What do I put on my resume when I have no experience?
You’re expected to have relevant experience for the job when you’re actually applying to get experience in the industry right?
I’m here to tell you that there are people getting jobs with the same or less experience than you have simply because they have found a way to present themselves as the right candidate.
You need to reimagine what you think ‘experience’ is and do two crucial tasks;
Work out what you have already done that can relate
Identify what you can do right now to not only beef up your resume but expand your professional network in the target industry
What have you already done?
Start by pulling out your resume. Even if this is a document that you were forced to create at school and never looked at again – pull it out and revise what is already on there. If you are starting from scratch you can use a template from Microsoft Word, Canva, Pinterest or even Etsy. Format and appearance is important too and should be tailored to the industry you are trying to break into but for this post we are focused on having some words to get on there in the first place and we can think about making it pretty later!
Often we have done things is our life that demonstrate our abilities and values that at first you may discard as irrelevant. Can you link any of your hobbies, sporting teams or achievements to the attributes that would perform well in the role? For example; were you ever in a leadership role? Perhaps as the captain of your netball team? Think about group projects and the role you played or even your hobbies – maybe you run a local theatre group and help with the marketing. These are all transferrable skills that can be relevant for all types of roles.
What can you do now to make yourself a better candidate?
Your LinkedIn – is it optimised? Do you follow relevant people? Have you made connections and actually ‘connected’ beyond the invite. Think of LinkedIn as an online version of your resume. You want it to be current, relevant and professional.
Start a blog on the industry you want to work in - you could even detail your journey into the industry. This shows a genuine interest and passion to a potential employer.
Build an online portfolio to showcase your work – if you are in a creative field or have samples of your work a website can show off what you have done. It is also a hobby that can be listed on your resume.
Involve yourself in the industry, study it and know the power players. Research online, attend events and make it known that you are looking to get into that area.
Do freelance work in your spare time, volunteer for events, look for work experience opportunities, ask a connection if you can offer your services for free to build your portfolio, find a mentor. Anything that builds experience and makes connections is key!
Review your social media from the point of view of a potential employer – would you want you representing the brand? If there is anything that you wouldn’t want your family to see or to be flashed on screen while you are giving a presentation to your boss – get rid of it!
Network – not only online but in person. Look for industry and local events where you can go along and meet people. You can use a site like Vistaprint to design and print a basic business card with your name, website, contact details etc. Don’t be nervous – I went to events as a student and simply went with “I’m Jessica, I’m currently studying Communications and I want to work in marketing”. Now you have a room full of people who know someone who wants to work in marketing. Then on your resume you can include you networking activities. TIP: contact the organisers and ask if there is anything they need help with during the event – something to go on your resume and a chance to get your name out there all in one! Look on Facebook, Instagram and ticketing sites like Sticky Tickets or Eventbrite.
Create a plan for professional development – think about what you would like to do better. Maybe it is more confidence when giving presentations or perhaps there is a short course you could do to put on your resume. TIP: there are many free online courses that you can do from the comfort of home, in all sorts of areas that will look great on your resume.
These tips are all about identifying what you have already accomplished and finding practical ways of building a resume that is designed on your desired career path. I hope you find this article helpful and I would love to hear all about your career plans and goals in the comments!
