You’re ready to apply for a new job . . . but you don’t know how to write your résumé because you don’t have much experience in the field you are looking to go into.
In a job market that often emphasizes previous work, how you present yourself becomes crucial. When you don’t have experience, a standout résumé makes the most of your education, showcases relevant skills, and plays up your unpaid experiences.
Writing a resume with limited experience might seem daunting, but our team here at Southwest Search has 5 easy steps for you to follow when crafting your resume.
Check them out below!
Step 1 – Objective vs Summary
Instead of leading with a summary of your work experience, use an objective. This will help convey your value and highlight your career goal. An example could be “Natural leader seeking a career path within accounting and finance. Looking for an opportunity to apply my passion and contribute to a positive work culture.”
Step 2 – Education
When you lack experience in the role/s you are applying for, be sure to play up your education by making it the first section of your resume as opposed to the last. BONUS: Be sure to include any organization you were involved in and other extracurricular activities.
Step 3 – How to highlight Work Experience
Since you are lacking work experience, use this section to share internships, volunteer roles, projects, or anything else you might have accomplished that is applicable to the position you are applying for. The most commonly highlighted area is internships. Here is an example on how to highlight this section:
List your internships in this section the same way you would a traditional job.
For each internship you held, list the following:
- Internship title and role
- Company name, location, and duration of internship
- Responsibilities and accomplishments in bullet points
Projects are also another way to help round out your resume. If you attended college, you probably have a project you can include on your resume. This section should be titled “projects” and include:
- The name of your project
- A few words describing the type of project
- The association, if you did the project for something specific
- When you did the project
- Achievements, results, and responsibilities
Step 4 – Skills
Make sure your skills stand out by including both soft and technical skills. Resume skills examples can include:
- Teamwork
- Microsoft or any other software you have experience using
- Analytics and metrics
- Community engagement
- Public speaking
- Collaboration
Step 5 – Tailor Your Resume
Now that you have the bones of your resume complete, be sure to tailor it by adding in keywords or phrases that call out the specifics of the role you are applying for.
What else can I do to stand out to hiring managers?
Make sure your cover letter is well written and professional. It can convey your experience outside of work and highlight projects you’ve overseen and other skills and history you think are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Additionally, make sure your LinkedIn summary and profile shine. They should be mistake-free and reaffirm your education, skill set, and background.
Let’s get started!
Are you ready to start meeting with a recruiter? Our team at Southwest Search is here and ready to meet with you. Just email info@southwestsearch.net and attach your resume (even if it is not up to date) and you will be matched with the appropriate division.