How can I write a resume if I’ve never had a job?
I’ve been in school for the last 22 years so I don’t have any work experience to write a resume of any value.
State on your resume that you are interested in gaining new work experience and that you have been in school for quite some time now and open for opportunities.
Donna - A couple of questions . . . when you say you have been in school 22 years, are you saying you have an advanced degree? A PHD? If so, what was your course of study?
Bullet point your experience, thru school. Starting with when you were in elementary thru graduation from high school. If you were in school for 22 years , I would believe you have had alot of experience.
Donna,
Most colleges have a career center that assists students and grads to find jobs. It's one of the statistics that high schoolers should look at when choosing a college and a major.
Being in school for 22 years is an achievement by itself. Most employees nowadays can't keep a job for 10 years, let alone studying for that long. Maximize on this stability and of course, the outcome. Your degrees, diplomas etc. are your resume. Any activities of support within the school, university or any other organization should be used as a step in te right direction. If I may ask: what are your majors/speciality? What kind of employment are you looking for? What field?
Yes you do your schooling is your educational resume. And ask your teachers if you may use them as a reference.
Hi, Donna--I remember writing my first résumé out of school. I took summer jobs at studios to have some work-related experience. Also use any work-related personal experience that would help. Were there any extra-curricular activities, organizations, meetings, conventions, seminars, anything that you did related to your field? Experience with any local businesses?
Also, here's a tip to make yours STAND OUT from 95% of everyone else's: spell it right. When penning your cover letter/email, if you use "résumé" instead of "resume" (which is actually a verb, pronounced differently), most HR managers will notice. Of course it won't get you hired, but it will at least get yours read. I know managers who say they automatically ignore cover letters with misspellings, figuring if the applicant won't spend a minute to proofread, why should the manager spend the time to read it? Good luck and best of success!
Donna, your education is your resume!
Just like any job, school is a working relationship between your abilty to do assigns and projects in a group enviroment that are evaluated by your boss ie professor.
Also, try using your experience in working with group projects as an example of your ability to work in a collaborative environment.
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internship experience, student association involvement experience, volunteer experience, if you don't have these background. It's not a problem either, I'm sure during your 22 years of schooling, you have come across some valuable group projects, papers, researches that you can include in your resume. Be selective and choose the ones that can help you relate to the jobs you are applying for. You can also have a category of your skill set, interests/hobbies, certifications, awards, scholarship, software, language. This will take up some room. Personally, I think it's nice to list out some of your interests/hobbies. I got that on my resume and almost every interview I go on, people point out about it. It's something people can relate you, and also a great conversation starter. Good luck job searching!