Selling Yourself When You Lack Experience

A reader writes:

I'm a single stay at home mom trying to return to work post-divorce. I've been searching the internet for advice on how best to draw up a resume, and i've been having a hard time finding information that would relate to my particular situation.

I'm 21 and have been out of work for 3 years raising my toddler son. My husband and I have recently divorced and I need to return to work to care for my son. Because I've been home caring for my son, I don't have much job experience to utilize in my resume and i'm left with a giant gap in my already short work history. Also, because of my age, i haven't had time to build up multiple certifications and specialty course completions in my field to concentrate my resume on. I'm currently in school earning my professional certification in Medical Claims and Billing and will be trying to return to work in a few months when i finish school. Also, i did take computer literacy and typing courses in high school and have been practicing on Mavis Beacon at home and have succeeding in bringing my average wpm to a higher then average rate. But I'm worried that it won't be enough to help me find a respectable job because of my short job history and lack of experience. Do you have any advice that could help me improve my resume to give me a better edge when looking for a job?

Actually, the advice I would give to this reader is the same advice I would give to a recent graduate ... show how you will add value.

Work experience is not the only thing you have to sell. Your personal characteristics are equally important, as is your enthusiasm and work ethic.

Focus your entire resume on communicating how you can add value to an employer - and don't assume you can't add value just because you don't have a lot of work experience.

For example, one thing that jumps out at me from this email is the fact that this person is proactively working to improve her skills. She isn't just sitting around applying for jobs and hoping for the best - she is studying in her own time, despite the fact she is also a single parent. That's impressive and should be highlighted in the resume introduction.

That tells me that my reader is a proactive person with a desire to learn and a strong work ethic. Hey! There's a sentence for the resume introduction!

When it comes to dealing with a gap in employment history, I like to be honest and upfront. It's by no means unusual for a woman to take a few years off to raise a child, so why not just include that in your career history. I don't recommend giving details, just write a sentence at the start of the career history section that says:

'Took a break from career to raise new baby between 2005 and 2008'

This addresses the issue and ensures that employers don't view the woman as having been involuntarily unemployed for 3 years.

In the end, a resume that conveys personality, enthusiasm and value will always gets results, whether you have 2 years of work experience or 30.

Comments

[Susan Ireland]

Yana Parker (author of The Damn Good Resume Guide) developed a great Self-Help Quiz for Adults with Little or No Work Experience, which might be helpful in this situation. The quiz is free and can be found at http://damngood.com/jobseekers/skills-adults.html.

[Melissa Waldon]

What are employers looking for?
It depends -- every employer seeks a different mix of skills and experience from a prospective employee. But one thing they look for consistently is soft skills. Remember the phrase from your report card -- "works and plays well with others"? That's a critical soft skill, and there are many more, all of them important for any job in any industry. More and more corporations around the world recognize that, in order to gain a competitive advantage, they also need to make sure their people know how to handle themselves at work and how to relate with their customers and peers. These skills include competencies in areas such as communication, leadership ability, etiquette, conflict resolution, decision making, self-motivation, self-discipline, persuasion, social graces, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that mark people to varying degrees. All of these skills are things that we (as mothers) try to instill in our children. It sounds to me like you only lack the confidence not necessarily the skills to find the job that you're seeking! Another option is to speak to a recruiter who can point you in the right direction. Check out www.spherion.com for more information in your local area. Good luck!

[Chris Hamilton]

Hi there,

I tried contacting you a while ago but never received a response, can you please email me so we can discuss my proposal?

Thanks

[Melissa Waldon]

Hi Chris,

What is your email and I will put you in contact with a recruiter in your local area. Thanks!