How to apply to a job without experience 

Landing your first job can be a tricky task, and in today’s competitive climate, qualifications and experience can sometimes feel not enough. So how do you maximize your chances if you don’t have the necessary experience?

Many often joke that getting a job is a catch 22 scenario: you need experience to get a job, but you also need a job to get experience. 

So how can you get on the career ladder? Whether you’ve graduated recently or considering a change in career path, applying for a role you don’t have experience in can feel daunting. So we’ve compiled a list of handy tips to help you accomplish the seemingly impossible and maximize your chances of landing a job with no experience.

Pay attention to what you have

While experience is important, it’s not the be all, end all. There are so many elements to a job beyond qualifications and experience that prospective employers look at. Your attitude to work, your understanding of the organization and the brand, your personality, ability to self-motivate, your originality, resilience and resourcefulness - the list is endless. 

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, take a look at all what you bring to the table and how you can present yourself to the employers as a good fit for the role. 

Reassess the experience you have 

Before completely chalking off the experience you may be sure you don’t have, reconsider and reassess. Look back at the positions you’ve held or places you’ve volunteered at and what your role entailed. While they may not be similar in any way, most roles require soft skills and jobs typically overlap.

Have you organized meetings before? Have you set up social media accounts? Don’t look at previous roles dismissively, think about what they taught you and see if they’re relevant to the position you want to be considered for now.  

Apply speculatively

Expand your search beyond listed job opportunities and advertised listings. Research companies and organizations that interest you, and make that focal in your application. 

Organisations want to hire people who are a good fit for the company and are passionate about the company’s vision and mission. By demonstrating your interest, you’ve already highlighted that you share similar brand values. Make sure to communicate your interest in breaking into the industry, inquire about any opportunities and make sure you stay up to date on all the postings and updates in the field.

If you really have no experience - create some!

Don’t be scared to start from scratch. The most important part of employment is getting your foot in the door, no matter where. Consider an internship in the field you want to enter. If that’s not possible, look at doing some volunteer work, work experience or ask if you can shadow someone. 

Every little bit helps, and you never know what could happen. You could make some useful connections that will help connect you later with a position suitable for you. Or you could prove yourself useful to the company and find yourself offered a position with them at the end of your internship. Or perhaps you might discover that the field you thought you wanted to enter is not the right fit for you. 

Applying for a position without experience may feel impossible at times, but with enough determination (and resilience!) you’ll soon find that everything is possible. 

Do you have any other recommendations for prospective candidates without experience? Let us know in the comments

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Cover Image Credits: Unsplash

Inline Image Credits: Unsplash