Any advice for a 20 year old in college who has never had a job.

19 Comments

1. Jillian KnappApril 18,2023 at 4:21AM UTC

   Volunteer work is an excellent idea to help your resume. There are a number of volunteer board positions that look great on your resume depending on what direction you want to take in your career. Also, look for co-op, internships, and practicum opportunities in your college. Those things make a huge difference s and can get your foot in the door for an entry level position. Good luck!

2. Erica MitchellApril 18,2023 at 9:28AM UTC

   I agree with Jillian. Volunteer work is where you can the skills and knowledge you're looking for. You'll have the experience to list on your resume.

3. sarahzainApril 18,2023 at 10:07AM UTC

   If you're a 20 year old in college who has never had a job, it's important to start building your professional experience as soon as possible. One of the best ways to do this is by applying for internships. Internships are great because they give you hands-on experience in a particular field, and can help you develop skills and connections that will be beneficial for your future career. Plus, many employers view internship experience favorably when considering applicants for full-time positions.

4. AnonymousApril 18,2023 at 10:21AM UTC

   You might need to complete an internship or training program and earn some certifications to beef up your resume. Then try temporary agencies to place you on some temp assignments.

5. Melissa NobileApril 18,2023 at 12:20PM UTC

   Volunteer work, a summer job, a campus job - they all count. If you can get an internship, that would be fabulous!

6. AnonymousApril 18,2023 at 12:24PM UTC

   Everyone is hiring, take anything and be sure to never miss a day. In a year you can trade up to a better job.

7. AnonymousApril 18,2023 at 12:50PM UTC

   I would start with the career center at your college. Every college should have one. They generally assist with the "no experience" resume and often have lists of employers who would be happy to take fresh graduates or those in school and even work around their class schedule. The school should have a lot of resources for you. As others have said, volunteer work and internships are always good things to include on your resume. If you don't have any, see if you can find a local non-profit looking for volunteers to work with clients or do administrative duties. You can also take on a work/study program at your school. I tutored first- and second-year students in my junior and senior years.

8. AnonymousApril 18,2023 at 6:23PM UTC

   Wow, I really appreciate you telling me that! I did not know the career center assisted with that, I will definitely set up an appointment now.

9. AnonymousApril 19,2023 at 1:11PM UTC

   I found my first “real” post graduate job when I went back to the career center at my school!

   BTW I found my next job through a classified ad in the Sunday paper!

10. AnonymousApril 18,2023 at 1:05PM UTC

    I would list the projects that you lead, teamed with and completed. Also as others advised go to the career center at the college and have them help you with your resume. It you were in sports list that on your resume, did you lead the team, volunteering. Good luck

11. JulieApril 18,2023 at 1:57PM UTC

    Get a job now - working is an experience no matter the area.

    Talk about programs and activities you led, planned or were involved in. Talk about the skills you have or learned from those experiences.

12. AnonymousApril 18,2023 at 2:13PM UTC

    Travel! Take a gap year and goooooo outside lol

    I would also say look at paid fellowship, apprenticeships, global volunteering programs where you can give back and travel, and paid internships.

    Do not feel you have to get your first job in your degree area, unless you've got specialty degree (like in STEM, or liberal artsy stuff like language studies, etc, you get the drift.).

    For the most part, remain open to all paid entry level or internship opportunities. Volunteer in your community, check out boards like idealist.org for non-profit gigs.

    If something interest you, go for it!

13. AnonymousApril 19,2023 at 1:08PM UTC

    Anyone who mentions paid internships is my favorite internet person of the day!

14. AnonymousApril 18,2023 at 5:22PM UTC

    If you are in college, I highly encourage you pursue internships in your field of study. I wish I had known how important it was when I was in college (granted, I was a nontraditional student with several years of work experience before going to school). At my previous employer (I was there 10 years), we had a very robust internship program. I've seen lots of resumes for internship candidates. When including experience on their resumes, they included whatever clubs they belonged to, any offices held for clubs, volunteer work, etc. I have seen people start as interns and several years later end up at VP (I know of one instance, guy was an intern when I started and by the time he left, he had reached executive level).

15. Maggie StoneApril 19,2023 at 12:28PM UTC

    This is great advice. 100% agree. Focus on volunteering or getting an internship. Participation in campus clubs and organizations is important as well, but I would recommend focusing on leadership opportunities within those groups (e.g. I was an executive in x club or lead y initiative). Look for opportunities to do independent research in your field.See if professional organizations within your field accept student members or begin connecting with individuals in your field. Also get to know your professors and take advantage of their office hours. If they don’t know you, they won’t think of you if opportunities come along. My husband is a professor, and nothing is more awkward than a student who you barely know or may have had once in class coming to you for a recommendation. Remember, It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. Good luck.

16. Cynthia Armistead NewmanApril 19,2023 at 12:25PM UTC

    Have you done any volunteering? If so, list that on your resume! Held part-time jobs? List those and the skills you used for them.

17. Sue Gordon- retired Career CoachApril 19,2023 at 2:47PM UTC

    Your college very likely, almost certainly, has a career center (the may call it something else but it should be there).
    Find it. Talk to them, use their resources. They'll get you started on the resume and should have resources to find internships (search on "paid" when using their system). This should be a free service (well, paid by your tuition). Good luck!

18. Laura BrennanApril 20,2023 at 4:40PM UTC

    Lots of good ideas. Let me add that informational interviews are gold. People love college students/new grads! Your energy, your desire to learn and to get ahead, your enthusiasm -- it's all a breath of fresh air.

    Think about what industries you'd like to be in. See who you know who knows someone in those industries. You are NOT looking for people in HR or top dogs, you are looking for people who have jobs you might want to have in five or ten years.

    Ask for 20 minutes of their time in person if you can or via Zoom if you can't to ask questions: what do they like about their work? Their industry? How did they break in? What skills do you need? Your question above, how to improve your resume, only phrase it as "...to be able to break into [their industry]" rather than "...entry level job." Always ask what they wish they had known when they were starting out.

    Follow up with an actual, written thank-you card if it is at all possible to get their business address. Only use an email if you really can't get them a card without being a stalker (ie: don't send it to their home).

    Keep loosely in touch with them every couple of months ONLY WITH GOOD NEWS. Let them know you took their advice to do [whatever] -- you took that class, you upleveled that skill, you added your volunteer work to your resume, you reached out to that person they suggested. Let them know what good came of it: you had this informational interview with someone because they told you to go to this conference, your new skill got you an opportunity to do something else for your college, you got an A in that class...

    There are no further requests. You are just giving them good news.

    However, when you are looking for something -- a summer job, or you're about to graduate and looking for a full-time job -- you get to let them know that you are on that quest. Do not ask them for a job! Just say something like, "Thanks to your advice, I did [this] and [the other thing] and now I'm actually doing it: I've started sending out my resume and looking for work when I graduate in May."

    Some of them will wish you well. Others will ask you to send them your resume. You are gracious to all of them and you FOLLOW UP on everything.

    You are ahead of the game, starting this now. Great work!

    You've got a bright future.

19. AnonymousApril 22,2023 at 6:12PM UTC

    Volunteer! Do it in a place where you want to perhaps be considered for FT work. Do it in a place where you can make a difference to your community. Experience is experience and things you learn will help you and make you referenceable to those who you have served in the volunteerism. Go to Meetup groups for the roles you want to be in find a mentor.