Too often, people let the fear of not being experienced enough for a given job prevent them from ever applying. Even without working experience, there are still many ways to get a great job or, at the very least, get a job that starts your journey toward the career you truly want. Read on to learn how to build a CV, resume, or cover letter that showcases everything that makes you a good job candidate, even without working experience in general or in a given industry.

You Are Likely More Qualified Than You Think

An important fact many people overlook is that most people are more qualified to apply for a job than they realize. Every internship, hobby, research project, or community service experience makes you unique. Every life experience you have sets the foundation for your future career and sets you up to have the potential to succeed. With this in mind, you can start the process of drafting your CV feeling confident.

Life Experience Counts

As you draft your CV, think about the position you are applying for and what the employer is really asking for. If they are looking for someone who is a leader, think about times in your life where you have stepped up to a challenge and led a group. If you have ever taken on a leadership role during a project, for a sports team, or in an organization, reference those experiences. Likewise, if you have ever been a tutor or teacher’s assistant, you have demonstrated your ability to lead other students to academic success. If the employer is looking for someone organized, consider tasks that you do on a regular basis and how they fit into the needs of a workplace. Keeping your home organized and balancing your finances both take effort and a working understanding of organizational principles and can be included in a CV and discussed during your interview.

Look The Part

Even if you don’t have experience, by making your CV “look the part,” you can increase your odds of catching the attention of a recruiter. You can do this by researching CV samples and formatting your CV similarly. Many CVs include the applicant’s personal information, their statement of purpose or some description of their career plans, and a description of their professional, education, and personal experience. You can bolster a CV that looks the part by adding flairs of your personality. Some applicants include a section describing their volunteer work, hobbies, and interests. Others include a list of references, which can be useful, particularly if you do not have much (or any) work experience.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Since you will be at a disadvantage when compared to applicants with more specific job experience, it is important to make your CV stick out for the right reasons. One way to show your potential future employer that you care deeply about the opportunity is to carefully draft your CV, taking special care to ensure that there are no grammatical, spelling, or other errors, that fonts and formatting are consistent throughout the document, and that all of the information is accurate. Another way to put your best foot forward is to communicate professionally at every stage of the application process, including sending your application to the employer. Be sure to respond promptly, write well thought out and well-written responses, and provide additional information if the employer asks for it. By showing that you are professional and reliable, you can put your CV into practice and make a compelling argument on your own behalf about why you should be hired.