The question comes up often for young professionals just starting out as well as mid-career specialists transitioning to new fields: How does someone get experience without a job or land a job with no experience? Whether you are a recent college graduate or a rebranding seasoned expert, you may have asked yourself this question a time or two.
Instead of sitting back passively wondering about the answer, start scribbling out the workings of a substantial professional summary for your resume. The document as a whole can provide employers with a solid idea of who you are and what you bring the table. The summary, however, offers a snapshot to grab a hiring manager’s attention right away.
Be sure to check out our professional summary for a resume with no experience for some ideas. Our writing tips also offer help for putting together an effective document.
Professional Summary for a Resume With No Experience Sample
Sandra Saloman
Deerfield, IL 11111
E: ssaloman@anymail.com T: 555-785-7439Professional Summary
Deerfield, IL 11111
E: ssaloman@anymail.com T: 555-785-7439Professional Summary
Experienced staffing coordinator with exceptional ability to place qualified applicants in appropriate positions, satisfying both client demands and employee needs. Effective and professional in building and maintaining client relationships, balancing workforce priorities, and onboarding new hires. Confident working with a diverse population and communicating across cultures to bridge divides and strengthen ties among personnel.
Skills
• Reliable interviewing skills for appropriate job placement of applicants
• Highly developed aptitude for cross-cultural communication
• Collegial attitude in a collaborative environment
• Dedicated to lifelong learning
• Willing to travel
• Technologically proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, PCRecruiter, and other software
Education
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages – 2017
University of Massachusetts (online) – Boston, MA
Relevant Courses: Principles of TESOL, teaching practicum, and classroom management
Bachelor of Business Administration – 2000
Auburn University – Auburn, AL
Achievements
• Graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University – 2000
• President’s List – 1996 – 2000
Work Experience
Staffing Coordinator: June 2000 – current
Accounting Principals, Deerfield, IL
• Coordinate recruiting efforts to assist local organizations in building their workforces with highly qualified staff
• Communicate with clients daily to assess needs, respond accordingly, and fill jobs in a timely manner
• Remain proactive in interactions with company managers and employees, addressing potential problems before they arise
• Maintain a database of competent and reliable employees who can fill last-minute requests for temporary positions
• Prioritize responsibilities moment by moment, demonstrating flexibility in a fast-paced, changing environment
Volunteer English as a Second Language Teacher: Summer, 2015 and Summer, 2016
World Relief ESL program, Deerfield, IL
• Completed a teaching practicum for the MA in TESOL
• Prepared lesson plans for the English classes World Relief offers to refugees in the area
• Assisted the lead teacher in preparing materials, managing tasks inside the classroom, and tutoring students outside of class
• Met with individuals one-on-one to offer specific support in areas of difficulty, including grammar, writing, reading, pronunciation, and conversation skills
• Offered news-based discussions outside of class to help students improve fluency in a low-risk setting
• Facilitated small group activities during class to aid the primary instructor and test theories of adult learning in real situations
Tips for Creating a Professional Summary for a Resume With No Experience
1. Be succinct without compromising who you are
The professional summary in your resume should be a compact overview of your best qualifications and skills. Remember that hiring managers take only seconds to decide whether to continue reading your resume. Help convince them by summarizing your credentials in three succinct statements.
First, even if who you are in your current role is not who you hope to be in the next, go ahead and state your present title. Next, focus on transferable skills. What is it you do now that will be just as important in your next position? Notice in the above professional summary for a resume with no experience, the jobseeker listed relational skills and the ability to prioritize. Both are necessary for teachers and are excellent choices to include in the three-statement summary.
2. Use distinctive vocabulary that sets you apart from other applicants
The language you choose represents you, so select it wisely. Notice how the candidate in the resume sample describes herself as experienced, effective, professional, and confident. These are not wimpy words. They offer a tone of confidence the jobseeker supports with specific examples. When you’re writing your summary, and the remainder of your resume as well, choose strong words when you can – without exaggerating your abilities, of course.
3. Remain confident
To use vocabulary that portrays self-assuredness, you yourself must feel convinced of your qualifications. Remember even though you’re starting down a new career path, you still have plenty to offer. Your life experience, volunteer work, and other investments of energy have given you a wealth of knowledge to contribute in another vocation. Remain confident of this fact as you prepare your resume.
4. Include achievements earned at the collegiate level
Even when transitioning midway through her career, the jobseeker managed to pull off a substantial achievement by continuing to work as a staffing coordinator while completing the online master’s in TESOL program at the University of Massachusetts. She can feel proud of that accomplishment and list the MA TESOL at the top of her education section, indicating it is her most recent academic pursuit.
The candidate also graduated with honors as an undergraduate student and includes that accomplishment in her educational background. Since she has a master’s degree, it is not appropriate for her to go back as far as high school to list awards she received then. However, if a high school diploma is the highest level of education a job requires, you may feel free to include accolades you earned when you graduated.
5. Tie your work experience to qualities useful in your new role
The jobseeker in the sample resume focused on competencies like daily communication with clients, flexibility in a changing environment, and skills for determining moment-to-moment priorities. All are characteristics that will benefit her in her future classroom. She also listed ESL volunteer teaching, an experience which directly relates to anticipated new opportunities.
The Most Important Professional Summary for a Resume With No Experience Takeaways
When writing your professional summary for a resume with no experience, be sure you maintain confidence. Think back on the roles you’ve held in the past and the proficiencies you’ve developed as a result. Present those competencies in a well-crafted document. Include language that reflects optimism, add educational achievements you’ve earned, and list volunteer work that presents relevant expertise.
Remember that your resume is your first brief introduction to a hiring manager, so you’ll want to put significant thought into it. If you’re having trouble getting your background organized and on paper, check out our resume builder to assist you in this important process.
