Nothing should stop you from going after your dream internship or job.
That being said, professional experience does not always match job requirements, especially for new graduates. Even if you have little to no relevant experience or are applying for your first internship, you can make your resume stand out to potential employers. The Muse offers these tips to impress when looking for a position in a brand new industry:
- Focus on transferable skills: Let your past jobs and academic work speak for themselves. Skills like communication and collaboration are universal, and should be a focal point of your resume. If you are proficient in certain types of software, this is the place to tell employers. Once they know your capabilities, they can integrate them into the position to build on your strengths.
- Donāt disregard the classroom: Long-term projects and academic work are particularly important resume points for new graduates. Create a āProjectsā section in your resume. Tailor these experiences to the position by highlighting your accomplishments and what you learned, and explain how this will translate in the job.
- Show enthusiasm in your cover letter: Your dream job or internship is your dream for a reason. Your cover letter is the place to explain just that. If you are passionate about a certain organization or cause, here is your chance to explain why to recruiters. A cover letter can also be a great place to make more connections between your work or classroom experience and the job. If your enthusiasm shines through in your cover letter, employers are likely to respond favorably.
Even the smallest jobs and projects leave you with experience and transferable skills that can be used when applying for any position. Go after your ideal job or internship with your strengths and passions in mind to impress potential employers.
For the rest of The Museās tips, visit muse.cm/1GtzAvP.
