. It’s helpful to cite the dates you attended school because this shows hiring managers the time you’ve spent learning new knowledge and hands-on technical skills.
Part-Time Employment
Many students work part-time while they attend trade school. Plus, learning a trade part time is an excellent way to start a new career without putting your personal life on hold. If you have prior work experience, consider listing the following details on your new graduate resume:
- Company or organization name
- Location (city and state)
- Dates of employment
- 4–5 job responsibilities
Experience
You’ve worked hard acquiring new skills in the classroom and shop, so include your technical experience with pride. For example, students training for the plumbing trade can include their knowledge of hand and power tools, pipefitting skills and more. Unlike a college graduate’s resume, your vocational resume showcases hands-on learning experiences.
Soft Skills
What are soft skills and how are they different from hands-on technical skills? Soft skills such as personality traits and communication abilities characterize how you approach a job and find success in your work. Incorporate relevant soft skills on your vocational resume, such as:
- Work ethic
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Decision-making
Most employers look for soft skills in job candidates because they prove you have the ability to make decisions, solve problems and create professional relationships with coworkers.
For more help creating your vocational resume, contact our Job Placement Assistance team.
