Career Resources: Job Searching, Resumes, Cover Letters, and Related Topics

This page includes information on how to leverage different types of experience (directly related or unrelated), and networking in your job search.

Experience

Most job ads will require or prefer for some sort of experience, ie. education, "relevant" work experience, or required number of years in a specific field.  This can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging when your resume does not perfectly align with the listed requirements. The following section provides information on how to showcase the experience you do have, and how communicate transferable skills. Transferable skills are defined as, "any skills you possess that are useful to employers across various jobs and industries. These might include skills like adaptability, organization, teamwork or other qualities employers seek in strong candidates".  ​

Whether you are: 1) a recent high school graduate with limited years of employment history; 2) in the process of making a career change and lacking the relevant work experience; or 3) returning to the workforce after a gap (for example: returning to work after having a child, or medical illness), there are different approaches to working with the experience you do have and attracting the attention of potential employers.

The articles to the left, "Showcasing Experience", provide guidance on how to articulate your transferable skills and non-relevant employment history. They also provide tips on how to gain experience before completing your degree.

Examples of How-to-Gain experience:  field of study (educations and training), internship (*paid/unpaid), undergraduate research, volunteer work, part-time job, summer job. 

Networking