Applying for a job with no experience?

Question

I'm 24 and have never had a "real" job. I spent a number of years caring for my sick grandmother instead.

Then at 22 I began attending a community college and recently transferred to a four year university.

I'm looking for a summer job and have no idea what to write on my resume. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I should also mention that I now go to Columbia and have had the mantra "inventment banking or bust" shoved down my throat for the last two semesters. I'm a Political Scince major, with interests in law, journalism (I've won writing awards at my old school) and, of course, i-banking. Are there any sort of summer jobs that can lead me on the path towards that kind of a job? I REALLY do not want to work in retail.

I also have no connections to anyone in these fields, save for professors and I don't know how much I want to mooch off them. I thought I'd save that for grad school.

I think I'd be laughed off Columbia's campus if I worked at a fast food joint. lol

Answer 1

How about this....
1) Spend time and think about the field you want to major in...
2) Look at how you can get experience in that field now and during the summer.
3) Look to have a summer internship. Two summers spent interning and a job during the school year as an intern will provide valuable experience.
4) Thinking retail will never get it done... If you must work retail, then make sure you can spend 10 hours a week "interning".
5) Think about how to market yourself (depends on your field).


Questions to ask
1) Can you list 5-10 firms in your town which currently have a need or use people in your field?
2) Know your strengths and weeknesses ( for instance, can you do publc speaking? If not then join toastmasters)
3) How do you network (are you in the right clubs/groups/orgs on campus?) Do you have friends in your field which are graduating this year? If not, then you should, they would make excellent contacts after you graduate

If your jobs from now until you graduate are (pizza hut, the gap, etc), and you have no experience in your field in 2 years then you will have a much harder time.

Get a mentor in your field who is currently in the business. Ask for someone to be a mentor, but research what they do and the company they are in before you ask. If you are not able to do your share, then the mentor will not be able to help you.

So.....
In two years, you should have worked with at least 2 companies, You should have 4 internships....
1) Internship 1- during fall term - 7-10 hours a week, schedule around your classes... non profit (if you are not able to be productive to businesses in your field yet) or business in your field
2) Internship 2 - during the spring term - non profit if your skills are still lacking or a business in your field.
3) Internship 3 - summer - up to 20 hours a week if possible - business in your field
4) Internship 4 - fall - business in your field.

Do a business case with an executive summary after each internship. Show the Executive summary to each prospective company for future internships. Many companies do not have an internship program, but you can make your own, if you are so inclined.

Necessary skills - toastmasters international (public Speaking), Word/Excel/Power Point/some HTML, contacts, contacts, contacts, internships (4 at least, 2 quality ones)

Orgs - Local orgs, college orgs for networking and exposure,

Opps - I was off topic...
How about..
Resume - Caretaker 2002-2004, responsible for full care of relative during summarize here....care average xx hours a week, 100% on time for all appointments, etc....
Explain what you got out of it (closer relationship, increased responsibility, scheduling/multitasking/etc)....

Resume should list your accomplishments, possibly on a project basis if you are in school and have done significant projects. (ie, if psychology - and you have helped on master's projects/DIS's list these and your increasing responsibilities).

Try to build your resume with the above tips, although it may be too late for your summer job.

Answer 2

You'd be amazed at the experience you acquire through volunteering or finding a part-time apprenticeship at something you're interested in. It's worth putting in the extra time. Do this in your spare time while you're working at your first job and you'll build a resume quicker. And since it's your spare time, you're sure to gravitate towards something you REALLY want to do. Often enough, volunteering can lead to nice job offers. Plus, that you received the experience through volunteering or apprenticeship shows motivation and will be a big plus on your resume.

Answer 3

fast food jobs will hire people with no experience and since your in college they may hire you as manager trainee.. also many small stores and larger ones hire that way to.. not to mention animal shelter... or you could try a day care for the elder or nursing home..as far as a resume i am trying to figure that one out to.. not what to put on it but how to word it.. if you have a basic understanding on how to word it i would just put down your schooling... and if grandma is still alive and has a different last name than you have.. i would ask grandma if she would mind you putting her on the resume and saying that it was job.. home health care or elderly sitter..it is just a little lie but if she did pay you then it was no lie at all

Answer 4

Focus on your personal assets - such as that you like to learn, etc. if you haven't worked it doesn't mean you can't or you are not good at it. Concentrate on your abilities whatever they are, write a little what you enjoy doing, write a little why you would like to work and what qualities would you bring to a workplace. But again focus on yourself and your personal abilities. There is absolutely no need to lie on resume - it's just making yourself sound better than you are at times or even making a fair judgement on yourself - try asking people around you to tell you what you are good at at what are your strengths if you are struggling to do so. Hope it helps a tiny bit!

Answer 5

figure out what skills might help you with your potential summer jobs, and lie and tell them you have the experience. Most small time summer jobs arent the kind of jobs that a lot of skill is needed. and the majority of employers arent going to check if you really worked at bakin robbins, or your college book store.

best of luck

Answer 6

I lied and told then i had two years experience and gave them a company's name from another state.silvers sheet metel shop, there was no such shop. and they called and i told them they must have gone out of business and i was 17 not 22 and they hired me and i faked being a sheet metal worker.and they never caught on .and i had never been in a sheet metel shop.you would think they would have caught on. though. but i wanted to learn about metal work and later took a welding course and then became boss man building locomotives this was 35 years ago.

Answer 7

It IS a job taking care of a sick person. Put that on your resume. It will show your potential employer that you are a caring and responsible person. Add that you are a fast learner and work well with people.

Answer 8

Explain more about your Skills and mention that you habe been a responsable and honest people.
Also maybe you have been red cross voluntair and things like that.
Take your time and thing the best anwer for this question?

Why i should hire you from the rest of the applicants?
If you have the right anwer you're HIRED!!

Answer 9

You can start retail in the summer as your first real job. It may not be glamorous but you can mention how you helped your grandmother to enjoy helping people. Good luck.

Answer 10

Look for example resumes online. Be certain to list all school experience, any volunteer work, and also your caretaking ability (best to find the right wording for this). Perhaps "volunteer in assisted care"

etc.

good luck!