How to Land a Job When You Have No Experience
“Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him”. — Aldous Huxley
Every year, an army of young creative minds graduates from college, hungry for experience, ready for challenges.
And every year that same army faces the most vicious opponent ever — The job market.
The second you step foot into the job market you learn 3 important things:
1. Your degree means close to nothing — The only currency that matters is experience
2. Your teachers did not prepare you for any of this
3. It is harder than any exam you ever took
So, after the first panic attack blows over, you start to realize that it is not as bad as it seems and that others have gone through it before you.
It all comes down to beating the oldest job hunting paradox:
“You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job”
The more you think about it, the less sense it makes.
How can you get experience when no one will hire you because you don’t have experience?!?
I guess I was lucky to land a job right after college. When I look back, there were probably some things I did right but mostly it was sheer luck.
Today, as a recruiter, I see so many young people lost in the confusing recruitment process. They keep wondering between job applications and interviews, never understanding how the system works and how to navigate through it.
I made a list I wish I had when I first started job hunting. I hope this list can help you beat the paradox and start your career on the right foot.
Get non-paid experience
“Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid” — Albert Schweitzer
As a fresh graduate, the first thing you need is relevant experience in your industry.
In fact, experience is more important than money at the early stage of your career.
It is what distinguishes you from other graduates in the eyes of your future employer.
There are many non-profit organizations that provide work experience.
Even though these organizations will not pay you in cash, they offer something far more valuable.
Networking, experience, and skills are a few of the things that will be your paycheck working for a none profit.
Learn how to present your experience
Getting relevant experience is the first step. You need to learn how to present it to your future employer.
Applying for a job is about marketing yourself in the best way.
Always try to answer these two questions:
1. What have I gained from my experience?
2. How can it be valuable to my future employer?
Once you figure this out, make sure you use the right words to describe it.
Use the job advertisement as a reference. Take a look at some of the keywords in there and, if applicable, make sure they find their way into your resume.
Top Career Tip:
Recruiters are scanning your resume for keywords that match the job description. Whenever possible, include the keywords from the job description in your resume.
Be authentic
Fancy job titles are not going to impress anyone.
Being a “Marketing Director” at 22 is very impressive. Not so impressive when it turns out to be your family’s business.
Employers are not expecting you to submit a resume that is full of experience when you’re applying for entry-level positions.
So, get rid of the fluff and be yourself.
Top Career Tip:
Recruiters know when you are lying. They are very hard to fool, and they never forget a candidate that was caught lying.
Understand your competition
People who are applying for the same job as you are, are in the same position as you are.
Top executives are not applying for an entry level job, so your competition is very much like you.
If you are feeling unqualified for a position, remember that you are in the right weight division, and your competition feels the same.
Research the company
Showing up to an interview prepared is the number one thing you can do to leave a good impression
Research the skills and experience the company values. Find out who are the key players of the organization. Learn the company’s history, mission, values, and culture.
Understand the problems the company is facing and find a way to solve them.
Top Career Tip:
Find out what challenges the company is facing and present yourself as the solution.
Customize your resume(s)
One of the biggest mistakes young professionals make is using the same resume for different job applications.
Recent studies have shown that a recruiter spends less than 10 seconds reading a resume before deciding whether the applicant qualifies for the position or not.
Some recruiters won’t even give you 10 seconds.
When you don’t have a lot of experience you don’t have the luxury of sending the same resume to different companies.
Take the time to tailor your resume to every position and every company you send it to.
Top Career Tip:
If you are not sure how to write a good resume, consult a professional. It may cost you a little bit in the short term, but the return on investment will be huge.
Network
Did you know that around 80% of the jobs available are never advertised?
That means someone else is landing those jobs even before you get a chance to apply.
Let your relatives and friends know that you are looking for a job.
Make sure your LinkedIn is up to date and connect with the right people in your industry.
Top Career Tip:
Optimize your LinkedIn. It is a search-driven platform and recruiters are searching on it every day. Make sure your profile is easy to find and presentable when found.
Understand your role
No one is expecting you to be an all-star in your rookie year. Be yourself, perform the task assigned to you, learn fast and work hard.
The reality is that your first job is not going to be your dream job, and that’s OK. You have your entire career to move up the latter and develop.
Top Career Tip:
They didn’t hire you because you are an expert in the field. They hired you because they believe you can learn fast and one day become an expert in the field.
Landing your first job is hard, scary and sometimes straight up frustrating. Remember that others have done it before you, and so can you.
What do you think is the best way to land a job when you have no work experience?
Leave a comment below and let us know how did you beat the paradox.
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