It is a tale as old as time; a young person begins their first job search and are met with a wall of advertised roles that require a certain level of experience. This leads to the question – if every job requires experience, how is my child supposed to get experience without having a job?!
I understand, and it is a quandary of many starting out in the world of work that a CV can look sparse if your child has not had much or any employment experience. My answer to this issue is that everyone has to start somewhere, and ‘experience’ does not necessarily have to equate to paid, formal employment.
You might find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
What has my child already achieved that they can add to their CV?
It is likely they have had some kind of involvement in activities that reflect the desirable skills and attributes of an entry level employee. Have they ever undertaken any projects as part of their academic studies? This would provide experience in teamwork, communication and meeting deadlines. Have they been involved in any extra-curricular activities such as sports, the arts or other creative pursuits? These would also suggest skills in self-motivation, setting and achieving goals, and organisation.
What else could they do to generate content for their CV?
If your child is in the position to do so, it is advisable that they undertake some pursuits that could be added to the CV, such as voluntary work or personal interests. Does your local community have any volunteering opportunities of which they could be a part? Are there any activities they could be involved in such as local conservation, food banks or befriending programmes?
There is also the option for them to gain a competitive advantage against other candidates by undertaking professional development. Many recognised providers offer free of charge, online courses in many in-demand employment skills such as Microsoft 365, Office Skills and Administration. Completing additional training builds your child’s skills and confidence whilst also demonstrating that they are committed to their professional development.
Importantly, when writing an entry level CV whether for a career within retail, law, banking, education etc. avoid stating the obvious e.g. ‘I was a member of the football team therefore I learnt to be a team player’. The intelligent recruiter understands this already. What they will be looking for is how you acted as a team member. Perhaps your child never missed a single training session or volunteered to help at a fundraising activity to pay for new kit. Real examples are always better than stating the obvious!
A final thought - maintaining a positive attitude
Of course, all employees have to start somewhere, and most of us were at the bottom rung of the ladder at one point. So it is encouraging to know that there are many things that can be done to maximise your child’s chance of securing their first role, including gaining unpaid experience, undertaking professional courses, and improving their CV to draw upon their transferable interpersonal and practical skills. Viewing each application as a learning opportunity rather than a rejection if not successful also helps to maintain momentum in their job search. Should you like assistance in crafting your child’s first professional CV, feel free to contact me at enquiries@sarahlovell.co.uk. I will be delighted to help.
