No Work Experience, No Problem:
12 Tips to Help You Create a Strong Résumé for Your First Job Search
By Peter K. Studner, author of Super Job Search IV: The Complete Manual for Job
Seekers & Career Changers (Jamenair Ltd., 2015, ISBN: 978-0-938667-06-3,
$26.95, www.SuperJobSearch.com)
Maybe you've had a few summer jobs, or worked part-time while attending college. Or perhaps you've never received a paycheck at all! Whatever the case may be, you're preparing to search for your first "real" job and aren't sure where to start when it comes to preparing a résumé. After all, you don't have the kind of experience or employment history you're sure employers are looking for.
That's okay, says Peter Studner. As the economy continues to improve, more and more employers are looking to hire college grads, and they'll understand that you're just starting out. That said, there are still some résumé dos and don'ts that will help you highlight your abilities and stand out from the competition.
Here, Studner shares 12 things to keep in mind while preparing your résumé:
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Overall, your résumé should emphasize your initiative, leadership skills, and ability to work as part of a team. Highlight any activity that shows originality, drive, or an enterprising spirit. Were you in school government? Did you spearhead your church's volunteer effort? Did you start a social media blitz to publicize your friend's band?
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Although it is not the norm for experienced workers to include sports in their résumé, you may want to do so if the sport required teamwork, if you excelled, or if you achieved something that demands special dedication and tenacity, such as completing a marathon. Without past job experience, these activities can give potential employers a more complete picture of you.
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If possible, include examples of your good character in the form of community service or volunteer activities.
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Don't include political or religious affiliations or involvement with controversial organizations such as PETA or the NRA.
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Since you don't have work experience in your targeted field, showcase "skills" on your résumé instead of "accomplishments." For example:
o Fully knowledgeable in programming using Java
o Created a website (provide the URL)
o Completed with honors five years of Spanish language study; fully bilingual, written and spoken
o Successfully completed coursework and two case study problems on refinancing a $20 million company
o Organized from scratch the sale and rental of sailboats at Marina del Rey in the summer of 2013. It netted $27,300 in just 60 days.
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If you are replying to an advertisement, make sure that you address the requirements of the job. In other words, the résumé you send to each potential employer should be unique and targeted. Generic responses are the weakest.
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Don't use abbreviations or acronyms if there is any chance that your reader will not understand them.
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Try to be original. Avoid overused terms such as "highly motivated" or "results oriented." People's eyes tend to glaze over when they read those words for the thousandth time. The more specific you can be when describing your style or accomplishments, the sharper a portrait you will paint for your reader.
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Avoid exaggerations and flowery terms. If you assert that you are a "super salesperson" or "highly knowledgeable," you must have the accomplishments to back up your claims.
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You may be tempted to "pad" your résumé in order to mask your lack of experience—but resist the urge to include inconsequential data. The résumé should include only enough information to provoke the reader's interest; any more only loads it down and can actually do more harm than good.
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Make it easy for people to contact you: Include your home phone (if you have one), cell phone, and e-mail address.
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Include working eligibility information if you are not a citizen.
For more information on creating a strong résumé, including tips and sample résumés, refer to Super Job Search IV.
