9 Ways To Make A Resume With Less Work Experience
No experience? No problem!
Whether you’re just starting out in your career, or haven’t been working long, there’s no reason your resume should hold you back from moving forward!
Today we’ll tackle 9 ways that you can create a great looking resume with little-to-no work experience! By focusing on the qualifications you DO have, you’ll be able to help recruiters see just why they’d be lucky to have you gain experience with their company.
Let’s take a look!
1. Start with a Summary of your Skills
Work experience or not, everyone has something to bring to the table!
A professional summary at the beginning of your resume allows you to highlight exactly what sort of value you’ll be bringing to the company.
Typically 1-3 sentences, your summary should indicate your skills and strengths, and how you have proven/acquired them. You do not need to label the summary, just stick the paragraph in your resume header under your name.
Pro Tip: Don’t use an “objective statement” instead of a professional summary. An objective statement describes what you want. But a professional summary tells them how you’re able to help them get what they want!
2. Reverse Chronological Order
If this is your first resume, you may not be aware of this particular convention.
When writing out your history, it is always best to go from the most recent to the oldest information — or what we call “reverse chronological order”.
This is because recruiters will prioritize the experience that is most relevant to you. It also puts more emphasis on what you’ve done recently, instead of what you’ve done overall.
3. Highlight Your Education
Fresh out of school? Still studying? Even if you’ve been out of school for a while, emphasizing your education is a smart way to show you have a proven track record of success!
This means you may want to adjust the layout of your resume so that education occupies as much space as your work history. To fill that space, you can also provide more specifics about your schooling, such as the location of the school, your GPA, any special programs you completed or exchanges you went on.
4. Extracurricular Activities
Piggybacking off what we just said about education, your education-related activities are another excellent way to show you’re a go-getter!
Sports teams, hobby and enthusiasts groups, bands, debate teams, design and tech clubs — any kind of organized activity that may not have been a part of your grade but WAS a big part of your time in school — they all help show that you’re a well-rounded person who can stay active.
5. Internships
Unpaid work is still work!
Many internships offer a foot-in-the-door to a new company, or a new industry. Not only do they show that you aren’t afraid to take the initiative to make things happen, they still count as on-the-job experience — even if it wasn’t a paid job!
That means you can add them to your work history section, and you should also be adding a list of responsibilities (a job description) as with any other job.
6. Volunteering
Volunteering shows you care about grassroots issues and love to give back to your community.
Charities the world over need volunteers every day, plus you can always come up with your own ways to share your time for the benefit of others! That’s why volunteering is a fast and easy way to pad your resume with more experience.
Consider volunteering today to get a greater looking resume tomorrow!
7. Projects
Special projects show off how special you are!
Some projects may be more formal than others. For instance, if you were a Masters or PhD student, then your thesis project could be a published work. You may have contributed to a specific research project, or built/designed a certain object as part of your project.
Other projects might not be as formal, but are still worth sharing. This includes things like restoring a vintage car, producing an album, designing a website, programming a video game, etc. They show you have great skill and self-determination.
8. Certifications
Not all our education comes from high school or college/university. Oftentimes, our best understanding of niche subjects comes from niche courses!
Nowadays, there are a limitless number of online accreditations you can receive. How about a masterclass in screenwriting? Or a LinkedIn Learning certificate for Facebook ads? You could even get a certification in ballroom dancing!
And the best part is, many of these certifications are available to you right now, entirely free! So if your resume is still looking a little empty, why not go get certified in something new today?
9. Skills & Languages
Your resume should have a section where you list all the skills you have that don’t directly correlate to a work or education experience.
One of the best skills to highlight here is your language abilities. Do you speak a second, third, or even fourth language? Especially in Canada, being multilingual is a huge asset. Consider mentioning your fluency level, as well.
Other skills could include software proficiencies (such as with Microsoft Office), or technical proficiencies (such as Video Editing or Sound Design) — you could even include hobby skills like juggling as long as it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for!
Pro Tip: Focus on “hard” skills (ones that you can support with specific evidence), not “soft” skills (which are valuable, but harder to prove on a resume)
BONUS: Don’t Forget the Cover Letter
Your cover letter sets the tone for your resume in the first place!
Nowadays, a cover letter can come in the form of an email or direct message while sending your resume to someone. But it can also be a separate document.
In any case, if you don’t have a lot of experience on your resume to help give them an idea of who you are, then the cover letter is a perfect way to introduce yourself the way you want to be seen!
Conclusion
Looking to get a bit more experience under your belt? META can help!
Our employment experts work with job seekers of all skill levels to find a career path that is not only attainable, but enjoyable too!
It all starts with a call — book your free 1-on-1 appointment today!
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