How can you hope to get a job or land a specific job role when you have no prior experience? It’s a question that’s commonly asked, and fair enough too. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some tips and advice on how to get a job when you have no prior experience. We all have to start somewhere in the employment world, so it is possible.
Situations where you have no experience could mean you’ve just finished school or university and are hunting for your very first job, or you’ve been in the workforce for some time, but are wanting a different type of job role that you’ve never done before.
Work Experience Will Give You Experience
One of the most obvious ways to gain hands-on experience in a particular field is to actually work in that field. If you’re finding it hard to get paid employment, try offering to work for free for a time so you can gain experience in the job.
Work experience is one of the most effective ways to get a foot in the door. An employer will soon see what a good worker you are, how well you’re learning the role and that you’re keen and enthusiastic to work.
Volunteer work is another area where you can learn valuable skills and get experience under your belt.
Further Your Skillset Through Courses and Training
While doing a course in a particular subject or field isn’t directly work experience, it will give you an advantage if you can demonstrate to a potential future employer that you have knowledge of the job and the industry the business operates in.
You could undergo nationally recognised training, or do one or more of the countless courses you find on the internet on sites like Udemy and others. There are courses available online for everything imaginable.
Not all courses and training have to be officially recognised courses to give you an advantage when applying for a job.
Focus On the Skills and Experience You Do Have
While you may not be fully qualified and experienced in a job role you wish to apply for, you will still have skills and experience, so focus on these instead. Highlight what you are good at, what you have already done and what you hope to achieve in the new position if you’re successful in getting the job.
Employers don’t just look for experience. One of the things they look out for the most is the attitude of the applicant. New workers can always be trained, and sometimes it’s easier to train someone who is fresh, than to retrain someone with previous experience. Every business has its own way of doing things, so it can be tough at times to encourage an experienced worker to “fit in” with the way things are done at a particular company.
It’s Important To Be Realistic
When it comes to how to get a job with no experience, you still have to be realistic. Certain jobs you can readily apply for even though you lack hands-on knowledge, but others will simply not be viable options.
For example, it’ll be impossible to get a job as a civil engineer if you’ve never worked in this role before and haven’t received any official education and training in the realm of civil engineering. The job role is far too specialised.
To land a job with no experience, it’s best to target positions that are considered more entry-level roles.
Exude Enthusiasm
A person who is very enthusiastic and keen for a job is hard to resist. Every employer loves enthusiasm. So, whether it’s creating your resume, writing a cover letter, attending a job interview or canvassing for work, if you’re keen to get a job, it’ll not only raise your personal vibration in a positive way, but it will also likely become infectious to a potential employer.
The Wrap
Depending on how specialised the job role is, it is more than possible to land a job with no previous experience. Just highlight what you do have to offer, be enthusiastic and demonstrate to an employer how keen you are to work.
2018 ·