Question about needing a professional resume to apply to Edinboro University (or other programs)

[rabid_bibliophile]

Hello all,

 

You guys were so helpful when I needed help a few months ago that I thought maybe you had some opinions about the professional resume aspect of applying to graduate school for a MSW program. 

 

I am thinking of applying to Edinboro and I meet their requirements except for the professional resume. I don't have one if they mean work within the field of mental health or social work. I graduated with a BA in Psychology this past May, I'm middle aged and have never worked in either field before, and I live in an economically depressed area where jobs in those fields are not plentiful. I applied to a LOT of jobs starting a couple of months before graduation (VA, homeless shelters, women's shelters, etc.) and even ones where I knew I was not qualified because I was desperate to work within the field but I couldn't even get an interview. I finally ended up taking a job with a child care center because my husband and I need for me to have a job.

 

I am looking at volunteer opportunities currently and as soon as I have some volunteer experience under my belt it seems I would be able to  use that on my resume, but even then my resume would be short if they are looking for only work within the mental health/social work field. Nothing else I've done even come close to that and I doubt they care about my day care job. 

 

Does any one have advice? Is there anyone in a remotely similar situation and if so what did you do for this portion of the application if your school requires this?

 

Thank you in advance for all replies!

[pdwilks]

Hi,

 

I'm "middle aged" and did my own resume, that includes much of my past years of working in corporate America. I've no volunteer experience specifically except what I've done during my internship for BA. What I have done during my years in corp America is volunteer for United Way campaigns, put together a supply donation program that gave supplies to local schools when departments closed and things like that.  I never saw this as anything more than part of my job, until I started writing my SOP and a professor and friends started asking me questions.  Play up on your years in the business community, look to things you've done while working, helping out at the kids schools (if you have them). Think outside the box.

 

Ask some questions at a local college and see if they have a BSW or like program and ask if there are some opportunities for volunteer work or suggestions.  Depending on the area of social work you want to pursue is maybe where to look for some volunteer work: schools for school social work,  work with vets in some way (Wounded Warriors, think more than Vet Admin) for military social work.  There are a TON of companies out there looking for volunteers.

 

Use your SOP to address some light or missing areas if you can.

 

Pam

[RMart]

I had a similar problem due to my work circumstances. I had just left one company (that did not allow supervisors to give references) and working at a new company where they did not know me well as a recent new hire. 

 

I ended up using a former non-profit organization past-president. I had worked with her at a job from well over 10 years ago and it was a very different business field. It worked out though - we discussed the issues she could support and we did a letter.  

 

You might want to contact the advisor/liaison that you are working with at the school. They may have some suggestions.

 

Good luck!