How To Get A Job With No Experience
Getting your first job in a new career path can seem daunting. And the old addage applies…what comes first, the chicken or the egg? Because even supposedly “entry-level” jobs are still asking for 1-3 years of work experience! You can’t qualify for the job because you don’t have experience, and you can’t experience because you don’t quality for the job. What gives?
And then there’s the person switching into an entirely new career path after having already been in the workforce for years. Not only do they need to explain away their career pivot, but also face the same daunting barrier of entry that the new college grad faces.
But not to worry, in this article, I’m going to share with you a few tricks and tips to land your first job in that elusive new field!
Trying getting experience through an internship
This tip caters more to entry level or near entry level job seekers, but can still apply to someone further in their career. If you’re still in school, you have a huge advantage by targeting internships and co-ops in industries relevant to your career interests.
Not only can you get real experience, but you can also try out a few different job types to see what you even like. Feel free to mix up the types of internships you have, so you’ll have a better idea of the kind of work you like or don’t like when you graduate. I’d suggest getting as many internships as you can during your time in school.
If you’ve already graduated recently and are finding it difficult to get a job, you can go to your school’s career services department to look for internships that have been published. You can also try your specific department heads and see if they know any employers looking for entry level opportunities.
Your resume matters
Having experience on your resume will give you a huge advantage to other entry level candidates, and you’ll surely notice a difference in the amount of responses you get.
For those that are more advance, and looking to change mid-career, try the same thing. It’s worth reaching back out to your college or university’s career services department to see if there’s any options for you. Make sure you also ask about their alumni networks. And be sure to network! Tap into places like LinkedIn and explain exactly what it is that you’re trying to accomplish. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help or to say that you’re starting from scratch. Who knows, you may find someone willing to give you a shot!
Tip #2 – Develop Core Skills
No matter which career path you take, you’ll want to develop core skills that are universal. These core skills will certainly be asked in an interview so it’s better to be proactive. As you have opportunities in life, try to develop and demonstrate some of these things.
You can usually develop these in places outside of traditional work settings. Think of opportunities at school, extracurricular activities, church or civic organizations, etc.
Some core skills every job seeker should have include:
- Communication skills
- Organization or organizational techniques
- Teamwork
- Prioritization skills
- Multi-tasking
- Basic computer skills
As you develop them, you can incorporate them into your interview strategy. Be particularly mindful of how you can demonstrate them in your day-to-day work life. They will give you great examples to pull from!
Tip #3 – Look for Relevant Projects
A great way to build your entry-level resume is to look for projects that you can demonstrate your skills. If you’re in college still, look for labs to participate in that are relevant to your career path. It’s also helpful to ask some college professors if they have any projects where you can act as a volunteer or Teacher’s Assistant in order to get practical experience.
In a lot of cases, they partner with major companies to work on research projects and it’s a great way to not only get real experience, but also network with potential hiring managers. And you’ll also start to build your references while you’re at it.
If college isn’t an option, think outside of the box and find industry groups, not-for-profits or other volunteer groups where you can potentially contribute. For example, I routinely see not-for-profits advertising for volunteers in the HR space. It gives you a chance to rub elbows with people in industry as well.
The goal is to load down your resume with keywords relevant to the career you want to pursue.
Tip #4 – Write a Great Resume
You need to have a strong resume in order to get noticed by that recruiter. This is especially important for entry-level or near entry-level roles because you don’t have much experience to go by. And if you’re following the advice I gave in the previous tip, it should start to give you some great keywords to add to your resume.
Listen, we don’t expect entry level people to have much relevant experience on their resumes, but you should know how to WRITE a resume that’s effective.
Besides, learning how to write a resume is one of the most important career skills you’ll learn in your working lifetime, so it pays (literally) to know how to write one. So learn to craft a powerful resume to give yourself the best chance of standing out among a sea of other job seekers.
Tip #5 – Personal Branding
If you’re not thinking about personal branding, you should be. Especially if you don’t have much experience. Because you’re going to want to brand yourself as an expert in your field, even if you don’t have real experience doing it. If you can show a high level of interest and engagement in your career of choice, it will impress hiring managers and recruiters.
We can do this in a variety of ways, from writing articles, getting very involved on LinkedIn and other platforms, starting a blog, making videos or doing research. The point is to brand yourself as an expert or influencer in your field and it will help you stand out.
Tip #6 – Be On LinkedIn
If you’re not using LinkedIn, you need to set up an account. And actually use it. The reason being on LinkedIn is so powerful, is that most major corporations use LinkedIn extensively to promote their jobs and recruit talent. In fact, I use LinkedIn more than any other tool to recruit top quality candidates. And you’ll get a chance to research hiring managers and show them how defined your personal brand is. It could mean the difference of a first interview or not.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to use LinkedIn to get more interviews, make sure to check this article out: How To Get More Interviews Using LinkedIn – A Life After Layoff
Tip #7 – Network
Networking is something that most people are not doing. And especially not entry level people. But it’s a very powerful way to get your foot in the door at major corporations. In fact, it’s much easier to get an interview by directly connecting with an interested hiring manager than it is to use the traditional channels of applying for jobs (and usually getting a rejection letter).
LinkedIn is a great place to start, but don’t forget to rub elbows in person at trade shows, industry events and other places where hiring managers may be loitering. Because you may just be able to bypass the recruiter or gatekeeper altogether and just directly into the hiring process.
Tip #8 – Focus On Small Companies
I made a video on the differences between small and large companies that’s worth checking out. While large corporations have more opportunities, it may also be more difficult to get your foot in the door. They tend to be more selective and you’re competing with more people.
Whereas smaller local companies might have less candidate flow and an easier path to your new career. Try targeting those companies to get your start, then you can move to a larger company in a few years when your resume is stronger.
And don’t forget those side-channel networking opportunities. Having a connection with someone you already know who works there might be the ticket you’re needing to your name in front of the right person. Employee referrals are some of my favorite hires, because my current employee isn’t going to recommend someone who’s going to make them look bad.
So if you know someone in your personal network who might be able to help, ask them!
If you’re a job seeker and feeling frustrated, don’t fret. With a bit of strategy and some preparation, you’ll be on your way to landing that elusive dream job!
Be sure to check out my Youtube page for the latest tips and tricks and don’t forget to sign up for my FREE 5 Day Job Seeker Bootcamp!
Remember, consistency is key, so keep at it each and every day. Let’s land you that dream job!
Till next time!
-Bryan
