Future-Proof Your Career: 5 Game-Changing Gen Z Skills You Can Build To Make Your Resume Irresistible

Getting a job after college is like trying to win the lotto. You're all like "Hey, I need a job!" and they hit you with "Yeah, sure, just give us 5 years of experience and a unicorn."

And even if you do apply, you find yourself going up against a bazillion other applicants who also have zero experience but somehow snagged a Pulitzer Prize. Like, what even? And don't even start about industries like music and filmmaking. Getting a job there is like searching for a needle in a stack of hay. 

But as discouraging as it is - it’s important to not let that bring you down! You know the motto, "if at first you don't succeed, apply, apply, apply." 

Now, you may be thinking - okay, but what do you mean by Gen Z skills?

When it comes to resumes, Gen Zers have some legit skills to offer that don't immediately seem obvious for a resume. First off, growing up in a digital era made all of Gen Z tech wizards. Social media, apps, software? You can figure all things tech out in no time. Plus, growing up in a fast-changing world, adaptability and problem-solving skills are sort of innate, aren’t they? 

And get this—Gen Z is the most diverse generation EVER. That means there’s going to be a whole range of perspectives, experiences, and cultural knowledge in the minds of younger generations than any other generation before them. Not afraid of speaking up, standing up for beliefs, making genuine collaborations, and uplifting leaders, sounds like you already, doesn't it? 

But that’s not all, the constant upskilling and striving to be the best in whatever you do attitude, truly sets the Gen Zers apart. In fact, a LinkedIn survey shows that 62% of Zers prioritize hard skills when considering job offers. So, yeah, you are a pretty practical deal.

So keeping all that in mind, make sure to showcase the Gen Z-specific skills you've got. Trust us, most big companies get tonnes of job applications a day and applicants with unique skills immediately shine brighter. That TikTok engagement you get? Those fancy edits you learned how to make? Those are all valuable! So don't be scared to flaunt your quirky, out-of-the-box talents. They might just be what lands you that much-anticipated interview.

Say ‘Yes’ to Being a Creator

Okay, so picture this: you're sitting in front of your laptop, staring at your boring old resume. You're thinking, "How can I make this thing stand out?" Well, we've got the answer for you: start flexing your creative muscles online so you can put an "online creator" tag under your skills section.

Now, you might be thinking, "What the heck does that even mean?" Well, let us introduce you to Emily Zugay. She's a total boss who loves poking fun at big brand logos and making hilarious redesigns. And guess what? Her stuff is so good that even Windows had to take notice.

Emily did her thing and put her own spin on the four-paned blue window-shaped logo, replacing the squares with a photo of her own face. And you know what? Microsoft loved it so much that they put it up in one of their stores in New York and even made a TikTok about it. How cool is that? 

And here's the thing—you don't even have to be a graphics wizard like Emily to be a creator. You can dabble in anything from photography, and content editing to whatever it is that you like! The key is to showcase your work in a creative way and tell your story in a way that sets you apart from the rest of the job-seeking pack.

And here's the kicker—being a creator can actually make you more employable. According to Indeed, 'creativity’ is one of the most in-demand soft skills for 2023.

So, our advice to you? Don't be afraid to bring out that creative ingenuity within you and put "online creator" on your resume. Who knows? You might just be the next Emily Zugay, taking the world by storm with your wacky redesigns and hilarious content.

Leverage Your Greek Life

Bet you didn't think joining a sorority or fraternity could actually boost your resume, did you? But we're not kidding! It can give your job hunt that extra edge and make you stand out from the competition.

Don't believe us? Check out Indeed's article on how to flaunt your Greek creds on your resume. We promise it's legit.

So, what makes being part of a Greek org so resume-worthy? For starters, if you took any leadership position up and served your full term - you displayed a ridiculously valuable soft skill. Any guesses? Yes, leadership! Then, depending on the role - you developed even more skills like handling finances (treasurer/exchequer), event planning (social chair), and project management (multiple positions!) All of that? Worth bragging about on your resume! 

