Need more options? Browse Jobs by Company, Date Posted, Job Title, and more job categories

Advice » Career Development » Education & Training » How New Graduates Can Use ...

How New Graduates Can Use Part-Time Work to Gain Valuable Job Skills

By Susan Kennedy, Monster Contributing Writer

If you're a recent college graduate who's working a part-time job to earn money while looking for your first postcollege full-time job, you can take advantage of that part-time position to develop marketable career skills and build your resume.

"College graduates don't realize the benefits of working part-time while they are looking for a job," says Pam Caplin, former vice president of human resources at Fidelity Investments. "I prefer candidates who are working, because it shows initiative and a work ethic."

Suppose you're a recent graduate who wants to pursue a career in advertising. You haven't found an advertising job yet, so you take a job waiting tables to make ends meet. While you didn't go to college to be a restaurant server, you can still develop skills employers value while in that role that, including:

Dealing with customers.
Managing multiple priorities.
Solving problems.
Thinking on your feet.

Properly phrased on your resume, those job skills can give you an edge when applying for an entry-level account management position in advertising. Those same skills could also translate into a sales position -- tips equate to commissions, after all. What server isn't motivated by tips?

"If an applicant arrives with work experience -- full- or part-time -- they have shown that they can market themselves, learn on the job, interact with others and keep a schedule," says Tom McGowan, a human resources generalist most recently with DHL Express. "Those are skills that are valuable in most jobs."

Part-Time Payoff

To maximize the payoff from a part-time job, define the job you're ultimately seeking. Next, review job postings, Monster's Career Snapshots and the Occupational Outlook Handbook to identify the skills you'll need to land that job.

Now you're ready to look for part-time jobs that would help you build skills. For instance, if your goal is an entry-level sports marketing job, pursue a part-time position at a local gym. Although you may start with checking in members, you could offer to help coordinate the facility's member events. Doing so would let you demonstrate strong work communication skills, as well as multitasking and event-planning skills.

Other possibilities include:

Part-Time Job	Skills You Can Acquire	Potential Careers
Retail sales	Communication Customer service Sales Problem solving	Accounting Finance
Bookkeeping	Attention to detail Organizational skills Quantitative skills	Sales Sales management Account management/client services
Landscaping	Attention to detail Teamwork (if part of a crew) Initiative (if self-employed)	Customer service Advertising Sales

Bringing Your Skills to the Job Search

Once you've developed these skills, you need to convey them effectively in your job search. Here are some pointers:

On Your Resume: Feature your newly acquired skills in your Qualifications Summary. In addition, a bulleted work skills list helps recruiters see if you have the skills they're looking for. Mary Gibbs, an HR recruiter for 12 years, says she reviewed so many resumes that she could spend only a few minutes on each one. "Being able to easily see the skills I [was] looking for [made] my job easier," she says.
In the Interview: Prepare behavioral-based stories that articulate how you developed and used those skills. "Once I see that a candidate has solid work experience, I want to know how they optimized that experience," McGowan says. "What did they do to set themselves apart while benefiting the employer?"

For instance, an interviewer may ask, "Tell me when you had to solve a customer's problem." If you worked at a sporting goods store, you could describe a situation involving a dissatisfied customer. For example: "A customer came in looking for a particular brand of kayak that we didn't carry in our store. I really wanted this customer to go away happy, so I used our online marketing and inventory system to see where he could find the kayak. The only place he could get it was at a store in Denver, so I gave him the contact information and he ordered it over the phone. That customer now comes to the store regularly because of the service I provided. It made me realize the importance of personalized customer service, and I look forward to using that skill in this position."

"They may be applying for an entry-level position, but employers want to see more, including past proof of their ability to perform and advance," McGowan says.

Rate this article:

Average rating:

Email to a friend

Join the Discussion

Latest Jobs

SUPERVISING SOCIAL WORKER

Otsego County

Posted: 2/9/2012

Albany, NY

Entry Level Junior Executive - Sales & Marketing

Veritas, Inc.

Posted: 2/9/2012

Buckhead, GA, 30...

Crew Members

Red Lobster

Posted: 2/9/2012

Vestavia Hills, ...

Management Trainee Position - ENTRY LEVEL SALES & MARKETING!

Veritas, Inc.

Posted: 2/9/2012

Buckhead, GA

Executive Secretary to the President

Northrim Bank

Posted: 2/9/2012

Anchorage, AK, 9...

