So you’ve listened to some sound advice, got some work experience and recognized that you do have something to give from your college activities. Now here the things to stay away from:

· Don’t lie on your resume. Apart from being unethical, you will get found out. Either you’ll lose the job right up front and get blackballed through the industry (these people all know one another) or, if you do slip it by and get hired, a untimely disclosure can be devastating to your budding career, resulting in disciplinary action or even dismissal.

· Don’t let your resume let you down. Looking for the perfect graduation gift? Ask a relative to pay for a professional to write your resume as a graduation present. A good resume writer will help you make the most of the experience you have and will at least ensure that the document will be free from spelling and grammatical mistakes.

· Don’t forget to network after graduation. At college, networking events come to your doorstep but once you’re out in the real world it takes some effort. Keep in touch with your former classmates. Even better, keep in touch with people who graduated the year before to find out the secrets of their success. One of the best ways to keep in touch is via social networking sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook; however, remember to keep your profile professional-looking and non-controversial. Don’t put anything on the sites that you don’t want a potential employer to see.

These are tried and true techniques. Send me the techniques that have worked for you.