Comments for When Looking for Your First Job, What Do You Put for Experience?

Comments for
When Looking for Your First Job, What Do You Put for Experience?

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Jan 25, 2009
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It Comes Down to Transferable Skills
by: Kathi

Lauren, when you lack traditional experience in the work world, then you need to identify volunteer work and work from home kind of experience that has given you certain marketable skills. Basically, you are facing the same challenge a stay at home mom does when venturing into the job market after many years at home raising children and running a household.

Sounds to me as though you actually have some good experience, with the babysitting (child care), housecleaning and the office work for your mom. So I would definitely list them on your resume. I would also use a combination or functional resume format (check this site for info on that). And focus on the skills you gained in those various "beginner" jobs. My daughter once got an administrative assistant job on the strength of volunteer work she'd done at my employer during her summers (while still in middle school!). The important thing is to proceed with confidence and believe in your abilities.

Good luck,
Kathi