Like any other college student off for the summer, I have been looking for a job. I have taken the time to create a professional resume and cover letter, yet I still have had trouble finding a summer job. What my problem, and the problem I’m sure many of you share, is that I have no experience.
In high school I was an honor student who took college classes and participated in after-school activities. During the summer, my focus was on watching my younger siblings and completing summer assignments. I was unable to juggle a part-time job with my other responsibilities as well, and I was unable to accumulate job experience from my high school years. Unfortunately, my first couple of years of college were no different. I was unable to juggle a job and academics during my freshman adjustment period, and then when I was well adjusted I did not have the resources, such as qualifying for work study or having transportation to travel off campus to find a job.
The school year ended and then came summer. I created my resume and cover letter and submitted it with the application for a minimum wage, no experience required job. I made it through the phone call screening and get a time for an interview. I anxiously awaited my turn for my interview, and the interview went so well that the interviewer practically guaranteed me a job. Then I received an email: “Thank you for your interest, but we have chosen an applicant with more experience.”
How can we, as inexperienced college students, gain experience if we are never hired? We are passed over because we have no experience or references. It’s frustrating when you work just as hard as someone else and are just as passionate, and still don’t receive the position, and they receive it only because they have had a job in the past. You study hard and have finally found your groove, yet you are still having trouble with something that should be simple: finding a job. Your lack of experience is hindering you, even though the applications will say “No Experience Necessary.” The only “occupation” you and I have ever known is that of a student, but that doesn’t count as job experience even though you have to be able to communicate with others and have time management skills in order to be successful.
The only way to overcome this obstacle of having no experience is to gain experience. The only way to gain experience in a field of minimum wage job when competing against experienced high school students is to never give up. You have to apply for everything you can and accept the job you may not really want. This job will give you the experience you need and you will be able to add it to your resume. Those kids you and I are competing with are able to juggle the multiple responsibilities, and while we were not able to do so while in high school and the beginning of college, that is not something we should hold against ourselves; we cannot compare ourselves to others.
One day, with experience, you and I will be able to get the jobs we want in our fields of study. It’s important to remember that whatever summer job you get, it is only temporary and not a job you will have forever. Just do your best, have faith, and keep your chin up! Your resume will thank you!
