HOW TO WRITE A RESUME WITH NO WORK EXPERIENCE.

You see an advertisement for a job opening that sounds like a perfect fit, so you rush to your computer to fill out the online application. But, your enthusiasm fades when you see the work experience section. You don't have any previous work experience to report. You might be a recent high school or college graduate, or you might be entering the workforce for the first time. Don't worry; you can present your skills and experiences in a way that assures potential employers that you're qualified and ready to take on the job responsibilities.

Focus on your education and skills

In lieu of work experience, it's best to expand and focus on your education and skills you've developed on your resume. What can you do well that this job requires? What will be useful to the hiring company? What have you done in school and what have you studied that has prepared you for assuming this job? This is generally a little easier if you're a college graduate with specialized education, but even a high school graduate can talk about their electives, why they wanted to take them, and what they learned from the class.

Internships, internships, internships

Paid and unpaid college internships are one of the best weapons you have against "experience required." Not only do they give you some real-world work experience, they also allow you to network and make connections that can put you in a job later. When applying for a job without experience, be sure to list any internships you completed. If you haven't had one, consider applying as a step before an entry-level job.

Include any extracurricular activities or volunteer work

When surveyed, the majority of employers say that they take volunteer experience into consideration alongside paid work experience. So any volunteer work that highlights your talents or where you learned a new skill should be put on your resume. Only include hobbies if they are relevant to the position and have equipped you with transferable skills that would be useful for the job role.

Customize your resume for each job you apply to

The last and most important thing to remember when creating a good resume is to customize it for every job you apply for. Different job postings are going to have different keywords, different job duties listed, and so on. Appealing to each individual employer's needs and job requirements is the best strategy for getting your application noticed.

At the end of the day, there's no magical formula for how to write a winning resume — the only perfect resume is the one that gets you the job. Be prepared to tweak and update your resume, even when you're comfortably employed. Utilize a hybrid resume format and focus on your skills and education when you don't have any work experience to show. Sooner or later, you'll land that job — and gain that much-coveted experience.

Charmanique Hinds