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posted May 14, 1996
I am a 22 year old college student living in the U.S. Virgin Islands with a major dilemma. I need to get a job to help pay for school. How do I get one with no experience?
Kimmy: Use your life experience. Have you ever been a volunteer? Have you ever coached? What do you do besides school? You know what you are good at, so find ways of describing what you are good at, and put it on your resume. Be prepared to give examples of you being good at whatever you say. Don't be afraid to apply for jobs that ask for experience, if you know you can do the job. Put a confident face forward, and be prepared for a lot of rejection. Consider volunteering while you are searching for a job, and put it on your resume. Showing a good attitude and a willingness to work can be just as important as past experience.
RoadTrip: I've found that whether or not you have experience in the field is irrelevant. If you've had good work experience in other areas, most employers would look at that as a plus. Be honest! Say you've never done something, but you're willing to be trained at it. If you can prove you learn quick and work hard, you shouldn't have a problem. Be confident and personable.
Wayne_Foundation: Ask all of your instructors at school if they know of any job opportunities. That's what I did in college and it landed me a temp job as a research assistant working for a professor. The pay wasn't great, but it beat burger world, plus I learned a lot. Most important, I learned that the field I was studying was not something I'd want to do for the rest of my life and it allowed me to change majors before it was too late.
Convenience1: Don't work for free! Get a temporary job with a nearby agency. Tell them you want to build experience in the field of your choice, with temp and temp to perm jobs. You will get a paycheck and experience in the industry you desire. This worked for me - I came in as a temp, was hired permanently, then promoted 3 times.
moneyman: just apply to any all places where help is needed. try temp agencies and ask any and all friends and neighbors.
qbert: As a college student you have experience. You have experience reading, writing, and, most importantly, thinking. Also, if you posted your concern on Tripod, you also have experience with computers. Don't sell yourself short. Good luck.
nate2go: comment : The best way that I know of to earn money while going to college or pursuing any other profession is to get involved with some type of multi-level marketing company. Mostly all MLM companies require absolutely no experience and the better companies have excellent training programs. However most people still believe that you can't make money that way and therefore, they don't even try! Better yet start your own company, or help me start mine. If you'd like to know more, send email to [email protected].
KMorrison: When I was in college, as a photography major, I volunteered to work for a photography studio in town, gratis. To me, it was free education. Although I never got paid a dime from that store, what I learned was invaluable. My grades were great, thanks to the "free tutoring", I was given lots of supplies I needed for my classes which I would have had to pay for otherwise, and I made lots of good contacts, which did turn into extra (paid) work.
CAHarkness: One word: networking. Talk to everyone - professors, friends, relatives (if you have any where you're living), and put the word out that you're looking for a job. Another interesting tactic is to look around campus and see if there are any jobs that will pay at the same time they train. They'll know you don't have experience, but not only do you get training, you get the money as well.
jbegley: You did not state a lot of particulars about your dilemma, so I am going to guess that you are preparing for your first semester, and that your college is local. Try talking to the college placement office as well as the financial aid office. They can present you with oppurtunities from internships to local job postings, or even campus postings.
Be aware that none of these jobs usually give you anything more than spending money, but they do teach you how to balance work / school / personal life, which I feel is critical to learn early in school. Good Luck !floorman: Did you try the U.S. Military? They will give you a job and pay for 75% of college courses you take while in -- and you will get $874 a month to start. I know that some don't like this idea, but it has worked for a lot of people I know. Try the Air Force -- they are nicer to their people.
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