Career Advice for Job Seekers
Ask the Experts: How to write a supplemental experience statement
alwin
We received this question from a job seeker: “I am in the process of filing out applications for jobs and they all involve writing supplemental experience statements. I do not have any job experience in the field that I am applying for but I do have a masters degree in the field. How do I write my supplemental statement? How much information should I include and how long should it be?”
We got answers from four career experts, and here’s what they advise.
Linda Wyatt, Career Center, Kansas City Kansas Community College: As you write your supplemental statement keep in mind that although you have no previous direct work experience, past work experience has helped develop some of the skills you will carry over to this new area. Couple these “transferrable skills” with the direct expertise and skill learned through your degree program. If your program required an internship or practicum be sure to include that.
One may to begin might be to look at the skills needed to perform the job functions you are applying for and develop a list of skills that you possess that would allow you to perform these skills on the job. You need to think beyond previous job tasks to the skills you used to do those jobs.
Your supplement statement would be silimar to how you would answer the interview question, “Why should we hire you?” The key to success with this statement is thinking outside the job task box to the skills used to perform those tasks!!! Good Luck!
Candace Davies, Director and Founder of Cando Career Coaching and Resume Writing and All Trades Resume Writing: First of all, your situation is not unusual. Many college graduates find they have never worked in an industry before, but the job and career direction matched up to their education, and most importantly, natural talents. At this point, by virtue of acquiring a Master’s degree in the field, you’ve confirmed at least two things. First, you can dedicate yourself to working very hard for a reach goal. Second, you obviously have interest in working in this occupation since you chose this area of specialization. Emphasize these two accomplishments in the supplemental experience area of the application. Now, this is where you must learn to sell yourself. Creativity is key, and writing style is always an indicator of abilities. Explain how specific college experiences correlate w/the work experiences that you will be facing in this field. Site examples of writings, reports, classes, lab work, etc. to back this up.
Also read: Latest rules for resume writing from career consultant Joanne Meehl
What is it about you that is unique and special and sets you apart from the rest of the candidates? How do you see yourself as different from others, not only through your education, but also through life experiences? Read the job description you’re applying for and look for an angle, or a niche, where they need a unique talent that you possess. Know the company, do some research and use this information. Does it require exceptional problem solving skills, attention to detail, creativity, and people skills. Compare this information to your own personal skills inventory. Are you exceptional at discovering new ways of doing things? Seeing trends in data that no one else finds? Having a knack for quickly pulling people together to overcome a crisis? You can compete with others having lots of experience because you have to look closely and listen to your heart to see if YOU match up with the position, and use your interest/passion to SELL!
Jeff Westover, Writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah and Managing Editor of JobMarketReport.com: These requests are for statements of fact — not a run-down of related jobs you have held. Chances are you did not get your masters in the field without learning or doing a thing or two along the way. So be prepared to talk about specific experiences, using as many qualifiers as you can that relate to the job in question. What employers are looking for in this request is to see if you know the lingo and have a feel for the nature of the position you are seeking. It is a smarter way for them to hire and an extraordinary opportunity to showcase your abilities beyond what you can cram on a resume.
Coming up with these specifics may seem challenging if, in fact, you have never been employed in the field. However, just because I have never had a job parking cars doesn’t mean that my driving experience in not relevant. And yes, it is entirely appropriate to list experience in such a simple fashion. Your question does not suggest the job you are pursuing or your field of study, so I can’t give more specific examples. But drawing upon activities, internships and projects in pursuit of your degree should provide plenty of specific examples of experience for this job.
The statements should be as concise as you can make them. Remember that the attention span of a hiring manager who has stacks of similar applications and resumes to review is very short. So the more that you can speak directly and precisely to their request, the better.
Robert C. Resch, Career Center, Triton College: The request for supplemental writing is to help the interviewer develop a comprehensive impression of you as a person and potential employee. It is more to learn how well you communicate in writing than to evaluate your specific experience. Though there is an element of interest in job specific experience sought in the writing request, it is not the principle goal that motivates the request.
Find a personal experience that closely parallels or applies to what may occur within your chosen field and use it as a basis of your piece. Draw upon your educational experience and write a “theoretical” sample that demonstrates your understanding of your field of choice, work situations and problem-solving skills. Style your writing for the company to whom it is addressed, bringing in examples that relate to their product type or service. This may require preparing a variety of focused sample, but the effort to “personalize” will pay dividends in you search for a position.
As to how to write the statement, my suggestion is to put it in the form of an informal report to a fictitious manager in response to her/his request to investigate a particular situation. Keep the length to 2-3 double spaced, typed pages: sufficient to clearly demonstrate your thinking/ writing abilities, but not so long as to overwhelm the reader. As I said above, prepare the topic to be company specific and detailed enough so the reader will gain an insight into your depth of knowledge within your field.
One final point, be prepared to discuss your “report” during an interview. It is here you will have your opportunity to expand on your concept and reinforce the impression developed within the readers’ mind of your knowledge, skill and understanding.
New Job Postings
Advanced Search
