Creating a resume for candidates with limited experience, education, and documentation

Dear Sam: Hello! I am a career counselor at a local non-profit refugee office. I often deal with clients who are looking for jobs but have no high school education, obscure work experience, and/or limited English skills.

Many job descriptions request a resume, even for low-skill jobs. Is it better to create a resume for these folks or to simply have them complete the company's application? I am afraid that for some of my clients, creating a resume will only highlight what formal experience they do not have. Also, even when clients do have work or school experience, they may not remember company names or dates, and diplomas or certificates may be lost or unavailable.

So, what is the best approach to creating a resume for those who do have marketable skills, but may not be able to prove it? Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thank you. – Gretchen in Columbus

Dear Gretchen: Thanks for the great questions. I often speak with clients who are not sure if they really need a resume, either because they feel they don’t have a “professional” background or because they don’t possess the marketable skills needed to create an effective resume. The first step is really to decide whether a resume is the appropriate tool for your clients. If employers are asking for such a document, then one, of course, should be created; but if the hiring process is primarily driven by an application, then your clients may not need a resume. I’d always lean towards creating one, however, as it is the most effective means to highlight what skills your clients do have. Regardless, they will always need to know where and when they worked, so that is the place to start when creating a complete and accurate document.

Either by rooting through old files, enlisting the assistance of a background check company, or speaking with friends or family members who may remember names and dates, your clients have to develop a timeline of their professional background. This doesn’t have to extend for more than about 10 years, so maybe this will make the process a little less daunting. They will also need to contact educational institutions, ask for transcripts, and generally secure the correct information related to their educational pursuits.

Once your clients possess a complete picture of their professional and/or academic background, you can then begin the resume writing process. If your clients do not have a strong background to showcase, then you will need to feature softer skills that they feel will position them for what they now want to do. I do this a lot for my student and entry-level clients, as they do have less experience to showcase. In these situations, I use the skills they developed either in the classroom or workplace to position them as qualified candidates. There are a lot of value-added skills or attributes that candidates forget about when compiling their resume. These could include a sound work ethic, missing very little work, an ability to learn new processes quickly, a flexible attitude to changing environments, strong team work skills, etc. Use the qualifications summary section in your clients’ resumes to tout these values, which will market them for a variety of opportunities. You can then keep the professional experience and education sections brief, if necessary. Another tool that is very effective is including testimonials from former co-workers or managers at the beginning of the resume. Without much documentation, your clients may not be able to generate these positive comments, but if they can it will reinforce their ability to do outstanding work. All the best!