Eight tips on landing a good job without experience!

 Feeling like you don't have enough experience to get your first job, whether you're fresh out of college or looking to change careers, can be frustrating. The value of experience has always been high. You need expertise not only to get a job, but also to keep it.

If you are just starting out in your career or looking to change positions or industries, you may feel confined by your lack of experience. Every professional, on the other hand, has faced a similar predicament at some point during their career. You can use your relevant talents to demonstrate to employers that you are the greatest candidate for the job, regardless of your experience level, if you approach your job search properly.

Whether you are new out of college or simply wish to change industries, there are various strategies to compensate for a lack of expertise. Here are eight suggestions for improving your complete application, obtaining additional qualifications, impressing recruiters, and landing that job with little to no experience:

Pay attention to what you DO have.

Your work attitude, personality, understanding of the firm and its activities, motivation, resilience, plans, and other factors are all important. Don't get too hooked up on just one element because the list is endless. You might have some soft skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for, e.g;

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Creativity

Adaptability or flexibility

Teamwork

Leadership

Consider how you might have developed or displayed some of these soft skills in other ways. Look for examples of these talents in your volunteer work and extracurricular activities. Use that experience to demonstrate soft talents on your resume.

Find out which soft skills are most sought after in candidates for the position you're applying for by doing some background study into your preferred sector. Concentrate on concrete instances and professional experience that demonstrate such skills.

2. Take classes and obtain certifications;

Enroll in online courses and programs for certification. There are additional certifications available for certain industries and subjects. If you want to learn software engineering, for example, there are online coding boot camps.

The ideal path for you is determined by your circumstances and goals. If you're seeking for work but don't have any experience and are stuck, don't neglect this option. It's considerably more important to show that you took an online course and learned job-related skills than it is to show certification.

3. Create a network

No matter what industry you desire to work in, the value of networking with people who are doing what you want to accomplish cannot be emphasized.

 Invite experts out for coffee or ask if they would be willing to speak with you over the phone by reaching out to them via social media or email. Inquire about their work and what advice they would give to someone who is just starting out in their area.

They're a fantastic opportunity to learn more about a career you're interested in while also developing personal contacts with people in the field. While you should not ask for a job or a reference the first time you meet someone, you should take the time to discuss your biggest qualities and what measures you plan to take to improve your candidacy.

You may not become close with everyone you speak with, but the more informational interviews you conduct, the more likely you are to create genuine bonds that could lead to professional recommendations in the future. During these interactions, remember to be nice and appreciative, and concentrate on learning more about the career and connecting with the person you're speaking with.

4. Mention any relevant experience you have

If you're changing careers, you can use your previous work experience to illustrate your capacity to succeed in this new position. The simplest approach to do this is to reinterpret your work experience to make it more relevant to your goals. Highlight any transferable skills you've developed in previous jobs or experiences on your CV.

If you work as a barista and want to convert to bartender for example, you already have a number of transferrable abilities, such as customer service, following recipes to make drinks, and keeping the workspace clean and in compliance with health and safety laws. Even if your current employment has nothing to do with the career you want, there are likely to be some abilities or responsibilities that are similar.

5. Send emails to prospective companies

Spend 20–30% of your job search time sending emails to companies who aren't hiring or have a relevant opportunity, regardless of whether they are hiring or not. Why? Less competition exists. You never know when a company will be ready to hire or develop new entry-level personnel, even if they aren't "needed" right now.

Most companies have a talent for interviewing job candidates via fantastic emails that focus on what they care about. These are sometimes referred to as "COLD EMAILS." So go ahead and search, investigate, and send that email.

Pro tip: Do your homework and send a more personalized email to that business. It converts better if people perceive you put in the effort to learn about their background and objectives. 

6. Take advantage of low-paying or unpaid work.

Working your way up from the bottom is one method to get the job you want. Find an entry-level job or maybe an internship to start with, and work your way up from there. It may not pay as much as you'd want, but it will provide you with valuable work experience that you can include on your resume.

The first jobs on a career path are entry-level jobs. Entry-level employment, unlike more senior roles, do not need applicants to have years of professional experience. As a result, concentrating your job search on entry-level opportunities can increase your chances of landing a position that will lead to something even better.

You can look for entry-level jobs online in a variety of ways:

• Search for "entry-level [job title]" on a job board. Someone looking for an entry-level marketing position, for example, may use LinkedIn to search "entry-level marketing."
• Look up the title of a specific entry-level position in a field that interests you and look it up on a job board. 
  
• Search for any available entry-level positions on the job listing page of a business or company that interests you.

7. Take classes to learn skills that are in high demand.

Taking educational courses, earning a professional certificate, or pursuing a degree is another option to improve your abilities and qualifications.

There are numerous options accessible today to assist you in further developing your skillsets. While community colleges provide low-cost courses and associate degree programs, four-year institutions allow students to get a bachelor's degree by studying a subject in depth. Professional certificates, on the other hand, prepare them for a specialized skill set.

Many universities and organizations provide online learning possibilities as well. For example, Coursera has partnered with over 170 of the world's greatest corporations and universities to offer over 7,000 world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready credential programs. 

8. Aim for realistic roles 

There's nothing wrong with setting your sights high, but if you've never worked before, applying for senior positions is a waste of time. Instead, go for entry-level or junior positions and be willing to work your way up from the bottom.

Applying for jobs in regional offices may be less competitive, and applying to SMEs can lead to the discovery of amazing companies that others may have ignored.

It's also a good idea to take the initiative and send out speculative applications. While the majority of publicized vacancies demand prior experience, who says you can't create your own vacancy by emphasizing your value to the company?

Do your homework and apply to companies that pique your interest. As you're attempting to enter into the industry, tailor each application and ask if any entry-level employment are available.

Although the company may not have any suitable positions at this time, you can still take advantage of the situation by asking if you could complete some work experience or shadow one of its employees.

Finding job without prior experience is difficult, but it is doable.

Maintain your enthusiasm while keeping practical. Examine what you have to offer critically, or enlist the help of a coworker or a career services counselor to help you assess your work experience.

Make it evident to people that you are eager to try new things. The more practice you have with self-promotion, the faster you'll be able to find an opening and get a job without experience.

Need help putting up the perfect CV, resume, or cover letter? Click here to get started.