What to Write on Your Resume If You Don’t Have Relevant Work Experience
Your dream job has just been published and you are very excited. There is only one problem: you have literally zero relevant work experience. Whether you are changing careers or just graduated and not completed an internship, what can you actually add to your resume to look as qualified as possible?
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
Do not worry. You can include a few different things, as well as a few formatting tricks to help you present yourself in the best possible light.
Relevant and transferable skills
Most resumes start with relevant work experience (or education, followed by relevant experience if you’re a beginner). This becomes a problem when relevant experience is not your forte. But instead of wasting that top property on your resume on things that just confuse the recruiter, start with your respective skills.
And don’t tell me you don’t have them. There must be a reason why you think you can do the job. You may have transferable abilities from previous unrelated experiences, or you may have developed skills while in school by completing academic projects. Either way, if you’re changing careers, try tying all of your skills together with a summary at the beginning of your resume. New graduates, place your skills section from the bottom of your resume to the spot right below your education.
Related side and academic projects
When it comes to academic projects, it is important to note that this is fair play and should definitely be included on your resume. It’s the same with side projects that you have done outside of work or school. As long as you clearly label this experience as project work, there is nothing stopping you from including it on your resume – and you should definitely do it! Don’t make the assumption that your resume might only include a full-time paid job.
One way to do this is to create a Projects section. Here you should write about your work on the project as well as about your work experience. Think about your experiences that have helped you pursue your career interests. Was this a cool project? You may have volunteered to help with something that ultimately led to the achievement of your new career goals – this is an experience that you can include on your resume in the Projects section. Format it in a similar way to help the recruiter understand that this is also a valuable experience that should be evaluated when considering your candidacy for the position of interest.
An enthusiastic and specific cover letter
Okay, this isn’t technically part of your resume, but I strongly believe that a resume should always be paired with a strong cover letter. This is especially important if you don’t have relevant experience or have a winding career path. As career expert Ryan Kahn explains , “Find a way to connect your passions and experiences with the company, and then explain how that will get you up and running when you are hired. You will find that this link is exactly the experience employers are looking for from recent graduates. “
This is true for those who change careers, but you also have a little more experience to work with. A cover letter is a great opportunity to connect the dots between the needs of the company and the skills you’ve acquired in your eclectic career. Be specific here. You really want to clarify this to hiring managers and explain why your unconventional experience might even be an advantage, so that when they’re done with your letter, they understand well why it makes sense for them to hire you.
Starting a new career is hard work, especially considering that many entry-level jobs require two or three years of experience. The trick for overcoming this is to really bring out details like the relevant skills and associated side projects, and break out of the resume “rules” that keep you from including them on your resume. Throw in an exciting cover letter, and with a combination of networking and a bit of luck, you’re sure to pique the hiring manager’s interest soon.
What to write in your resume if you do not have relevant work experience | Muse