Finding a job without experience can be a real challenge for many people. It has always been thought that to find a job in a specific area or sector you need to be an expert from the start.
The truth is that all you need is a good strategy that allows you to approach the job search process from the right perspective.
In this post we will give you some tips to help you get a job without experience.
Recommendations for getting a job without experience
Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a job without experience:
Highlight your transferable skills
In case you are aspiring to move to another job with little experience, make sure to highlight the qualities and skills you have demonstrated in your current job.
This will make your potential for success clear to the recruiters in the new job you want to move to. In addition, you can mention transferable skills that may be equally useful in the new job.
An example of this would be if you work as a barista, but want to find a job as a waiter, you could consider customer service, drink preparation and following health and safety codes to keep the workspace clean and tidy as transferable skills.
Highlight your soft skills
Complementing the previous point, people who change careers usually possess soft skills that are transferable in many areas of work. In that sense, soft skills are all those that include the following elements:
- Attention to detail
- Adaptability or flexibility
- Creativity
- Time management
- Leadership
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Organisational skills
- Problem solving skills
- Teamwork
In case you do not have work experience you can refer to other contexts where you have put into practice some of these soft skills such as volunteering or doing an extracurricular activity.
You can make use of these experiences to add them to your CV. In addition to this, find out what soft skills are required in the job you want to get.
Take less paid or unpaid opportunities
Taking a modest job may be a good way to start developing your interpersonal skills. Look for work in an entry-level position or some internships.
While these may not be entirely satisfactory in terms of pay, they will give you the tools you need to acquire knowledge and skills that you can put into practice in future jobs.
If you cannot afford to work in a lower paid job or unpaid internship, look for a part-time job that will allow you to gain the experience you need to look for a better job opportunity.
Define what are your reasons for applying to the job
Another point you should take into account when looking for a job without experience is to make your interests clear when applying for the job offer, i.e., specify what it is that drives your desire to be hired for the job beyond the remuneration.
Be sure to explain as clearly as possible the reasons that made you feel attracted to that particular job. Mention any personal connection you have to the job you are applying for or any particular situation in your life that inspired you to show interest in the position.
Create your portfolio
If you are applying for a job offer in the creative field you can do some projects on your own that reflect your skills.
This will give you a great advantage when looking for a job in a specific area such as writing, marketing, carpentry, among others.
So, by taking the initiative to create your own projects in the area of work you want to apply for, you will be showing employers the potential you have for the job.
Climbing the ladder one step at a time
The path to finding the job you want does not always follow a straight line. This means that if you may have the possibility to get a job within the company where you want to work in a different area or department than the one you originally aspired to, don’t let the opportunity pass you by and take it.
This decision will be a good strategy in the short term, as it will allow you to plan the transition to the job you really want.
It will also help you to get a sense of how the company works so that you can prepare yourself for the time when you apply for a more advanced position.
If you are someone who currently works in the customer service sector, but aspire to a job as a fashion designer, you can look for a job as a receptionist within a fashion company as a starting point to work your way up the ladder.
Apply
While you may feel insecure about your qualifications, don’t let this stop you from applying anyway. This will at least put you on the shortlist and give you some chance of being selected.
In addition, you may turn out to be the best qualified candidate among all those who sent in their CV.
On the other hand, you may find it useful to create a job search calendar in which you set a specific number of applications to send out each week.
It is likely that not all of them will be answered, but you might be called for a couple of interviews that will increase your chances of getting your first job.
Consider moving to another city
If you live in a place where job opportunities in the sector you want to work in are limited then you may want to consider expanding your search radius and moving to another city where you can find a larger number of jobs offers to apply for.