How do I get my resume noticed when I have great skills but no outside employment history?

I have been a small service busines owner (2-8 clients per month) and have terrific computer skills, customer service skills, administrative skills and other useful skills that a company may value but no outside employment references. I have good personal references and letters of references from clients also. No college degree yet (in the works) How do I also display my education if I am a current student but don't want to be penilized for attending college while working.

How do I get my resume noticed when I have great skills but no outside employment history?
Here's what I have learned from making a very recent career change with a nice salary upgrade: Never EVER assume your skills are non transferrable!





I had a professional do my resume. I disagreed with some of the things she put on it. For one I would have never listed my graduate schooling as I didn't attain a masters. I quit due to illness. I looked upon it as a 'failure.' She assured me it wasn't. Turns out my new boss was impressed by my education.





She stressed my organizational skills. I thought that was wasted space. She assured me it wasn't. That caught my new boss's eye too. My new job is pretty much completely based upon organization.





I worked in the family dining industry for 20 years. My customer service skills translated very well into the postition I now have in HEALTH CARE!!!





Never EVER think that you can't do what you want to "because..."





I once felt like you--locked into things, but no more! Go for it! Even if you don't get hired this particular time, you will gain a whole wealth of experience in other ways! Best wishes to you!


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Oh--and one more thing--Never walk into an interview (actually you should call it an "appointment" ) and say something like "I know you're looking for this, but I can..." On NO! You tell them how you would "be an asset and fit nicely into their organization because..."





And ask your most reliable and impressive clients if they would mind acting as references for you.
Reply:I truly am pleased if my answer has been of help to you. From experience I know that we tend to think "I've only ever done this, so what else could I possibly do?" I'm so glad you didn't just sitck with that mindset and limit yourself. Best of luck! Report Abuse

Reply:Oh--and don't discount college profs for references either. Report Abuse

Reply:Finding a job when you have so little to offer in the way of what you describe will be tough, but you have to persevere if you want to succeed. All I can say is "Hang in there."
Reply:You can have a very good resume' by just listing properly what you have mentioned. Under work experience/jobs - list the company, in this case it happens to be your own, where you have worked. Give it an appropriate name if you have not already. Under the education part of the resume', list what you have completed, and another section as "in-progress". Employers looking for a completed degree may not be interested yet, but many will look at what you have accomplished already and perhaps be interested in employing you.
Reply:First of all, you'll never get penalized for working while attending school, that is always looked upon as a positive attribute. Secondly, being persistent and possibly utilizing a curriculum vitae instead of a resume may be a way of showing off these 'soft skills' you have by explaining them through customer satisfaction figures and references... Unfortunately, recruiters tend to look at experience first ahead of intangible skill.
Reply:Instead of having the typical resume, you can have a skills section:


Start off with your name, etc, then


list out your qualifications:





Administrative %26amp; Computer


bullet some successes you have


Customer service:


Sales: Grew company from XX to YY over 5 years.





This needs to be tailored to the job you are applying for. You need to be able, through your resume, to show that you have the skills required fr the job you are applying for.





Education: BA degree in Business (or whatever), expected June 2008) is fine. It shows you are getting it at night and it hasnet interifered with your reent jb success.





What type of job do you want?


You need to find some people who do that job, and get them to refer you into their company.
Reply:You could put on there some previous volunteer work or you could say that you worked for a friend, family member, church some type of organization basically saying that you like to work with people and you get along great with people and you have no problem with doing what you are asked to do.

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