Dear Kate & Dale: I’ve recently completed an Advanced Training Program provided by the Jobs Corps. I realize that I am underneath workers with experience, and underneath college graduates. I am looking for a good-paying job to get my foot in the door, and then immediately get into college. Is there any hope? – YC

Kate: Let me tell you about my son’s search for summer employment. He’s a college student, and because his school is far from our home, he wanted a strictly summer job. He heard that banks hire summer tellers, so he tromped around from bank to bank. However, they wanted people who would continue working into the fall. Next, he went to hospitals, but all summer jobs were filled (and had been since March). He then went to tourist places, then to every major bookstore. Eventually he landed a job at a hospital through a networking contact (his doctor). It took half the summer, but now he is set up to work in hospitals during school or future summers. The point is this: Being a college student and having a straight-A average did not get him a job any more than you should expect your Job Corps training to get you a job. Whatever your experience, you have to go out and market it.

Dale: And as you go out to do so, you need not feel yourself “underneath” other applicants. Employers rarely hire the most experienced, educated applicant. Why not? Because they cost the most. It would be like people only shopping at Nordstrom because it has the best service. But is Nordstrom the biggest retailer? No. I don’t have to tell you who is. As Kate’s story of her son’s experience suggests, employers are not sitting around thinking, “WOW, a bright college student wants to work here!” No, there are plenty of such students, just as there are endless college grads and industry veterans. They aren’t special, but you … you just might be. Some employers are going to like the idea of giving a shot to someone out of the Job Corps.

Kate: How do you find those people? By meeting a lot of employers. Or, by going straight to managers who’ve hired Job Corps people. Try to get names of people who completed your program, and/or names of employers.

Dale: If you feel you need an excuse to get the names or make the calls, tell them you’re doing some research for a couple of syndicated columnists. Just let us know what you learn.

Dear Kate & Dale: I am a personal assistant to a woman who is a writer/playwright. My duties have included organizing her written materials, proofreading a book, doing research and assisting in promotion, as well as photographing and video-recording her public appearances. My job is to do all I can to aid in her success. How can I put this job into words on my resume? – Glenda

Kate: Your employer might call you a “personal assistant,” but that would be misleading on your resume. Personal assistants are asked to do personal things: “Get my hairbrush” and “Take my kids to the movies.” I would call you a “literary assistant,” but the job title you choose will depend on the position you’re applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a job in public relations, you could call yourself a “public-relations assistant.” Then, in your resume, you would start your list of bulleted items with those parts of your job.

Dale: Yes, the variety of tasks gives you a variety of jobs to pick to emphasize in your resume. Whichever one you choose, there is one sentence of yours that I want to hold up for everyone to admire: “My job is to do all I can to aid in her success.” Sure, employers hire credentials and experience, but what they really want is HELP. Someone committed to her employer’s success is always employable, and I would include that wonderful sentence in every cover letter and every interview.