[AgitatedMuffin]

Hello,

I'm having a bit of a problem. I'm in the process of looking for work, but I, unfortunately, do not have any sort of work experience. Whenever I consider writing a cover letter or resume I am at a loss. I've never had a job and have volunteered only three times, 4 hours each time. I am uncomfortable including this since it's not enough time to have gained much experience.

I have no credentials. I have not finished university yet and am unsure of when I will be able to. In my cover letter I could include how great and useful of a person I feel that I am and describe my good traits, but I feel that this is not enough. Regardless of the lack of resume/cv I've been applying everywhere (everywhere that my illnesses will allow) to no avail, of course.

Are there any tips or suggestions for writing a passable cover letter with absolutely no experience? Should I consider doing more volunteer work? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[hvert]

I would use other life experiences to illustrate your good qualities, if possible... but it may not even be necessary for the jobs you are applying for.

If you are applying for, say, a cashier job, you could say something like you love interacting with new people. You don't need to 'prove' it.

[Travelinglady]

Volunteer work and internships are very useful, if you can afford to work for free. Just try to do something related to the job you would like to get.

And go ahead and mention your volunteer work, even though it was minimal. It shows you are willing to work.

[stuck1978]

Hi,

When you write a cover letter, try approaching it a little differently: closely examine the job ad and highlight/underline those verbs and qualities that you think you can be good at or could help the company excel because of your personality and skills (even if they're not based on professional experience). When you write the cover letter, indicate how your skills or personality traits would help you succeed in performing what they're asking for.

I would also include a sentence where you clearly admit that you do not have professional experience, but are enthusiastic and confident about succeeding in this job.

Always be honest, and if the volunteering experience is relevant to what the company is looking for, do include it as well highlighting the specifics that are relevant to this job ad.

Your resume/cv can remain somewhat generic, but always customize the cover letter to address what they're looking for.

[GeniaGMills]

I agree with the previous two suggestions, volunteer and get an internship wherever you can. At the same time, do not offer to work for ‘free’. I have seen too many people take advantage of this. One of my friends worked for an ad agency for TWO months hoping he’d get full time service and then was let go.

[AgitatedMuffin]

Thank you all so much for the help. I will definitely put this information to use.

[Perna]

I never wrote cover letters. At the beginning, I applied for jobs that only required filling out a form (mostly retail) and waited until I had had a couple jobs to write a resume. I had worked the summer between high school and college and my college summers and did have a resume when I graduated college but it wasn't anything that could get me a job at that time.

I would see about getting some useful skills, take a practical class or two and volunteer in positions that would use those skills so when a job possibility did come up it would be easier to move "sideways" into it instead of thinking of working as a great leap up.