How To Write A CV For Jobs Without A Degree

There could be many a times when some aspects in your CV will be less than the requirements of the job you are applying for, when you are a perfect fit for the job but you have no degree.

So what would you do under such circumstance, Give it up? Absolutely not!

Bear in mind that there is absolutely no perfect man/woman for any job instead you could get 80%, 90% or more or even less of a fit to a job and this is the sole reason employers conduct interviews; just to get whom they think would fit better and not fit completely to the job.

Let us go through what you might do if you happen to be the job applicant without a degree.

In this case, focus on what you do have. What do you have that can compensate for the lack of degree?

• Special personality traits:

 In this case, you will definitely get preference over people who are more qualified and more experienced than you.

Be sure you highlight your traits properly and that those that are highlighted exactly match the requirements of the job (otherwise it will dilute your case still further, labeling you as totally misfit for the job)

Are you an artist by birth? Is acting a second nature to you? Are you a born leader?

These all are personality traits that can stand you in good stead when you apply for those trait-specific jobs.

• Additional skills:

Do you have any additional skills that pertain to the job? Have you undergone any special skills training program?

Are your talents pertaining to the overall goal of the company? Then by all means write them down in the CV first before other things.

• Avoid the educational column altogether:

A lot of people who are uncomfortable writing ‘undergraduate’ on their CVs, can simply omit the column of education altogether.

However, this will not be questioned much in the CV when the other skills and traits draw the attention of the employer away from the need to know the qualifications.

• Additional skill/experience:

  Do you have a long and accentuated experience which has put you in the league of experts?

Write the details and offer them references for the purpose.

 In many cases experience far supersedes qualifications; hence put your best foot forward and apply.
  It works.

There are a lot of other qualities that can overshadow the need of the degree.

Be confident when you state your special qualifications and skills and learn to draw away the attention of the interviewer from the need to know about your qualifications.

To find the job you want you need to look at your skills and the type of job you want to do.

 You then need to plan how you will go about looking for it.

What you have to offer

Start by asking yourself honestly what skills and experience you have. Think about the skills you have developed in the jobs you have had before, and in your life outside of work.

Employment skills and experience

Ask yourself the following questions to think about skills you have developed, including those built up in jobs you have had before:

* did you develop any skills that will be useful in the job you’re looking for?
* have you worked as part of a team?
* did you need to share information with others?
* did you follow or give instructions well?
* are you a good timekeeper?
* do you have IT skills?
* did you get any qualifications?
* were you praised for any part of your role?
 
Personal and social skills

Ask yourself the following questions about life outside work:

* do you get on well with people?

* are you on a local committee or a member of a community organization?

* are you part of a team, (for example, a sports or quiz team)?

* do you have skills from caring for your family, (for example, organizational skills)?

* have you done any voluntary work?

* have you been to any evening classes or training?

The checklist below should help you see if you are doing everything possible to find work.

Where to look for jobs ?

There are a number of ways you can search for jobs:
 
* Newspapers

* The internet

* Recruitment agencies

* Through friends and other people you know.

6 Important Details To Put In Your CV

What is a CV ?

A CV (curriculum vitae) is a short list of facts about you and your work history, skills and experience. A good CV is essential when looking for work and it is worth spending time getting it right so it sells you to an employer.

Your CV should:

* be neat, typed if possible and to the best standard you can achieve in content and layout

* be short, two sides of a sheet of A4 paper is normally enough

* be positive, it should emphasize your achievements, strengths, successes and how you have contributed to your employers making a profit (add figures to support facts whenever you can and use positive action words, for example: ‘consulting’, ‘negotiating’, ‘managing’ and so on)

* make a good impression, this means presenting the facts about yourself in a clear and positive way
What to include

There is no set format.

How you present your CV is up to you.

However, you should include at least the following:

* your name
* your address
* your phone number
* your email address (if you have one)
* your career history

  Contact Details is Very Important !

Put your most recent job first and include dates. Employers will be more interested in what you have done recently. 

Don’t leave gaps between dates, because employers will want to know what you did during those periods. If you don’t have much work experience, you could include temporary, holiday, part time or voluntary jobs too.

 If you’ve had many different jobs, emphasize the skills and experience you have gained across those jobs (for example, skills in dealing with customers or communication skills).

Here are some examples you may want to include:

1. A personal profile

This is a short statement at the beginning of your CV to sell yourself, to show your skills, experience and personal qualities. You could include positive words such as ‘competent’, ‘adaptable’, and ‘conscientious’. 

Tailor the statement to the requirements of each job that you apply for, so that you make it clear to the employer that you’re the right person for the job.

2. Achievements

Mention things you did well in your past jobs which could be relevant to the job you’re applying for.

3. Qualifications and training

Include any qualifications and training from previous jobs (for example, training in health and safety or a certificate in food hygiene), put the most recent first, include qualifications you got from school or college.

4. Interests

These can support your application if your hobbies and leisure activities highlight responsibilities and skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, perhaps you belong to a club or society which you organize activities for, or you use leadership skills or teamwork as part of the activity.

5. Other information

It is up to you whether to include this, but it can be helpful if there are gaps in your CV. If you had a career break because you were caring for children or elderly relatives, make this a positive thing and think about the skills you used doing this. 

If the job you are applying for is different from what you have done in the past, explain why you are interested in the new type of work.

6. References

You may not want to include these details on your CV but it’s good to have two or more people who can provide a work or personal reference. Ideally, one should be your most recent employer but if you haven’t worked for a while it could be someone who has known you for a long time who can comment on your qualities in relation to the job. 

You should ask the person to agree to this beforehand. Ask a friend or relative to read through your CV to make sure it is accurate and that it shows your skills in a positive way.

Have a great day.