This is what is known as a Catch 22 , and most college graduates face this dilemma: How do you get hired if all the jobs require experience?
The key to overcoming the no-experience dilemma is to re-examine the experience you do have. While you were in school, chances are you volunteered to help with several activities. You probably put in a lot of time and had hands-on experience seeing a project to its conclusion.
Look at your internships or your part-time jobs. All that activity counts as skill-building experience for your resume.
When you are job searching, relate these skills to job postings. You will be surprised how much experience you do have – it’s just nontraditional experience you may have overlooked.
Often, resumes minimize your experience and resemble more of a description of coursework than a compilation of your hands-on experience while in college.
Here are some ideas for re-examining your resume:
1. Make sure you list all your volunteer experience, especially that with community involvement.
2. Keep in mind employers look for leadership experience and your ability to successfully communicate. Highlight examples that demonstrate these skills.
3. A one-page resume probably will be sufficient to market your skills and experience. Place your accomplishments where the reader will see the results of your efforts, and quantify or qualify accomplishments.
4. Be concise, and relate how your coursework could bring value to the employer.
5. When developing an objective statement, keep in mind employers want to know what you can do for them not what they can do to help you reach your goals.
6. Including your GPA helps develop credibility and demonstrates discipline.
7. List honors and awards. In some cases you may need to explain them.
8. Refrain from exaggerating, keep your achievements realistic.
9. One size does not fit all where resumes are concerned. Be prepared to customize it to the employers needs.
10. References will back up your resume, so make sure the content is accurate.
