Help! Need to apply but have no experience!

I need some advice for my cover letters. I need to apply to as many financial institutions (and law firms) as I can in order to get some sort of part-time student job. The problem is, I live in France; I started college here and it looks as though I'm going to be here for awhile. I go to a fairly good school but my GPA isn't that hot because I've had various personal problems, I'm studying Econ in French (my mother-tongue is English) and I've been working like a dog on the side.

I'd like to use my professional experience to make up for my flaws. The problem is that I have no financial experience. I worked for a small IT company for about two years and I've been an English teacher for almost a year. I've worked both full time (40hrs) and part-time (about 30hrs/week) while going to school and I need to switch to something that's in my field. How do I use my previous experience to prove that I can manage in finance etc.?

Thanks!

6 Comments
 

I assume you are an EU/EEA citizen or have the proper work visas since you have been employed. I don't know your location, but several banks French / Euro/ US banks do take interns FT or PT during the full year (pay, if any, is very low). Also--good link to check if you haven't before:

http://jobs.efinancialcareers.co.uk/France.htm

Temp firms also hire for finance and legal positions.

 

Sol, I'm not an EU citizen at all..just a foreign student who happens to work on the side (I have to support myself. I'm in Paris and I know a lot of banks take interns throughout the year but they want graduates and I'm an undergraduate.

The problem is that I have a lot of competition and I need to try and make myself seem a bit special..

Thanks for the link..it's great :)

perhaps I should have been a bit clearer...my grades aren't bad..they're just not spectacular...and I'm fluent in French. The problem is that I don't have any relevant work experience but I'm 22 so I guess that's not TOO bad. I'm just trying to get my foot in the door and I need to know how to highlight my skills.

Thanks for the snarky comment though

 

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