You can’t get the job without the experience but you can’t get the experience without the job! This is one of the great career catch-22s.
One of the keys to getting a job without experience is recognising that when you apply for any job you will be evaluated along two different dimensions: your potential to add value in the future and your track record in the area most central to the job.
Depending on the seniority of the position, these two sources of value – your potential and your experience – will be weighted in different proportions, like the scales of justice. As a general rule, the earlier you are in your career, the greater the importance of your potential value. Your potential value is best demonstrated by your attitude, enthusiasm, work ethic, communications skills, curiosity/quality of your questions, willingness to learn, and your knowledge of the company and role.
Here's how to get your foot in the door when you don't have any previous work experience.
1. VOLUNTEER
LinkedIn found that one in five hiring managers consider volunteer work experience a valuable asset when considering student candidates. For a lot of employers, it’s one part initiative and one part skill development.
To avoid the catch-22 completely, try to get some part-time, temporary or volunteer work experience while you are still at school or uni/TAFE. Holiday jobs are one good option. Over the years we’ve heard of students working as volunteers who networked with business professionals at nonprofit organisations and had great success. Some students were hired for other jobs because managers could see them in action; some were referred to other colleagues with openings; and some were ultimately hired by the nonprofit organisation itself.
2. GET AN INTERNSHIP
If you can, I would recommend starting with an internship. Seek out companies you’d want to work for and try to become an intern even if they’ve never had an intern before. Offer to work unpaid for 3-6 months and then push for a job as soon as you feel they can’t live without you.
What? You’re too proud to offer your services at no charge? Get over it. If you choose the right opportunity, you’ll gain industry or functional experience that has immeasurable value – and will ultimately lead to a real paycheck.
If you can’t afford to work without pay right now, either save enough money until you can or just offer to work a few days a week and find a paying casual job to handle your bills. This can be a rough road and it will wear you down, but it’s only temporary. If you’re a great worker and they don’t want to lose you, they’ll find a way to keep you around.
3. NETWORK
When you don’t have a ton of experience to rely on, the key is to build relationships with people who can vouch for the fact that you’re the kind of person who an employer should take a chance on. It’s all about making connections with people in and around your everyday life. Try to initiate conversations when you’re walking the dog, riding the bus, or standing in line at the coffee shop. This can lead to a conversation about what they do for work, and what you’re looking for. Who knows who they know and if they have an opportunity for you?
4. HIGHLIGHT YOUR GREAT ATTITUDE
Ever wondered why so many job ads list a “can-do attitude” as one of the role requirements? That’s because it applies to all jobs across the board! Hiring managers are hiring for attitude. In entry-level roles hiring managers are looking for candidates with a desire to learn, a strong work ethic and good interpersonal skills. The rest can be taught, but a great attitude is gold. So find ways to highlight yours in your cover letter or personal statement in your resume. Explain how your positive attitude has led to positive actions. Include your personal achievements, as it’s all about attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to get somewhere.
5. GET PERSONAL
We’ve already established you haven’t work experience, but what you do have is life experience. So, don’t be afraid to share some personal anecdotes that taught you a lesson or two that you carry with you now. For example, maybe you studied or worked abroad, and the experience opened your eyes to the amazing cultural differences across the globe. That personal experience shows maturity and understanding any hiring manager would want in an employee. Find those moments in your life that have changed you, write a brief description on your resume or in your cover letter, and then use them as talking points when you land the interview.
6. HIGHLIGHT YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES
What projects or activities have you taken on yourself? How have you made some money on the side? Do you mow neighbors’ lawns in the summer, babysit or nanny children, privately tutor students, place items on eBay for your friends, program or fix your neighbors’ computers, build websites, or fix up your car or your parents’ car? All these activities have potential for the formation of a small entrepreneurial operation. Even better if you can get recommendations from people you have helped.
7. DON’T DISCOUNT SCHOOL OR UNI EXPERIENCES
The biggest issue with students is that they underestimate their accomplishments and experiences from school or college. Fund raising for the school auction, developing a social media strategy for getting the word out about a campus event, writing for the school paper, and even organising the yearly gala or graduation party can all be considered work experience.
Make a list of all the activities you were involved with over the course of your college years. Consider all of the tasks that you performed and translate them into real work experience.
Think back on classes that required more than reading, listening and taking tests. Did you have to conduct research, compile data, survey individuals, write an extensive research paper, conduct laboratory experiments, or present a report to a class? You can write up your classroom experience in the same way you would write up a job in your résumé, with bullet points for the active skills you used or learned in the class.
8. KEEP LEARNING
It may be that you need more education to qualify for what you really want to do—for example, if you discover an interest in law, then it may be time to apply to law school. But even outside of formal education, find ways to keep current and expand your base of knowledge - enroll in professional development or special training courses, or just do a lot of reading in your fields of interest.
9. EMPHASIZE YOUR "SOFT SKILLS"
What will make you stand out from the rest? Remember to showcase qualities like positive attitude, teamwork, problem solving, initiative, decision-making and communication skills. Strong soft skills can go a long way, because they can’t really be taught.
10. BE REALISTIC
Always apply for positions that are appropriate for you. In a tight job market where employers are flooded with highly qualified applicants, there’s less incentive to take a chance on a marginally qualified candidate. Carefully target jobs you truly can prove you can succeed in—not just those where you think, "I could do that," but those where you can excel with the strength and skills you already have.
If you’re applying for entry-level positions, most people aren’t expecting you to come in with a resume filled with experience. Instead, embrace your inexperience and leverage it as motivation to learn. Highlight examples of your dedication, curiosity, and commitment to learning and growth. People who are hiring are looking for people who are willing to work hard and want to learn.
“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” Auguste Rodin