No job experience? No problem!
We have received a lot of messages from candidates and prospective clients concerned about not being able to write a resume when they have no job experience. This is always a tough one because most employers want you to have experience when you apply for a job. But, here's the conundrum: how do you get experience if no one will hire you?
Note/Disclaimer: we acknowledge that when making a career transition you can also find yourself in a situation where you don’t have experience related to the job. This can also be difficult. We will write a separate segment on this. For the purpose of this blog we will focus only on junior candidates or new grads. However, these are tips that can help everyone no matter your level.
Here are some things that you can do to create an epic resume even if you have no experience that will get you interviews!
1. Review the job postings. Before you apply, have a very careful look at the job postings that you are going to apply for. See if they have flexibility and welcome new applicants with 0–2 years experience. This range is a sweet spot for candidates who have little to no work experience. Additionally, see if there’s anything in the Job Description that say that the particular company is open to train or if they are looking for "a fast learner."
2. Choose the right resume format. Choosing a resume format that will focus on your education, extra curricular activities, and volunteer experience is crucial. This will make up for the lack of work experience if properly laid out.
3. Create a strong Profile Summary that is convincing and says why you are the right person for the job.
4. Volunteer and include this experience on your resume. Everyone loves a volunteer! Volunteer experience also shows that you are collaborative, communicative, committed, passionate (about something) and responsible - all qualities that employers look for!
5. Target your resume to match keywords in the Job Posting and try to find as many parallels as possible with your transferrable skills.
6. Don't forget to highlight your education and your GPA along with related courses that you excelled in. This would be a great place for you to highlight any projects that you may have worked on in school (if you are a new graduate).
