Do you want to get a job but are caught in the cycle of not getting a job without prior experience? Here’s how to get a job with no experience.
You apply for a job, but you don’t have enough experience. You try to get experience, but you can’t do that without having a job. It’s a neverending cycle that can be very frustrating to experience.
Whether you’re switching career paths or just graduated, it can be challenging to get a job with no experience.
However, everyone has been there at some point in their career, and they all got out of it. How? With the right tools and strategy, you can show your hiring manager that you’re perfect for the job.
How To Get A Job With No Experience – Step By Step Guide
Have you just graduated, and are you looking for a job? Or do you consider switching careers but don’t know how? Here is how to get that job you want without having the experience they ask for in the job description.
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1. Try Your Hand At Networking
Once you’ve completed your college education or high school, it’s time to start searching for your first job. Start building your network by creating profiles on professional sites like LinkedIn. Also, from your LinkedIn profile, try to connect with recruitment managers at companies or industries you are interested in.
The more you network, the more chances you have to get a job, especially when your resume is among numerous others.
2. Be Open to Starting From the Bottom
Getting a full-time job in your desired field can almost feel like a golden opportunity. But, it is not likely to happen for every job seeker with no experience. If you are having trouble getting your dream job at the desired salary package, then you need to rethink your expectations.
It can be wise to start from the bottom or accept a temporary lower-salary job to gain experience.
Many companies look for temporary or part-time employees to work on short-term projects, and you can choose to work in those firms. This will give you experience that you can mention on your resume.
Especially if you decide to choose one of these companies with the best benefits, starting from the bottom might not be such a problem.
3. Assess Your Skills
If you are struggling to find a job without experience, it might be time to focus on your skills. Do a little research to determine the required soft skills for the new job you have applied for and assess your skills.
High-income skills are essential to learn, as they will get you closer to a high-paying job if you don’t have any experience yet.
Also, try to focus on experiences that demonstrate those skills. It can set you apart from other candidates and can help you win a job as well. Here are a few things that employers look for and you should know about them:
Business acumen – You should know the current state of the company that you are hoping to join.
Teamwork – Most companies prefer employees who are good at collaboration and can work with various people from different teams. So, you need to draw your attention to your team leadership abilities.
Attention to detail – You need to behave professionally in the interview and show you are organized, focused, and alert. You can also give some examples to showcase your skills.
Communication – employers seek a person with complete confidence. So, be confident at the time of the interview and try not to come across as nervous. Try to keep yourself calm and relaxed before entering the interview room.
4. Tell Your Story in the Cover Letter & Resume
Update your resume from time to time and also update your CV. In your cover letter, make sure that there is no grammatical errors and no spelling mistakes.
Use your resume to show what you’ve done, achieved, and accomplished up until now. Tailor your resume according to the position you’ve applied for. This can maximize your chances of getting noticed or getting shortlisted for a job.
There are plenty of resume mistakes to avoid when you want to get your dream job. Here are the four most common ones that 95% of us make:
It’s a good idea to attach a cover letter with a resume whenever you apply for a job. Following are a few things to include in your cover letter:
Define your work ethic: If you apply for a receptionist, explain that you understand to be friendly and polite with clients. If you are looking for an event coordinator position, explain you are ready to work on weekends, as you know that many events occur after hours.
Tell a personal story: Tell your story, like, for example, when you participated in a seminar or a concert during your school days. Also, tell them that you can learn fast and lead a team.
Connect the experience: Do not forget to mention the knowledge you gained during school or university. You can mention all your projects and training to impress the recruiters for entry-level jobs.
Other resources to get invited to the interview:
5. Prepare for the Interview
When you have no experience, you need to be well-prepared for your first interview. Think of the interview as an oral exam, you need to perform best, but you can retake it if it isn’t. Even though it may not feel like that, it’s not the end of the world if you’re not performing your best at the interview.
Read the job description and work on the skills required for getting a job. The recruiter can ask you anything related to your skills, previous experience, college grades, and more.
You also need to prepare an answer for questions like “What about the areas where you lack experience?” for this, you can answer, “I have no direct experience in Y, but I have knowledge on this, and I can learn quickly.” You can also tailor your answer that you feel fits best during the interview.
