This is what is known as a Catch 22. Most college graduates face this dilemma: How do you get a job if all the jobs require prior work experience, but you’re just starting out and don’t have any work experience (except school activities).
The key to overcoming the no-experience roadblock is to re-examine the experience you do have. If you volunteered while you were in college, you probably put in a lot of time and had hands-on experience seeing a project to completion. Consider your internships or your part-time jobs. All that activity counts as skill-building experience.
When you are job searching, relate those skills to the job posting. You will be surprised how much experience you have that you might have overlooked.
Resumes tend to minimize your experience and resemble a description of coursework rather than a demonstration of your hands-on experience through college.
Here are some ideas in reexamining your resume:
1. Make sure you list all your volunteer experience, especially community-involvement activities.
2. Keep in mind employers look for leadership experience and the ability to communicate effectively.
3. A one-page resume probably will be sufficient for marketing your skills and experience. Write your accomplishments where the reader will easily see the results of your efforts. Remember to quantify your efforts, where possible.
4. Be concise and relate how your coursework could bring value to the employer.
5. When developing an objective statement, keep in mind that employers want to know what you can do for them, not what they can do to help you reach your goals.
6. Using your GPA helps develop creditability and demonstrates discipline.
7. List honors and awards. You may need to explain them.
8. Refrain from exaggerating, and keep your achievements realistic.
9. A one-size resume does not fit all, so be prepared to customize it to the employer’s needs.
10. References will back up your resume, so make sure the content is accurate.
