I’m sure many collegiettes can relate to being stuck in that frustrating point in your life where you need experience to get the job you want, but you can’t gain the experience you need without getting a job. It can be really hard to just get your foot in the door and there’s nothing worse than reading a job description for a really amazing job and feeling like you’d never be hired with the resume you have now. In this case, I have learned that the saying “fake it till you make it” really works. If you really do some digging, you will find that you can make any job experience you have make you sound qualified. By pulling out the skills required from any job you can easily apply the skills you gained through your experience to the job you want.
I’ll use myself as an example. Up until now, my job experience has consisted of lifeguarding—the quintessential high school summer job. Not quite an internship on the Hill, but that’s what I’m working with. This summer, I knew I needed a change of pace and wanted to try something new. During my scramble to apply to summer jobs, I felt that no one would hire me because all I have experience with is lifeguarding. I love fashion, so I really wanted to try to get a job in retail. I had to think about how I could stretch my lifeguarding skills to apply to a retail job. More than just sitting in a chair getting a tan and drinking lemonade, I needed to be responsible and develop customer service skills. When responding to the demands of families who are members at the pools I worked at, it was necessary that I manage their needs in a polite and efficient manner. I also needed to make sure that families and children are having a positive experience and feel safe. By thinking about lifeguarding in this way, the connection to retail becomes clear. As a lifeguard it is also important to be able to work under stress and be flexible, independent, and attentive to details. I also learned to operate as a team with other lifeguards, as it was important that we all stay on schedule and work together to create a safe environment. All of these skills are important at any job.
You scooped ice cream for three summers? Turn that into an experience that taught you about customer service, teamwork, and business management.
You’re a babysitter? You are a master at working under stress and problem solving, being creative and flexible, and you are responsible and mature.
You were a cashier at a grocery store? You learned about customer service, gained interpersonal relation skills, and ability to establish rapport. You were also responsible for handling large amounts of money and cash.
Another important part of being able to fake it till you make it is having confidence. Go into interviews with a smile and give a good hand shake. When they ask you about your previous experience, don’t shy away from the fact that you might not have any direct experience, but explain how your previous experience is applicable. If you sound confident that you have the necessary skills, the employer will be confident in you too. So don’t sell yourself short, and before applying and interviewing, think about how you can make your resume work for you.