If you're a college student, presumably you (or your parents) are
entertaining the thought that one day in the not-too-distant future, you will
be gainfully employed. But you're probably saying to yourself, "How the heck
am I going to land that great job when the only job I've ever had is waiting
tables?" Well, cheer up, there's lots you can do to get something worthwhile
on your resume to use in your job search.
If you still have some time to go before
you graduate, you have a perfect opportunity to make things easy on yourself
when it comes time to look for your first "real" job. Just get some
experience related to what you want to do when you graduate. This is a
"no-brainer". Just do it. Nothing (not even a 4.0 GPA) will be more valuable
to you as you start looking for that first professional position than some
real-for-sure, hands-on, related experience. Even if you have to work for
free, do it if you can . . . it'll pay off in the end. Here's how to do
it.
Where Can I Get Related
Experience?
Internships and Co-op
Experience - If you can get into an internship or co-op position
related to what you want to do after you graduate, do it. Don't even
think about it . . . just do it! If your school has a career center, they
often can help you find these positions. If not, start looking on your
own. Target companies in your field and apply to them for summer work.
Don't expect to run the place and don't expect to make a pile of money.
Do expect to gain some valuable experience worth its weight in gold on
your resume when you graduate.
Part-time Jobs - If
you work part-time to support yourself in school, try to find jobs that
are related to your field. For example, if your major is finance, try to
find a part-time job as a bank teller. No, you might not make as much
money as you would make in tips waiting tables at a classy restaurant,
but if you can get by financially, do it. And even if you have to wait
tables, maybe you can try to get involved in areas related to your career
goal. For example, if your major is advertising or public relations,
maybe you can offer to help with the restaurant's advertising and
promotional efforts. If your major is computer science, maybe you can
write a custom program that helps your boss run his business.
Professors - Is your
major chemistry? Volunteer to be a lab assistant to your chemistry
professor. Yes, you're going to spend a lot of time washing laboratory
glassware but you may get to watch or participate in some experiments or
research along the way, too. And putting this experience on your resume
shows that you like working in a lab, otherwise why would you have
volunteered to work there when you didn't have to?
Community Service - Is
your major elementary education? How about volunteering a few hours a
week at the local YMCA after school program? Health science or pre-med
student? How about volunteering at a nursing home or hospital?
Clubs and
Organizations - Do you belong to a fraternity or sorority? If
your major is finance, you could run for office as Treasurer. If your
major is public relations, you can head your philanthropic committee and
organize fund-raising projects.
Shamelessly Exploiting Your Related
Experience
Resume - Your related
experience is the most important single piece of information on your
resume so make sure prospective employers see it. Create a section on
your resume called RELATED EXPERIENCE or INTERNSHIP (if that's what it
was). If you have other experience waiting tables or flipping burgers,
put that in a separate section, following the RELATED EXPERIENCE section
and call it OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE. If you're one of those rare students
lucky enough to have lots of related experience, you may be able to ditch
the OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE section altogether. Once you've created a
section on your resume for your related experience, describe your
experience. Use paragraph style, bulleted style, or a combination of both
. . . it doesn't matter. What matters is that you demonstrate that you
actually learned something. No one expects you to have directed a
multi-million dollar project, but anything you can show that lets the
reader know you gained some knowledge about your chosen field is good.
Did you work as a team member? Then say so. Employers like to hire people
who can work well with others on projects. Did you pick up any new skills
that you haven't learned in college (new software, operation of
specialized instruments/equipment? Write it down. Did you contribute
anything through your own initiative that resulted in saving money for
your employer, making money for your employer, and/or improving
operational procedures? This is REALLY good! Don't forget to include
these accomplishments.
Interview - Don't
forget to discuss your related experience in your interview. Presumably,
the person interviewing you will bring up this subject since this will be
something of particular interest. If, for some reason, the interviewer
doesn't bring up the subject, try to bring it up yourself. Keep in mind
what work will be involved in the position for which you are interviewing
and describe your experience in a way that shows how you might fit into
that position.
Networking - Make sure
all the individuals who will serve as your references as well as everyone
involved in helping you find a job is aware of your related experience so
they will be able to discuss this information when they talk with
prospective employers.
One Last Thought
On more than one occasion, students have
been offered full time positions upon graduation with the very companies with
whom they did their internship and co-op work. So, think about these jobs as
terrific opportunities to get your foot in the door for something more
permanent.
I lived in and operated my resume
business in a major university town for 22 years. During that time, I helped
thousands of students with their resumes. Student resumes are one of my
specialties and I'd be happy to help you with yours. Visit my services page or contact me by email to find out how.
Steven M. Burt
Certified Professional Resume
Writer
