Ah, the conundrum as old as time itself: You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. So, how do you navigate through an “experience” job market? How do you get your foot on the ladder?
Whether you’re just graduating from college or want to change careers, the process of looking for a job without experience can be frustrating. But it’s possible, however, when you get creative. Here are some of the ways you can get a job with no experience.
1. Articulate Your Most Valuable Skills and Talents
When you’re just starting out, your resume will most probably appear more boring than impressive. But remind yourself that you still have some valuable talents that you should always bring to the interview table.
If you can’t articulate your skills, no one can. Once you take stock of them and articulate them well, they go a long way to impressing your potential employers, even without much experience.
2. Re-discover Your Strengths
Even without prior job experience, it’s still possible to rediscover your strengths. You can list your side gigs and hobbies and see which career best suits you. This helps you to discover your strengths and also how to build on them.
When you know your strengths well, you will be able to determine the right employer and know what to bring in to your new job. If you still can’t find a place to make use of your strengths, you might even consider working for free to hone them.
3. Figure Out Why You’d Be Great at the Job
You will probably have a reason why you believe you’re the best before applying for that job. It might not necessarily have to do with formal qualification, but soft skills, like the ability to bring order in the face of chaos, can be just as important.
It’s perfectly appropriate to mention something like your friendliness when applying for work in certain sectors, like merchandising or retail. Do your research to find out which skills are most valued in your industry.
4. Write an Outstanding Cover Letter
When you don’t have work experience, a cover letter will convince a hiring manager to call you for an interview. Ensure your cover letter is excellent and not just a host of generic filler.
Use the best resume builder for LinkedIn to explain well why you’re excited about the post and why you’re the best fit. Don’t use the same resume for every position, but instead take time to write a letter for every new job, addressing specific pain points highlighted by the employer.
5. Strike the Right Balance Between During Interviews
One of the qualities that employers look for is confidence: a lack of it means you really don’t know what you’re up to, but a surfeit of it can be just as off-putting.
You don’t have to behave like you’re unaware of your experience level. You need to find a balance somewhere in the middle; be confident, yet be open to learning and growing as you discharge your duties.
6. Look for Ways to Get Some Experience
Don’t sit down and wait for fate to spell your success. While all of these methods will help you get a job despite a lack of experience, your best solution for finding quick employment is get some experience.
Get some part-time internships, apply for volunteering gigs or pitch in on projects that can eliminate you experience deficit and make you stand out amongst other equally inexperienced candidates.
7. Apply Speculatively
Don’t apply for any job advert that appears. Remember the hiring manager will assess you against set criteria, so apply to companies that interest you, ones that resonate well with your professional qualifications, strengths and experience if any.
Always ask yourself whether you will be the best candidate if offered the task and whether the job terms offer you a chance for your career growth.
8. Network and Network
While networking can be intimidating for some folks, it’s one of the ways to use to find a job much more easily. Take advantage of the numbers within your industry and get the inside scoop on possible jobs coming in, especially since most jobs are provided through personal connections.
Don’t blame yourself for not having any experience; everybody started from there. It’s time to network, which could one day give you an opportunity to prove to your boss that you got what it takes to take up the task.
In Conclusion
All said and done, these are just a handful of ways to help you navigate the job market without the experience. Don’t allow yourself to feel defeated, as this will make your job hunt even more depressing. Do something daily toward making your job search worthwhile.
