Working at my university’s writing center, I did a lot of résumé building with students fresh out of high school with little or no job experience or skills. They were usually looking for summer jobs, internships, or part time jobs for the school year. Together, we’d take a look at their experiences and put together a compelling résumé based on what they’d need to show to get hired. But before we get to building a résumé, let’s talk about getting there first.
The Job Search
Chances are, if you’re applying for a summer job or part time job for the school year, you’re not necessarily going to find work in your dream field. This is common, and you might as well assume it as you begin your search. What you can look for in your search is a job that will let you build skills that can be transferrable to other jobs in the future. Customer service experience comes in handy in so many fields, and there are so, so many customer service jobs available at grocery stores, coffee shops, and other retailers for workers with no skills. I recommend applying to stores because you will most likely learn customer service skills, teamwork, and time management at the very least. These can be major assets later on in life.
Writing a Résumé
It’s not as scary as you think. In fact, Purdue Owl provides a great example résumé here. Canva also has wonderful templates. Of course, what you choose to put on your résumé is more important than its appearance. And this is where you can compensate from your lack of job experience. Begin with volunteer work. What have you done that can be transferrable to a job? Have you worked at something like a bake sale, handling money and selling to customers? That would be perfect experience for a sales job. Perhaps the nature of your volunteer work has taught you particular values that will make you a good employee, like hard work and independence. You may also want to consider including your hobbies on your résumé if they demonstrate a great deal of discipline, like sports or playing an instrument.
Writing a Cover Letter
When you have the opportunity to write a cover letter, always write a cover letter! It’s definitely your chance to stand out and explain why you are the right person for the job. This is the only opportunity you have to explain how the experience you listed in your résumé is relevant. Once you have an understanding of the job you’re applying to and what it requires, you can show how your values and experience align with the available position. Make a strong case for yourself, really give the hard sell. For more information about writing cover letters, visiting Purdue Owl here.
I hope this was helpful. Remember job searching is really, really difficult. Do not let rejection get you down. Keep at it! Also, please message me with any questions!