Networking is also huge in Greek life. You have a massive network of alumni and current members who can connect you to job opportunities and other pros in your field. You can even showcase your networking and management chops by sharing how you planned household events and built solid relationships in your sorority or fraternity.

By the way, leadership and management skills are very much still in high demand, even in 2023, according to LinkedIn. So, don't be shy about shouting out your Greek life experience in job interviews. Highlight the skills you gained and give the interviewers examples of you building them, and just like that, you're the dream employee they're looking for.

Socials, Socials, Socials!

Do you know how hiring managers are media geeks who always check out your social media? Well, get this - a whopping 67% of them will snoop around your online footprint before hiring you. And if you're trying to be a social media manager, copywriter, content creator, or any related gig and you’ve added your skills on your socials, it's a total flex to include your handles on your resume. Show 'em you can walk the walk and talk the talk.

And if you're an artist or designer, you gotta have an online portfolio. It's like your digital resume. So, make sure to link it on your resume. You wanna make it easy for the hiring managers to review your work!

Non-creatives can leverage socials too! Just use your social media to show off your professional expertise, regardless of what it is you're doing or talking about. There is always a market for it. Yup, you can post relevant stuff about your industry to promote your insider knowledge. Plus, it lets hiring managers see how you present and if you fit in with the company culture.

Here's the best part - you can totally control what hiring managers see online. So, use your resume to guide their gaze to your best profiles. It's like having a cheat code to get the job. According to CareerBuilder, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates. So, step up your game and secure that bag!

Master the One Skill Unique to YOU

We're not just talking about any regular skill for your resume, we're talking about the special sauce that makes you shine brighter than the rest.

Now, we hear ya, "Where's the proof?" There's this developer named Cat McGee who spilled the beans about a guy who put "googling" as a skill on his CV. And guess what? It blew UP because that very thing got him an interview.

So, here's the deal, if you wanna snag that dream job, you gotta be top-notch at something that sets you apart. Why settle for basic when you could be the next big thing? We're talkin' about that elite 1% mindset! Your excellence could take you places you never imagined. So, get out there, find a groove, and own it.

For example, Former Fresh Prints Campus Manager Wisaam took a very non-traditional route to his dream job of consulting. While all of his peers were doing traditional investment banking and consulting internships, Wisaam focused on building his own custom apparel business at NYU.

Fast-forward to his job interviews, Wisaam told us, "‘I was already coming in with a lot of the right experience but it all came from a background that interviewers weren’t used to hearing about.’ and just like that - he was one of the most interesting interviews the recruiters had taken and he landed the consulting job of his dreams with ease.

Initiatives Go a Long Way

Ready to show off your passion projects? Then listen up, we're talking side hustles now.

We all know that building sick websites and apps in our free time can set us apart on our resumes. And let's be honest, who doesn't want to impress those HR recruiters, right? But how do we pick the right projects to showcase and present them in a way that'll make them say "This is it!"?

First off, your interests need to jive with your career goals. So, when you're writing that revolutionary resume, make sure you shout out all the skills you've picked up from your hobbies and passions. 

Then, you have to make sure you write it so it'll sell. Use the C.A.R approach: Challenge, Actions, and Results. Basically, talk about what obstacles you faced (Challenge), what you did to crush it (Actions), and the awesome outcomes (Results). HR peeps are genuinely busy so if you follow the C.A.R approach to neatly hype up your side hustles and passion projects, you'll be closer to landing that interview.

Trust us, it's not just some BS, statistics show that employers are way more likely to hire someone with a diverse skill set. Plus, who wants to work a boring job that doesn't let you showcase your personality? Not us.

There you have it! Those are the 5 things college students and fresh graduates can do right now to build a resume that's too good to pass on.

And, if you're all about starting your resume… but don't know exactly where to begin with your resume draft? Don't worry, cause we got you covered with 5 proven fresh grad resume tips that are bound to get you hired.

All the best!