Resume and Job Experience Question (help appreciated)

[jmwilso3]

Hey all,

I have a couple quesitons regarding work history and resume building.

First of all, I'm a full-time college student, I'm about to graduate with my BA in CJ. I'm doing an internship with a PD, but other than that I have no real work experience related to LE. I've always been a full-time student and have worked jobs like retail or grociery stores. I've worked since I was 16 (now 21), in 3 different jobs.

1. I don't think my convience store type jobs are going to impress anyone on my resume, should I even include them? I've never really had time to have a real CJ related full-time job. Will this look bad?

2. I'm working trying to find some volunteer opportunities to build up my resume, are there any types of work that would be viewed better? I've never really had a chance to do volunteer work, as I've been working since I was 16 to pay my own bills. Any advice with volunteer work?

3. I would appreciate any other resume building tips that would make me stand out. I do not really have time to learn a language and I'm not too interested in joining to military.

Thank you.

[noelchabanel]

Thought about joining a volunteer fire dep't and/or rescue squad? Programs for kids when they aren't in school? Teaching religious ed.?

I don't think these help too much more than volunteering anywhere else, but I like to plug for my own causes :D


Any stable job is a good experience. My first real job was at a convenience store...I know I learned a heck of a lot about dealing with people there...dealing with people who wanted to buy beer after 11:30 was an eye opening experience :eek:. No one just out of college has LE experience, unless they did an internship. Heck, even people a long way out don't have any unless they have already been hired. Just keep working at it.

[jmwilso3]

Thanks Noel.

Anyone else have any input?

[Roger Dat]

You dont need LE experience thats what an aademy is for ( or at least thats what they tell you my learning was all field training.) Every job you hold is important for the application and interview process.

Every retail or fast food job teaches you to deal with a number of different types of people which can be helpful. Best thing you can do wheh nyou graduate is apply but while waiting get a job and keep it! long history does help. Going from job to job isnt a huge deal when your in college provided you left them on good terms.