If you are beginning to look for a job, you have probably thought about how your interviews will go and what employers will think of you. If you have not been able to obtain any internship experiences throughout college, you may be worried about how this may affect the chances of you landing a job offer. All of these feelings are completely normal for entry-level candidates like yourself.

In this article, you will learn about what employers are looking for from the perspective of a recruiter. Madison Driggers of Advanced Recruiting Partners has over 6 years of experience placing candidates of all experience levels into a variety of positions. We asked Madison for advice on the topic of getting a job without internship experience. Here is what she had to say.

How much does having an internship affect your chances of getting a job?

The impact that internship experience has on your ability to get a job is usually never hurtful. If you have internship experience in the field in which you are applying, you are more likely to stand out to whoever is looking at your resume. If you do not have any internship experience, it will most likely not harm your chances of getting a job at all. 

When an employer or recruiter sees that you have experience, they believe that you will be able to learn faster because you have already taken your first steps into the field. If you have no internship experience to show, there are plenty of other ways that you can show you are qualified for the position you are applying for. Here are just a few tips on how to make your resume look professional without internship experience.

How to have a good resume without internship experience?

Have a clean resume – don’t clutter your resume with tons of text and paragraphs of information to read. The recruiter or employer that is reviewing your resume will only look at it for a short period of time, so they will most likely not read through the entire thing.

Do not include graphics/colors – Madison, our ARP professional says that she has seen many resumes try to incorporate graphics and colors. This may seem like a good idea as a way to stand out, but the employer looking at your resume does not prefer these types of resumes.

Formatting should look professional – There are many different resume builders and tools you can find online to create a good resume. A few things to consider is to keep your formatting consistent, use the right size/style font (size 11; Times New Roman), have around 3-5 bullets in any list you create.

Keep resume to one page if possible – You should try your best to have your resume fit on one page. Having 2 pages with your resume may discourage your resume from being looked over and may look unprofessional.

Name, Phone number, and email address – You should always put your name, phone number, and email address on your resume so that there are no problems with contacting you. A good place to put this information is at the top of your resume.

Tips for applying and interviewing without internship experience

Madison Driggers of Advanced Recruiting Partners knows what employers are looking for among candidates from years of experience in the field. She knows what it takes to give you enough of an edge over competing candidates to win the position you are applying for. Here are a few extra tips that she offers to candidates who have not had internship experience but would like to stand out among the crowd.

References – Having references from a former professor or supervisor can be a great way to distinguish yourself from other applicants. A reference does not need to be in the field in which you are applying. The point of having a reference is to allow your employer to speak to someone who has seen your work ethic and knows you personally. If you choose good references, you have an increased chance of landing the job you are applying for.

Soft Skills – Soft skills are important to bring up in a job interview. If you have any outstanding skills that you can show an employer you should do so. These skills do not have to be specific to the industry in which you are applying. Any skills such as strong verbal communication, other languages you may know, time management skills, among others are good things to point out to an employer.

Know the Company – You should always familiarize yourself with the company you’re interviewing with before speaking with a representative of the business. If you are familiar with things like the company culture, the history of the company, and the industry the company is in, it will show your interviewer that you care about the position. If you can ask questions about the company and show interest in the business, the interviewer will see that you are passionate about work.

Find a Career with Advanced Recruiting Partners

If you are currently looking for a job, connecting with a recruiter like ARP can provide you with a fast track to success. You can also take a look at our current job positions if you are interested in entering a clinical career. We have helped place hundreds of candidates across the US into positions in the healthcare industry. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field like biology, chemistry, or nursing, we can place you in an entry-level position. Contact us today and we will get you into interviews with potential employers in no time.