Want more personalized results? Update Your Profile

View All Latest Jobs

Browse Advice

Job Hunt Strategy

Resumes & Letters

Interviewing

Salary & Benefits

In the Workplace

Career Development

Featured Advice Resources:

Browse All Articles in this section

Rate this article:

Average rating:

Get Certified Now

Looking for Certifications?

eLearning by Monster offers online training courses to help you get certified.

View courses

Join the Discussion

Monster Communities

Teaching Community: Where teachers meet and learn.
ArtBistro: Create and connect.
Excelle: Networking for the career-minded woman.
Nursing Link: Where nurses call the shots.
More Monster Communities

Monster Partners

Scholarships: Scholarships, financial aid and more ways to pay for school.
Education.org: Find top campus and online degree programs.
Military.com: Military portal for the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Financial Aid: Scholarships & financial aid.
Staffing for Government Jobs: Staffing and hiring solutions for federal government agency jobs.
More Monster Partners

Job Hunt Strategy

How to Clean Up Your Online Reputation

Worried about your online reputation and how it may impact your job prospects? Here's how you can restore your good name.

Resumes & Cover Letters

How to Write a Resume

From your career summary and work history to your education and skills, learn how to make each section of your resume the best it can be.

Interviewing

10 Interview Fashion Mistakes

You don't want your biggest impact at the interview to be your inappropriate clothing choices. Learn what not to wear.

Salary & Benefits

$100K Jobs with High Flexibility

Want to make $100,000 a year or more and still have some control over your work schedule? Check out one of these five jobs.

Attracting Candidates

Facebook for Employers: Make Friends, Not Fans

Recruiting? Go where the talent is. See why recruiters have befriended social networks.

Employee Sourcing

Employment Index

November Monster Employment Index Grows 13% Year-Over-Year, Tenth Consecutive Month of Positive Annual Growth.

Interviewing Candidates

Improving Interview Skills: Learn from the Experts

What’s the key to a great interview? According to experts: Practice, practice, practice.

Workforce Planning

Enhance your Small Business Marketing Strategy with Social Media

Social media. It’s everywhere. But how can it help you? Learn how to utilize social media even monetize it.

For Seekers

Campus and Online Degrees: Advance your career and earn more with an online degree.
Compare Your Salary: See how your pay stacks up to others in your field
Free Salary Wizard: What are you worth? Find out and negotiate a better salary.
Research Careers: Get information on jobs and career paths to help guide your choices
Questions & Answers: Find answers to all your career related questions - powered by Yahoo! Answers
eLearning by Monster: Search our catalog of online courses and learn new skills.
Resume Distribution Service: Our distribution service puts your resume right in the hands of recruiters.
Resume Writing Services: Our experts will craft a keyword-rich resume that stands out in the crowd.
Other Services

For Employers

Career Ad Network: Target your job posting to more candidates on thousands of websites.
Hire Right Background Checks: Explore our background check packages to improve the quality of your hires.
Hiring Home Page: Find the best candidates for your business with Monster hiring solutions.
Job Postings: Find the right solution for your hiring needs. Starting at $99.
Power Resume Search: Monster's new search technology precisely matches people with your jobs.
Resource Center: Find staffing insights, labor trends, HR best practices and more.
Target Post: Connect with skilled, hourly and administrative candidates for only $99.

Social Media

Jobs on Twitter: Find jobs in your area and industry.
Monster Careers: Tune into our career advice and discussions tackling a wide range of topics and industries.
Monster Corporate & PR: Stay up-to-date on the latest news. Get the 'Who', 'What', 'When', and 'Why' on all things Monster related.
Monster Customer Service: Got a Monster question? We've got the answer. Whether you're a job seeker or employer, we can help you find the answers you need.
Monster for Employers: Find advice on hiring.
Follow Us: Check out our many pages and stay connected with the latest industry news, events, career advice and job openings.

Are You An Employer?

You may want to upgrade your browser.

Top Articles

Most Popular Jobs

Other Helpful Resources

Advice

Top Articles in Career Advice

Top Communities

Other Helpful Resources

How New Graduates Can Use Part-Time Work to Gain Valuable Job Skills

Email to a Friend

Related Articles:

Latest Jobs

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Browse All Articles in this section

Looking for Certifications?

Popular Questions & Answers

Popular Job Searches

Monster Communities

Monster Partners

Job Hunt Strategy

Resumes & Cover Letters

Interviewing

Salary & Benefits

Attracting Candidates

Employee Sourcing

Interviewing Candidates

Workforce Planning

For Seekers

For Employers

Social Media

Other Links

|Chat With An Employer

Want to Chat With an Employer?