Building a Resume With No Experience
Having a strong resume is incredibly important. It is the first thing employers see, so its appearance must be up to par. But what if you do not have experience to pad your resume with? That can be fixed; in fact, you can mention things that are not work-related on your resume.
#1: Academic Work
Especially if you are a student looking for an internship related to your intended field of study, having a strong academic background is key. Mention things such as your coursework (AP and IB classes only), your unweighted and weighted GPA (only if it is satisfactory, aim for 3.5+ unweighted and 4.0+ weighted or its equivalent), and more. These things show that you are ready to take on complex work.
#2: School Activities
If you hold any leadership positions in clubs or other organizations at school, your resume is the perfect place to add them. For example, being the treasurer of a club can show your strong financial skills, which is an asset. If you are not in any clubs, you can either join one or create your own; the latter shows initiative in itself. Even doing something as simple as clean-up days after school with a group of people once or twice a month is a strong activity that can easily be started. Make sure to do things that you are genuinely passionate about.
#3: Volunteer Work
Similarly, if you have done any community work, your resume is a great place to mention them. Some common activities include community beautification, working with the elderly, and helping at a soup kitchen or food bank. These activities are great to add to a resume, but they should only be added if you do them frequently. Avoid adding one-off activities, as it may read as inconsistent, which reflects poorly on you.
Overall, building a strong resume is crucial, but you do not need experience to do so. By implementing some of these things into your resume, you are putting yourself out there to actually gain experience through internships and/or jobs.
Author: Natalia Okitukunda, Media Department Member
