6 Ways students & graduates can boost their resume before summer

The good news is that effective resume writing can make you stand out among other recent graduates. There's still plenty you can do — without needing loads of time, money, or even certainty about your career direction.

Whether you're in your final year, recently graduated, or just keen to get ahead, these simple, practical moves can help build your resume, boost your confidence, and open doors (without burning you out).

Try a micro-internship or short-term project

Not all experience comes from traditional internships; recent graduates can also gain valuable skills from other avenues. Micro-internships and short-term projects are a great way to get real-world exposure, work on something practical, and show employers that you're proactive in developing your problem-solving skills.

These gigs are often remote, flexible, and tailored to students or recent grads — and they look great on a resume, especially when highlighting leadership skills.

🧠 Why it works: Shows initiative, builds hands-on skills and gives you something solid to talk about in interviews.

👉 Check out the latest projects, internships and work experience opportunities on Ribit.

Learn one practical tool — and use it

You don't need to master five new platforms. Just pick one skill or tool that's relevant to your field (or one you're curious about), and get confident using it.

A few ideas:

• Canva → Design a resume or mock flyer
• Excel or Google Sheets → Build a basic budget or tracker
• SQL → Try a beginner tutorial and analyse a sample dataset
• Trello or Notion → Organise your uni projects or job search

🎓 Free learning platforms: LinkedIn Learning (often free through uni), Coursera, YouTube, Google Digital Garage.

💡 Pro tip: Create a small project to show you used the tool — even a screenshot or link can make your resume more credible.

Build a simple student portfolio

Portfolios aren't just for artists. Whether you're studying business, IT, education, psychology or marketing — a portfolio can help you stand out.

Include things like:

• Summarised uni projects or assignments
• Reflections on internships or volunteering
• Mock projects or case studies can provide specific examples of your technical skills.
• Personal achievements or blog posts

🗂️ A basic Google Drive folder, Notion page, or PDF is enough for effective resume writing. Keep it neat, clear, personal, and focused on your hard skills.

Ask for feedback to boost your resume from someone outside uni

You'd be surprised how helpful a fresh pair of eyes can be in refining your resume writing. Ask a mentor, tutor, sibling, or even a grad in your network to review your resume or LinkedIn profile.

Ask them:

• What's clear is that problem-solving is a vital skill that employers look for.
• What's confusing?
• What could be stronger?

🎯 Bonus points if they're in the kind of industry you're targeting — their advice could highlight what employers really care about.

Volunteer (strategically)

Volunteering doesn't have to mean months of unpaid work. Even a one-off project or a few hours a week can give you skills and stories to add to your resume.

Look for opportunities to:

• Help a club or charity with social media, admin or event planning
• Tutor a younger student or sibling
• Assist a local business with digital tasks

💬 Focus on the skill you want to build — not just the task itself. For example: "Coordinated communications for a local fundraiser" sounds stronger than "helped out at an event".

Create a job marketplace profile

Even if you're not ready to apply for roles yet, getting your profile set up now makes it easier when you are. Think of it like planting a seed — you never know what might grow from it.

It also helps you:

• See what kinds of roles are out there
• Get matched with opportunities based on your interests
• Discover internships, casual jobs, and grad roles in one place

🕐 It only takes 10 minutes, and future-you will be glad you did it.

👉 Create your free profile on Ribit here.

What employers and recruiters are looking for in new graduates

It's easy to feel like you need the perfect qualification or loads of experience to land your first job — but most employers and recruiters are looking for something much simpler: the ability to show valuable skills in a clear, confident way.

When reviewing graduate resumes, potential employers often place just as much emphasis on your soft skills as your formal education.

Here are a few key bullet points that can help your resume and showcase your skills and experience.

Communication skills

Whether it's writing a clear email, presenting a uni project, or collaborating in group work — employers want to see you can express your hard skills clearly and professionally.

Tip: Mention how you've used communication in real settings — not just "I have good communication skills", but "Presented a campaign pitch to a panel of peers and tutors".

Time management

Juggling uni, casual work, and personal projects can enhance your resume writing with diverse skills and experience. That's a skill in itself.

Tip: Use examples like meeting deadlines, balancing competing priorities, or organising an event — these show maturity and reliability.

Teamwork

Almost every job involves working with others, whether that's clients, colleagues, or external partners. Showcasing your leadership skills can be beneficial.

Tip: Think beyond group assignments. Have you worked in a café team? Helped run a uni club? Assisted in a family business? All of these count.

Employers aren't expecting you to have it all figured out — they're looking for potential, not perfection. A well-written resume and cover letter that highlights your soft skills, teamwork, and how you've made the most of your qualifications goes a long way.

Final thoughts

You don't need a fancy internship or perfect grades to get noticed. Taking small, intentional steps — like joining a project, learning a tool, or building a portfolio — can make a real difference.

And best of all? You're not behind. You're building your own path, at your own pace — and that counts for a lot.