How to Get a Job With No Experience When you Need to Gain Experience

The frustration of trying to find a job when you have no experience is a common paradox experienced by most job seekers. This is a particular problem in the IT & digital sectors where many developers are self-taught. In the first instance, we need our first appointment to gain valuable work experience. But at the same time, no employer wants to give us a chance because we have no experience.

Of course, if this were true, nobody would ever gain experience, and we would all be sitting at home unemployed. In the past, when employment opportunities in a particular sector have become scarce, many have had to consider entry-level positions in an alternative profession. This is what happened when many people were put on furlough during the pandemic. However, a career change often means a drop in salary which can be a daunting prospect.

It doesn’t matter what stage you are at; You could be at the very start of your career or considering switching to a new one. Proving your ability to do a job you’ve never done before is no less challenging. So where do you start?

Top 10 Tips on How To Get A Job With No Experience

Whether you are trying to get a foot on the career ladder or considering a career change; Here are our top ten tips on how to get a job with no experience:

Be Honest

Above all else, the number one rule when applying for jobs is, to be honest. Lying about experience you don’t have, will almost certainly get found out, which is unlikely to work in your favour.

Aside from getting caught out, owning up to yourself about your lack of experience puts you in a better position. Having a better understanding of where you’re at enables you to see the action you need to take. Basing the action you take on this insight can help you get a foot in the door in your chosen profession.

Focus on Your Positive Attributes

There are bound to be other qualities you possess, which may be just as important as experience. For example, the fact that you are reading this post indicates that you have research skills. Furthermore, your ability to showcase your expertise with minimal career history proves you have persistence, creativity and problem-solving skills.

Review Your Proudest Achievements

Any activity you take part in usually involves learning something. With this in mind, reflecting upon significant achievements, is bound to present valuable skills you have acquired.

For example, if you’ve ever organised a party, that’s an example of Events Management. Additionally, any promotional posters or social media activity you created to promote the event illustrate your Design and Marketing skills.

Create Your Own Experience

Under ordinary circumstances, you might volunteer or take an internship. Of course, that may not be possible right now. Although, the current situation presents many opportunities to offer your skills out for free.

For instance, the company you want to work for may not be hiring at present. But there is likely still work within that business which needs doing. Identify opportunities where your skills might benefit the company and offer your services voluntarily. Taking such an initiative could open the door to a full-time job when the firm is hiring again.

It’s essential to keep in mind that any experience of the working world counts. Even by taking a part-time job while you study, or volunteering during a crisis demonstrates your work ethic.

Consequently, seeking opportunities as early as you can contribute towards helping you to secure your dream job in later life. Additionally, taking a part-time position alongside your studies demonstrates that you can manage your time effectively.

Networking

If you’ve never attended networking events before, real-life ones can be a little nerve-wracking. However, given that the entire world is in lockdown, networking has moved online. These bizarre circumstances have created a multitude of online discussions and attend virtual events and webinars not usually available.

Furthermore, online events have certain advantages over real-life ones. Notably, people are more likely to remember your name because you’re not just a face in a room. For instance, when you ask questions in a webinar, your name is often displayed on the screen. So be sure to come up with some good ones!

Once you’ve attended a few online events, real-life ones will be a breeze by comparison! Moreover, the more practice you have at networking, the more your confidence and communication skills will grow.

Take Online Courses

Many people persist in jobs they don’t enjoy because they can’t afford to take time off to acquire new skills. Unfortunately, it’s developing these skills that would enable them to change career paths. But what a perfect opportunity we all have to do precisely that right now!

There is a wide range of options for people who want to learn new skills online. Codecademy, for example. For anyone with an interest in code but doesn’t know where to start, Codecademy is a fantastic website. It invites users to take a quick quiz and suggests a career path according to the answers you give.

What’s more, it will indicate the online courses that will equip you with the required skills for the job. By following their course material, online students build an online portfolio which enables you to show off their skills.

Of course, Codecademy is just one of the many options available for online learning. For those more interested in Marketing, for example, the CIM offers online courses which employers highly regard.

Tailor Your CV

It is often tempting to submit lots of applications using a scattergun approach and a generic CV. The thinking behind this is that the more jobs you apply for, the more chance you have of getting one. Right? Well, no, not exactly.

The alternative method is to carefully consider which jobs you apply for. Then, responding individually to those ads with a tailored CV and cover letter for each application.

While this may sound more time consuming, recipients notice the difference between a generic submission and genuine ones. The latter demonstrates your keenness for that specific job rather than a desperation to secure just any job.

Submit Speculative Applications

Applying to companies when they are not hiring is a great way to get yourself noticed. The reason for this is that when responding to job adverts, your CV is compared with others boasting more experience. In these circumstances, your submission stands a higher chance of being overlooked.

When applying for a job that doesn’t exist, you are the only candidate the company has to consider. Of course, they may not have a position to offer you at that moment. However, you will be the one that springs to mind when a similar opportunity arises.

Not to mention, that submitting a speculative application demonstrates enthusiasm and initiative, which are valuable attributes in any potential employee.

Try Your Luck

A surprising number of us feel imposter syndrome kick in when we’re applying for jobs. However, employers often admire ambition, and you never know what their response will be until you put yourself out there.

Of course, applying for jobs you are utterly unqualified for can damage your reputation in the long run. On the other hand, applying for jobs that feel slightly out of reach can be a valuable experience. It’s worth noting that most job seekers won’t apply for a job unless they meet 100% of the advertised criteria. However, in today’s jobs market, where skills are scarce, hiring managers consider applications meeting at least 60% of their requirements.

The worst that could happen in this scenario is that your application gets rejected. In which case, any feedback you receive can provide valuable insight into necessary action you might take to improve your chances of securing a job offer with them in future. Thus positioning yourself as a serious contender next time a similar role becomes available.

In these circumstances, having a recruitment consultant on your side can help your career prospects in the long run. Due to their insider knowledge of the industry, recruiters know which employers it’s worth trying your luck with. They can also steer you away from any which might be completely off-limits, thus avoiding any reputational damage.

Ask For Feedback

Asking for feedback after interviews can be tough, especially when you know you haven’t got the job. Although feedback after a negative interview outcome can be a positive thing. Instead of viewing negative comments as a setback, see them as an opportunity to learn.

Recruitment consultants can also be a massive help in getting feedback. It’s their job to ask awkward questions that you might be too shy to ask. Being highly skilled at asking probing questions enables recruiters to get more detailed feedback on your behalf.

Conclusion

As can be seen above, there are many things you can do to improve your chances of getting hired. Whether it’s that all-important first job or a sector where you have no direct experience. 

We hope reading this article has given you a better understanding of how to get a job with no experience. It is possible; you just need to think outside the box!

If you know someone who might be struggling to get a job with no experience, please share this article with them on social media. They will be sure to thank you for it!