You’re not a worthless person. Really, you’re not. So why does looking at your resume—currently lacking that prime internship that you wanted so desperately—make you feel like your life is going nowhere, and that you should just give up and break out the ice cream?
We’ve all had these moments of despair. The importance of internships is drilled into our heads from the moment we enter college, and spending a summer working a minimum-wage job does little to inspire confidence. While you feel like you’re gaining valuable skills and life experience, being a lifeguard has nothing to do with your accounting major. Employers couldn’t be interested in seeing that on a resume, could they?
It’s a vicious cycle; you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job. So what’s the big secret? You have to either a) get relevant experience without getting a job, or b) know how to market the skills you already have. Or, ideally, both.
“If you’ve applied for a few internships and haven’t gotten them, it’s not the end of the world,” says Alicia Rodriguez, director of career development at the University of Miami’s career center. “You just have to think about, if you don’t secure the internship, what else could you be doing?”
Read on for ways to improve your resume—even if you didn’t get the internship.
Summer Jobs
Summer jobs are certainly on that list of options and can be very attractive to potential employers if described correctly. Having a job relevant to your career field would be the most valuable, but even unrelated jobs have worth. If you spent your summer waitressing at a restaurant or working the customer service desk in a clothing store, you’ve learned how to deal with the public, manage difficult people, and efficiently handle challenges. These are all things employers look for. “When it comes to part-time jobs, you want to look at opportunities that are relevant to your field in terms of skill sets,” says Rodriguez. “You want to learn transferrable skills that can be applied to multiple positions.”
Kayla Stangis, a vocal music education major at the University of Northern Colorado, lists jobs as a data entry assistant and a barista at Starbucks on her resume. “I think it’s important to list all of my work experience for a possible employer to see,” she says. “That way they can see how diverse I am even before meeting me in person, and it starts things off in the right direction.”
How to List it on Your Resume:
Work Experience
Subway, Baldwin, NY – Cashier and Sandwich Artist
Duties include assisting with customer relations, preparing sandwiches, handling cash register transactions, closing the store and calculating daily receipts.[pagebreak]
Volunteering
Finding summer employment can be nearly impossible as well, so don’t count yourself out if you’ve been left without a paycheck. If you have zero experience and are looking for a great way to get some, look for volunteer positions. Again, try to gain experience in your field, but in any case, transferrable skills and long-term commitment are attractive to employers. “When you look at volunteerism and giving your time it’s about what you’re passionate about,” says Rodriguez. “When you find your niche there’s going to be a pattern, there’s going to be dedication.”
When the term “volunteering” is mentioned, most people immediately think of soup kitchens and animal shelters. But if neither of these options strikes your fancy, there are plenty of other options. Places like nursing homes and hospitals love having volunteers come in and talk to residents/patients to brighten their days, which is a perfect use for your gift of gab. If you’re obsessed with going green, national and state parks are always looking for volunteers. Do sports get you going? Teams, leagues, and events—even the Olympics!—rely heavily on their volunteer workforce. There’s even the option to take trips with Habitat for Humanity and build houses in places like New Orleans. Putting things like this on your resume will only benefit you!
How to List it on Your Resume:
Volunteerism
YMCA, San Jose, CA – Development Volunteer
Solicited contributions as a member of the fundraising committee. Helped raise $200,000 over a four-year period.
Leadership and Involvement
Employers also look for things like leadership experience and participation in activities outside the classroom. Molly Neuhauser graduated from the University at Buffalo with a major in communications, but has significant leadership experience in other areas. “My leadership experience pertains to my dancing,” she says. “I put down my experience as kickline captain from my senior year in high school, and my experience as a choreographer for the dance club in college. I’ve been doing that for four years.” These experiences helped her land a summer internship with Sony Pictures.
“Always include leadership and involvement outside of the classroom,” says Rodriguez. “Things like positional leadership in student group or organization, but maybe you’ve been engaged in a community service activity as well. Employers like when you’ve done things to enhance your academic experience and anything that adds to your value.”
How to List it on Your Resume:
Leadership Experience
Stage Crew, University of Miami, FL – Art Director
In charge of designing all set pieces and backdrops for the university’s three annual musicals. Designated painting and building assignments to a team of ten workers. Monitored the budget and kept track of paint purchases.
Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is something that takes more initiative than just finding an application on a website, but is a great way to get more information, learn about your field, and make connections. If there’s a company or a career you’re interested in, pick up the phone and ask if you can schedule an informational interview. This is a great way to pick up tips and learn what your potential employers really want to see. If you can schedule a day to shadow an employee while they work, all the better. “Increasing your exposure to different settings is critical,” says Rodriguez. “And when you’re a student, people want to give back.”
How to List it on Your Resume:
Professional Experience
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Art Curator Job Shadow
Researched paintings to be used in an upcoming exhibit, translated a 300-year-old document, and assisted and observed the art preservation process.
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Skills and Certifications
While most of us know to list skills like Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel on our resume, it could also be just as beneficial to list things like fluency in a second language or a certification. The idea is to show potential employers your passion, dedication and intelligence in any aspect, even if it’s irrelevant to the position you’re applying for. Some skills can even be sneakily relevant. “If you’re applying for a teaching position, [a CPR or water safety instructor certification] could be very valuable,” says Rodriguez.
How to List it on Your Resume:
Skills
Fluent in Russian, certified barista, proficient in Microsoft Office.
So, collegiettes, there’s never a reason to despair about the lacking state of your resume, mostly because it’s not nearly as lacking as you think. Internships don’t have to be the be-all-end-all of your job experience. If employers aren’t biting, you can go out and make it happen for yourself!