When you apply for a job, most employers will ask you to list relevant work experience. This means you will have to develop a resume that outlines what jobs you have worked in the past and how they relate to the job you want to apply for. Choosing relevant work experience can be difficult if you are not sure what field you want to enter, but if you have an idea of what kind of work you want to do in the future, choosing jobs and explaining how they relate to a new position is not difficult.
First and foremost, it is important to understand that all work experience is relevant work experience, regardless of the position for which you are applying. If you have worked in any professional setting, regardless of whether it's a fast food restaurant or a high-powered business firm, you have gained relevant work experience from the job. The tricky part is explaining how the job experience is relevant to the new position. Any time you work a job, you are developing a sense of responsibility and a work ethic, which means your work experience should always be relevant to a new position.
It is, of course, wise to choose jobs that will propel you toward the career you ultimately want to pursue. Try to find jobs or volunteer positions that will help you develop skills that will be directly useful in your future career. If you want to become a teacher, for example, you may be able to gain relevant work experience by working as a tutor at a school or for a tutoring agency. If you want to become a chef, it helps to start out as a server so you can get experience in the restaurant industry.
Internships are also great ways to gain relevant work experience. These jobs may be unpaid positions, but you will be able to learn countless skills from more experienced professionals in the field. Internships generally only last a few months or a year at most, and you will be able to list this experience on your resume. Try to find internships within the industry in which you hope to work; this is important not only for gaining work experience, but also for developing important connections within the industry. Volunteer opportunities may be able to provide you with many of the same benefits of an internship.
