Hey There,

For the recent graduates, and those of us that have never been formally employed, we often ask what we are meant to put on our resume when crafting it out. You might see a job post, and when you are about to apply, you remember you have no work experience whatsoever and you begin to fret. There is no need to.

Whether you are a career changer or a recent graduate with no work experience, there are a few different things you can put on your resume as well as some basic formatting tricks that would present you in a good light. They are as follows:

• Relevant and Transferable Skills

Most resumes begin by highlighting work experience, but as a recent graduate, highlight your educational history first. This is because at the moment, it is basically all you have. Instead of confusing the recruiter, you can start your CV by highlighting your relevant skills after your educational history. Ensure that they are relevant to the position you are applying for and also do not exaggerate the truth by presenting skills you do not possess. For those of you that think you do not have any skills, think through it and give a reason you feel you can do the job. For career changers, you could try tying your skills together and presenting them in the summary section of you CV.

• Related Side and Academic Projects

Highlight all the projects you have worked on that are relevant to the position you are applying to; both academic and non-academic. Create a project section in your resume, and present all relevant projects you have worked on from the most recent to the first. Think through all the projects that you have worked on that helped you realize your passion and career interests. Format this information in a way that helps the recruiter understand that the experience is valid and should be evaluated when considering your candidacy for the position you are applying to.

• An Enthusiastic and Specific Cover Letter

Although this is not part of your resume, you could couple your resume with a strong cover letter. This is more important when you do not have an work experience. You should find a way to connect your passions and life experiences with the company you are applying to, and explain how that assists you in being an effective worker once you are hired. Keep it moderate and official, but make sure you make an impact and your point is passed across.

We are aware that breaking grounds and starting your new career is hard work. Especially in an age where most employers ask for two to three years experience before you can apply for an opening. The trick to overcoming this is by teasing out those details like relevant skills and relevant side projects. Combining this with a carefully crafted cover letter and effective networking should give you some head way, and soon enough you would be sure to pique the interest of a hiring manager.

Yours Truly,

PushCV Content Team.