One method to develop relevant skills in the career field you want is to apply for specific volunteer positions.  Always volunteer for a job title that will give you some necessary work experience to put on your resume. A few months of unpaid real work experience will pay

off over time when you apply for jobs related to the position.

If you have absolutely no experience, get an industry-recognized certification in your desired career field. What is an industry-recognized certification?  It is a credential recognized by the industry at the local, state or national level. Industry certificates

measure competency in an occupation, and they validate the knowledge base and skills that show mastery in a particular industry.

If you are changing careers, you can use your previous work experience to show your potential to succeed in this new role. What are transferable skills employers desire? If you worked in a customer service occupation, a transferable skill could

be your resilience. In a busy coffee shop in New York City, it might be common for a customer to say “hurry up with my order,” and being short-tempered and belligerent in your response is not acceptable. It takes resilience to remain pleasant and calm.

Many job seekers have used the phrase “proficient in Microsoft Office” on their resumes. Almost nothing makes a recruiter more worried than wondering what the word “proficient” might mean, especially when so many candidates lack basic computer skills, such as using Microsoft

Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.