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Brittany Heskett
1,048 PointsHow to make a Resume, without previous Experience besides Treehouse?
This is my worst fear, and a lot of the reason I keep going back and forth. I see examples of resumes and portfolios but they all have previous work experience, how do I know if I put all this time and effort into learning everything this site has to offer Id even be able to get a job or even make a resume that would essentially be blank besides skills I claim to know?
3 Answers
Greg Kaleka
39,021 PointsHi Brittany,
Once you get some learning under your belt, you'll want to start working on side projects, either for yourself or for friends and family. You can't get experience without working on stuff :). I run a couple of websites and an iOS app. My resume has me as the founder / maintainer of those things. Make up a name for your business, and put yourself down as CEO of that business - that's your experience. Remember that learning stuff here on Treehouse is meant to get you the skills to get an entry-level position, so future employers will expect skills, not experience.
Good luck!
Luke Glazebrook
13,564 PointsHi Brittany!
I didn't have any proper formal programming experience before I got my apprenticeship with a company here in England. I only had side projects I had worked on and my Treehouse account to show. You really should include your Treehouse profile on your resume in my opinion, my employer was impressed that I was coding in my free time and could clearly see how many points and achievements I had managed to obtain.
Apart from that then I would just recommend doing what I done and showing them some side projects. They don't even have to be live or whatever even. I just made some site templates and JavaScript applications for my interview. As well as that I threw in some of the iPhone apps I have worked on but it was a web development role so I mainly focused on the websites.
I hope that I managed to help you out! If you need any more help then don't hesitate to ask.
-Luke
Brittany Heskett
1,048 PointsThank you, this made me feel a bit better. I live in Alaska and i keep only finding one job posted and it seems as they want lots of previous experience so I keep just back tracking and getting upset.
Luke Glazebrook
13,564 PointsOnly one job posting?! Are you making sure to check out all of the local job centres and sites? This may be a common thing but I know, even in the town where I live in England, I managed to find a fair few jobs.
Brittany Heskett
1,048 PointsYes alaska is known for not having any.
Luke Glazebrook
13,564 PointsThat's unfortunate! Don't worry though, something will pop up that takes your fancy sometime soon, keep searching.
Brittany Heskett
1,048 PointsBrittany Heskett
1,048 PointsThey don't check if its a credible business? you just make a website, and say you're the ceo of so and so, and they are just okay with it?
Greg Kaleka
39,021 PointsGreg Kaleka
39,021 PointsIt is a credible business! You are the CEO of Brittany Heskett, Sole Proprietorship. If you can get someone to pay you a few bucks to build them a site, all the better.
Brittany Heskett
1,048 PointsBrittany Heskett
1,048 Pointsor let's say I make a personal website, would that count? this is where I am getting confused.
Greg Kaleka
39,021 PointsGreg Kaleka
39,021 PointsA personal site would be a starting point. You'd then work on getting clients. Like I said, friends and family first. You need to be good at making websites before anyone will hire you - you get good by practicing :). A personal site is your first practice.
Brittany Heskett
1,048 PointsBrittany Heskett
1,048 PointsI guess I understand a little bit, but if for some reason I couldnt find any people to do it for, could i technically just build a fake site for a fake business and use that?
Greg Kaleka
39,021 PointsGreg Kaleka
39,021 PointsSure that's good practice, although I wouldn't put on your resume that you worked for Imaginary, Inc.
Finding clients is hard, especially at first. Keep learning, and build your skillset. You'll find clients more easily once you have a better idea of what you're doing :).