Go online and search for job interview questions related to the job you applied for. You can prepare your answers to pass the interview and get a job with no experience.
6. Be Realistic
When looking for a job, make sure you apply for a position that is within your reach. Also, ensure that the job posting matches your skills and education.
Try to find jobs where you are sure your skills will fit and a job you actually want to work at. This helps you with a successful interview and can get you your first job.
Do not apply for a job blindly without knowing the requirements of the employer. You can search for jobs online to see which job fits your skills best and then fill out a job application.
7. Write a Thank You Note
The thank-you note can increase your chances of getting selected in an interview. This shows that you’re serious about the job. A thank you note in the interview process can make you one of the top candidates for a dream job.
Here is how you can write a thank you note:
You can send something like, “Thank you for taking the time to meet me and to take my interview for position Y. I really enjoyed a meeting with you and your team and looking forward to hearing from you soon.“
It is an excellent and simple thank-you note that you can use to impress the employer or hiring manager.
8. Follow Up and Stay Organized
Follow-up is another critical thing that you should keep in mind when applying for a job. Track where you have sent your resume and call their offices to inquire about interview dates or vacancies. After the interview, if you do not get a reply from the company within five business days, call and ask about your result. It saves you time and makes you stress-free as you know exactly whether you have selected or not.
To track your application, it is better to create an Excel sheet with the company name, date you applied, follow-up, and response. This makes you more organized with the information on jobs you have applied for.
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What Are The Job Options With No Experience?
Are you searching for a job but have no experience? If yes, then the following is the list of suitable jobs you can choose to start your career.
1. Content Writer
If you love to write, then you can start your career as a content writer. It needs no experience but requires a creative mind and an internet connection. In this, you gain knowledge about the different niches, and it’s the perfect stay-at-home job.
If you want to start yourself, you can do that by starting a blog on the side. Practice your writing and become better at it as time goes on.
2. Affiliate Marketing
If you are not willing to go out of your home but want to earn good money, then affiliate marketing is an excellent option for you. Affiliate marketing is where you will get a commission for every sale of a product from your affiliate site. For example, you can do affiliate marketing for Amazon products.
You’d just need a website and internet connection for this. You can start a website from $3.99 per month PLUS a free domain name with Bluehost.
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3. eCommerce
In today’s time, eCommerce is gaining popularity. With this job, you can earn a reasonable sum without any need for experience. Sell products online and start earning extra money. It’s a perfect under-the-table job or side hustle idea as well.
You can sell eCommerce products through retail arbitrage or just list items on places like Craigslist or eBay.
4. Online Coaching
Whether you are an expert in dance, academics, or music, you can start your online coaching classes. This will cost you nothing but help you earn good money. Now, you do not need to attend interviews as you can start your work.
5. Freelancing
Freelancing is a great choice when you want to start your career based on your education and skills. Job seekers can do freelancing and can offer services all around the globe. Freelancing is a popular option for stay-at-home parents or anyone who doesn’t want to work the traditional 9-5 job.
All In All – How To Get A Job With No Experience
Now you know what steps to follow when you want to get a job with no experience. I can’t highlight the importance of a good resume enough. The recruiter will only look at your resume for 7 seconds, so make sure that you make your resume stand out!
If you want to avoid making the resume mistakes 95% of people make, here’s exactly what resume mistakes to avoid:
Founder of Spark Nomad, Radical FIRE, Journalist
Expertise: Personal finance and travel contentEducation: Bachelor of Economics at Radboud University, Master in Finance at Radboud University, Minor in Economics at Chapman University.Over 200 articles, essays, and short stories published across the web.
Experience: Marjolein Dilven is a journalist and founder of Radical FIRE, a personal finance platform, and Spark Nomad, a travel platform. Marjolein has a finance and economics background with a master’s in Finance. She has quit her job to travel the world, documenting her travels on Spark Nomad to help people plan their travels. Marjolein Dilven has written for publications like MSN, Associated Press, CNBC, Town News syndicate, and more.