JOB searching

[Sasha]

Ok ladies i need help creating a resume for me. Here's the thing, i have no job experience!!!...I graduated high school many moons ago and all i have been doing is raising my girls and other peoples kids. I have no idea what to put. I self-taught everything i know. Cake decorating, photoshop, photography and such but i think that would all fall under hobbies. I would like to go into something clerical for now....so would you mind giving me some pointers as to what to write in the damn resume...

[scrap2day]

Focus on skills that would translate to the position you are wanting.

Include examples of how you communicate with others, how you organize, etc.

Have you helped out at church, your kids' classroom, book club, etc. where you could highlight some of the skills you used there?

Show them how you are qualified to help them even though you may not have "traditional" experience.

Good luck!

[YepBrook]

That would be considered a "starter resume" and there are ways to pull it off without seeming like you lack something... which you don't! Life experience & self-taught abilities count for a lot. So does any volunteer position you've ever taken, odd jobs, and any communityelated activities. I found this guide to writing a starter resume, which was helpful.

[YepBrook]

Oh, and another tip I've learned along the way is to tailor your resume to the job you are trying to land. For example, for a clerical job they would probably need to see these things in your resume:

Comfortable with computers
Can use office-type computer programs (Word, Excel, etc.)
Can type & do it well (spelling, punctuation, speed)
Data entry, filing, photocopying etc.

Have you ever volunteered for an office/teacher aide position? That would be helpful for them to see. I know at our local high school, they teach small night classes in Microsoft Word which might give your resume the extra oomph it needs. Just a thought.

[rach3975]

I don't have any links, but I know that I've seen resume writing guides online for moms re-entering (or entering) the work force that suggest ways to show how your skills translate. You could try googling for something like that.

[Sasha]

Thank you so much ladies, i am half way there!! woo hoo!! And all these tips have helped tons