I’ve received a couple of interesting emails in the past week or so. I responded to the first by putting up a post with 5 tips to improve your writing ability, so I figured that I would take a similar strategy with the message that I got from top commentator Matt Freedman. Matt is a 15-year-old high school kid with no real world work experience. He’s on the hunt for his first job and he was looking for some help in the resume department.

Some of you may have already noticed that the vast majority of websites on the Internet that talk about resumes are catering to people who already have a body of experience. They tell you to emphasize your strengths and to toss in any quantitative measures of success that you can find. For example, if I was applying for a job today, I’d probably mention something about managing 26 workplace campaigns at United Way, raising over $700,000 in charitable contributions. At the same time, I’d downplay that I majored in my worst subject in school.

That’s all well and good, but what if the “work history” section on your resume is a big blank? What do you do then? Well, here are 5 pointers that I’d suggest for young people looking for a part-time job. They may not land you an executive position with a corner office, but you may be able to score something better than a McJob. Not that there’s anything wrong with a McJob.

1. Volunteer Experience
You’ve probably heard this one before, but there’s a good reason why it always comes up. Many employers are hesitant to hire anyone who has never held a job, but if you volunteer at your local library, community center, or non-profit organization, that will easily earn you some rather major brownie points. Those positions don’t pay in a monetary sense, but they do provide you with the experience of working with others in an employment-like setting. Speaking for myself, I spent a summer volunteering at the extended care unit in a local hospital. It was a very rewarding experience in many ways.

2. Extra-Curricular Activities
Join clubs. Join sports teams. Participate in extra-curricular activities. Again, much like the volunteer jobs that I mentioned above, participating in clubs at school can demonstrate that you work well with others, especially when striving toward some sort of common goal. Listing these clubs on your resume is particularly valuable if you’re the club president or some other position of authority, because it allows you to discuss your leadership abilities.

3. Get Help with Layout and Wording
When I was in high school, I was pretty sure of myself. Some may have said that I was over-confident in my abilities, but in hindsight, I really knew nothing. Especially when applying for your first job, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for a helping hand. I’m not just talking about going in for a session with your career counsellor, but also any older siblings (or friends) who have been there and done that. Matt did an excellent job by sending an email message my way. They can help you with appropriate wording, grammar, layout, and all that other good stuff that goes above and beyond the actual content itself.

4. Emphasize Your Skills and Abilities
Give yourself a little respect. Even if you’ve never been formally employed by a company doesn’t mean that you don’t have the skills and abilities for the job. Take Matt, for example. He has his own blog and he seems to know his way around a multitude of coding (he knows way more than me). He may not have formal training in the field, but he can get the job done. Put your Skills section near the top of your resume and don’t be afraid to tell employers what you’re capable of doing. Say that you know your way around PHP. Tell them that you can create a WordPress plug-in from scratch.

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5. Nail The Interview
You may have to send out 20 resumes before you get your first interview. Don’t feel down; just nail that one interview. Be a winner and wow them with your personality, your people skills, and your ability to articulate your thoughts. A firm handshake and dressing appropriately can go a long way, but it’s ultimately going to be your skills and abilities that will land you the position, whether you’re flipping burgers at McDonald’s or tending to servers at BlueFur. Just don’t serve me a furry McChicken or a greasy hosting package.