Applying for a job and entering the workforce is a challenge for anyone. But students with no work history have an even harder challenge ahead of them. With no references and no career on which to base their application, it might seem impossible to get your foot in the door. Fortunately, the right resume and a strategic approach to landing a job can assist first-time workers. From highlighting your skills to referencing your education and community activities, a well-phrased resume can conquer any job-history hurdles in your path.
Keep it Professional
No matter your work history, a resume must be professional. Jokes and casual language will turn off any potential employer. Follow these tips to keep your resume professional and attractive to potential employers:
Don’t lie: Making up experience is worse than not having any.
Use an easy-to-read font (maybe the same one you use for term papers) no smaller than 10-point.
Space is your friend: A potential employer would rather read a resume that is well spaced and easy to scan. Large blocks of black text can be hard on the eyes.
Keep your resume at one page – with your experience, an employer will think you’re padding your skills if it’s longer than a page.
Make yourself available: In your contact information, include your address and phone number as well as your e-mail address. Use a professional e-mail, such as Tom.Smith@university.edu, and not something like “tommyboy@email.com” that could be a turnoff to a potential employer.
Check your spelling and have a friend look it over: Nothing ruins a resume more than a spelling error or an incorrect word. Avoid trusting spell check on your word processing program – misuse of the words “role” or “roll” won’t be picked up by the system.
Save your resume simply and professionally with a name such as “Smith_Resume.doc,” as it’s likely that you will be e-mailing the document to potential employers.
Follow up with the company after sending the resume. You’d be surprised how few applicants actually call to inquire about the job status, and doing so will send a message that you are indeed interested in the job.
Use Your Words
The words you choose will send a message to a potential employer. Use verbs whenever possible and choose strong words that communicate your desire to be part of a team. Instead of saying, “seeking entry-level position,” say, “actively seeking a collaborative environment in the advertising industry where I can apply my enthusiasm and communication skills.” When describing your achievements and skills, use verbs that convey your aptitude. These words include:
Achieved
Coordinated
Organized
Fulfilled
Collaborated
Managed
Implemented
Established
Highlight Your Achievements
With no work history, it can be challenging to determine what your skills are. But consider your academic and social life: What are your achievements? Where have you made an impact? Prioritize your resume to best advertise your skills.
Break your resume into short, easy to navigate sections. Short sentences and bullet-pointed lists are preferable to long paragraphs. Consider using headings such as “educational background” and “skills.” where you can list tools that will be applicable in the workplace. Do you speak a foreign language? Know a Web-design software?
Begin with a brief, up to three sentences, outline of your skills and job expectations. This is where you can say your “job objective,” or what you’re looking for in a position: “seeks employment in the real estate industry where I can apply my business-school education to a real-life environment.”
Value your extracurricular activities: Volunteer work or clubs and organizations are valuable, too. Did you organize an event? Volunteer with the public? Use your ability to persuade to achieve a goal? Look at your achievements and apply them to the working world.
Make the most of your education: Use your class work to your advantage. How can you apply your studies at a workplace? What skills can directly transfer from the classroom to the office? Use your educational success to explain why you’re serious about joining this company.
