Degree Holder Concerned About Lack of Professional Experience

It’s crucial to shine a spotlight on your skills. (Dreamstime/TNS)

By Kathleen Furore From Tribune Content Agency

Dear Readers: I recently spoke with someone who just earned an associate’s degree in a creative field and is concerned because she doesn’t have any professional work experience to highlight on her resume. How can someone with an associate’s degree in a field like graphic design, floral design, or illustration showcase their talent when applying for their first job in their chosen profession?

It’s crucial to shine a spotlight on the creative skills you’ve been honing—and there are ways to do that with very little or even no professional experience. Here’s how:

• Create a portfolio that taps the power of social media.

“Creating an Instagram page or website that showcases your work can be a good way to give potential employers a sense of your style and abilities. These platforms can be especially useful for those in visual or design-based fields, as they allow you to showcase your work in a visually appealing way,” says Dennis Shirshikov, a strategist at short-term rental company Awning.com. He suggests including a selection of your best pieces and a brief explanation of the creative process and the challenges you faced in creating each piece. “

“Showcasing your work to the world via social media is a wonderful free way to show, get real time feedback and also build your community,” says career coach and consultant Kandice Whitaker. “Leverage LinkedIn because it shows ‘professionalism’ and then link that page to Instagram, TikTok (because it’s hot), and also Pinterest. Those things, she notes, not only highlight your work, but also help build your personal brand.

Also make sure to include testimonials about your creativity, professionalism, and design expertise, says Patrick Kellenberger, COO of Betts Recruiting. “We would also recommend the use of Instagram stories to showcase creative talents, and to link all content to a fuller portfolio or resume for specific details,” Kellenberger adds.

Exploring all forms of social media, in fact, is key since the platforms are growing in popularity across all age groups and demographics, Kellenberger explains.

“Building a following on these mediums is critical for content creators and there is no better content than original graphic or floral design or illustration,” he says. “Vlogging, blogging and YouTube channels are also great ways to showcase your design work as well as your energy and personality!”

Just be sure to keep your portfolio up to date and relevant to the job you’re applying for—whatever medium you use, Shirshikov says.

• Be proactive even if you don’t have a lot of professional experience.

“This could involve networking with industry professionals, interning or volunteering, or simply reaching out to companies that you admire and expressing your interest in working with them,” Shirshikov says. “By taking the initiative and showing your passion for your field, you can increase your chances of landing your first job in the creative industry.”

• Work on your resume.

As Whitaker notes, how you present information on your resume often determines if you get an interview. “I would lead with education and links to social media in the contact information,” she advises. Then list any opportunities you had to showcase your work while you were working on the degree—think college art shows and volunteer projects—on your resume (Whitaker suggests doing that under a section titled “Related Experiences”).

“Be ready to discuss how your experiences thus far have prepared you for the position to which you’re applying,” Whitaker concludes.

(Kathleen Furore is a Chicago-based writer and editor who has covered personal finance and other business-related topics for a variety of trade and consumer publications. You can email her your career questions at [email protected].)

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