The Art of Job-Getting when you don’t have much experience

Is it really possible for a fresh graduate or people transitioning careers with little experience to land a good job?

You hear it all the time.

This is the classic catch-22, right? You need experience to get a good job, but basically the only way to get experience is to have a job (barring any unpaid internships). So how can you land a job without much experience?

The core idea is this: to successfully procure a job, in the absence of sufficient experience, you must SELL YOURSELF without reservation. This is your only saving grace (in all job seeking scenarios, not just when having less experience): the ability to self-promote.

This requires a confidence-plated attitude and the capacity and motivation for massive action.

Here’s the MENTAL PERSPECTIVE you need to make this happen for you:

● Understand that you have the power to shape and forge your future. People who are intimidated by stretching the extremities of their comfort zone, or who don’t have the confidence to go push themselves and sell themselves, will rarely hold true power over the course of their future.

Example: if you think you’re not good enough to work for a highly sought-after company, you’ll probably end up bombing the interview with your stressed out temperament and anxiousness. Even if you do get the offer, you may bungle your offer negotiation and start off with a lower salary than your peers simply due to taking the first thing that comes at you!

● Remember: although you start off using digital means to get connected to a company representative, you’re still going to be interviewed by a live, real, actual human. It’s not like this faceless corporate entity is interviewing you. What this means is that you can read the body language, personality type, and general behavior style of your interviewer. By knowing who you’re “up against”, you can adjust your interview responses in a manner more aligned with your interviewer’s expectations or biases.

Your likability matters a lot more than if you have an MBA! Most times, it’s not your technical capability or pedigree that lands you the job; it’s how good of an impression you left on your potential manager or team. You can be taught skills and tasks. You can’t be taught motivation, good morals, or social finesse by a corporate entity. You’ll have to work on those things yourself, way before the interview! Besides, it’s just good to be a generally likable person in every facet of life anyways.

● It’s all a NUMBERS game. Getting a job when you don’t have experience means you are selling YOURSELF. And sales is always — and has always been — a numbers game. You send X amount of emails to qualified prospects, and you land Y number of clients. You make X calls and make Y amount of meetings. Out of Y meetings, Z end up working with you. It’s all a numbers game, so keep that in mind.

Now, here’s a brief workflow of the “Art of Job-Getting” when you don’t have that much experience in your favor.

1. Make a list of companies you want to work at. Rigorously research the companies that pique your interest. Use all the tools at your disposal: Google, LinkedIn, Angellist, and so on. The more companies you have on your list, the better (because, remember, this is a numbers game).
2. Create a killer resume. Toss the bad resume advice and create a resume for yourself that actually gets the job done — and gets the job. Your resume needs to be grammatically correct and easy to understand. Poorly worded and poorly organized resumes don’t get a second look. Go here for a resume format guide that helps you craft a powerful resume.
3. Fine-tune your LinkedIn profile. When you’re on the hunt for a job — despite having little experience — you have to muster every advantage you possibly can. A LinkedIn profile optimized for job-getting showcases your professional pedigree in a quick, non-fluff, effective way. Here’s my LinkedIn profile as a reference.
4. Put yourself out there with massive action. Massive action — executed in an organized, systematic way — is the name of the game here. So consistently send in your resume through job applications. Contact hiring managers with customized emails that highlight what you can do for their company. And if you’re a student, you have many opportunities to network assiduously with the companies who make an appearance at career fairs; pass out your resume, chat them up, get their business cards, and follow-up again and again and again.
5. Prepare yourself for the interview. After all this massive action (done in a smart, strategic way), you’ll probably have a few interviews lined up. Prep for the interview; learn how to describe yourself professionally and present your past experience in the angle that’s most relevant to the company. Here are 3 steps you can carry out right now to craft a compelling 30-second pitch for yourself.
6. Crush the interview. Bring your confidence and magnetic personality to the surface. Here’s the thing: if the interviewer doesn’t like you as a PERSON, regardless of your skillset and what you bring to the table, you’re not getting the job. Likability is key. That means displaying a sincere curiosity in the company and interviewer. Don’t forget to smile (and that doesn’t mean flashing a forced, faux smile either). Let them talk — and don’t ramble on.

Some new grads or those looking to switch careers may feel nervous or hopeless at the start of job search.

At the end of the day, it’s our attitude towards life, our self-love, self-confidence, and self-promotion that will light the way.

If you liked my article, checkout Dandan Global for more actionable info and in-depth, practical guides for your life and career.