| I Have A Short Work History |
This situation is often faced by young people who have not had the opportunity to achieve very much. The problem is, you may be in competition with others who have achieved more. It's easy to get concerned in such a situation, but it's possible to overcome this problem with a few imaginative steps.
Mindset
Keep in mind first of all that an employer may not be expecting you to have a lot of achievements. Often it is sufficient to show that you have experience in selected functions, regardless of what you may or may not have achieved.
Remember too that, especially in the case of younger people but also with those more experienced, hiring decision can be based on intangibles not directly related to achievements or experience. Enthusiasm by itself can be a major factor. Appearance, self-confidence, writing skills, knowledge, drive, ability to articulate, and attitude all play a role, and can enhance your overall impression. That classic intangible, positive personal chemistry, still accounts for a major portion of all hiring decisions.
Resume
Structure your resume so that it shows as wide a range as possible of functions or business areas in which you have either experience, knowledge, or exposure. If you were part of a team that achieved something significant, then no matter what your role on that team, you can legitimately claim to be part of it, and you can cite the achievements of the team on the resume.
You can also use non-work experience where appropriate to demonstrate your abilities and strengths. Volunteer and school-related activities may be valid indicators of talents that can be put to good use by many employers. Travel may have given you valuable exposure, fresh insights, and appreciation for the different means by which others accomplish results.
You can also create a section highlighting personal strengths, attitudes and values that are important to employers. Statements such as: "My attitude toward hard work is influenced by family tradition," "part-time work during high school, paid 50% of college expenses through outside employment," and "studied and attended classes 12 hours a day," can make a lasting impression. So can examples of volunteer work. Such examples suggest to employers that you have the ingredients of becoming a high achiever.
Interviews / e-mails / Letters
Any of the positive points mentioned above can be used in correspondence and in interviews. Be prepared to tell stories about instances where you met challenges and achieved results, even if the results are not large in scale or were achieved outside the work environment.
If they show that you knew how to size up a situation and take appropriate steps, whether it is in organizing something, teaching others, or taking quick action to avert a dangerous situation, an employer will have little difficulty envisioning how you might apply the same talents to their challenges and opportunities. When you give such examples, you can follow up with a question that asks whether the employer can envision a way those talents could be put to good use in their organization.
When asking questions, ask those which show you are primarily interested in the different ways in which you might make contributions, rather than those which indicate you are primarily concerned about what the company can do for you.
Actions
If there is a course you can take, or information you can study, that would help prepare you or make you more knowledgeable about the type of position you are targeting, get started on that as soon as
possible. If you can talk with people in that field, arrange to meet with them and get their input. If there is a trade or professional publication geared to that field, read back issues in the library.
Conduct research on any industry and companies you are targeting, using the Internet and/or resources in the Business Reference section of a good library. You would also be well-advised to write a small paper about the major trends in that industry. By sending that paper along with a cover letter, you can divert the employer's attention from examining your past. This leaves you free to focus on the company's and the industry's future. Preparing such a paper also shows a lot of enthusiasm, which always affects hiring decisions.
Examine all of your experience closely, work-related or not, and prepare action-oriented stories of the type recommended for interviews. Be prepared to give as much evidence as possible in these stories, even when the results are not large in scale. This will reassure the prospective employer about your ability to perform.
Develop and coach enthusiastic references from inside your employer organization if possible, but if not, from people who have known you in scholastic, volunteer, civic or social settings, or who knew you in business, but were outside your organization, e.g., customers, suppliers, sales reps, consultants, etc., who will be happy to attest to your abilities and positive personal character traits. Review your resume with them, and make sure they keep a copy available for reference when and if they are called.
This step will enable you to make the statement in an interview that, "You've heard about Joe Smith from Joe Smith, but you really need to hear it from some of the people who know me best, and I strongly urge you to call them." That will erase any doubts due to your short work history or lack of significant achievements.
|
 |
|
