If you want to know how to get hired without experience, we have 7 simple strategies to help you gain employment.
Landing your first job can be challenging because most employers like to see that you’ve had some past experience that relates to the role in some way. If you’re looking at job listings and have no experience in that field, you’re already clearly at a disadvantage, especially if the job market is competitive. But I don’t think you should give up just yet.
Remember that everyone has faced the challenge of getting their first job with no experience, and some employers are more understanding of this, regularly offering entry-level jobs. The key is knowing how to find those opportunities and how to set yourself apart from other job candidates.
Also, keep in mind that even if you don’t have any work experience, you may have other life experiences that are relevant to the job(s) you’re interested in.
Here are seven clever tips to help you get hired without experience.
1. Start with an Internship or Volunteer Opportunities
Internships are a great way to combat that initial lack of experience that may raise a red flag with employers. It gives you a chance to gain real-world experience in a specific career field that you can add to a resume or CV. It’s a great idea to seek out internship opportunities when you’re in college or trade school, but you can likely find some of these opportunities at any point in your career.
I ended up doing two internships during college. They were both unpaid, but they gave me a ton of practical, useful work experience, and I was able to fill out my resume this way. I also made valuable connections with people at these companies and gained work samples for my portfolio, since I was just in the early stages of my writing career.
You can find leads on internship opportunities at your college or use sites like InternshipFinder, Idealist, or Extern. Popular job board sites like LinkedIn also occasionally list companies that are hiring for internships or apprenticeships, offering hands-on experience in your field. If you’re looking to get into a trade, you may be able to contact different companies and ask if you can work as a helper or apprentice to gain valuable experience.
Volunteering at local organizations or joining a committee board can also be a great way to gain experience and meet people. Earlier in my writing career, I volunteered to edit the newsletter for the National Resume Writers Association. I had no experience other than a journalism degree, but I simply asked for the role, and they were happy to let me try it. I learned more about the editing process and how to manage deadlines, and also improved my communication through this volunteer role.
2. Consider Getting a Professional Certification
Getting a certification doesn’t guarantee you’ll land a job, but it can help give you a competitive edge or even meet a requirement for your field. If your desired job field values certifications, going this route can help you land a job without much experience.
My first job out of high school was cooking and serving samples inside grocery stores. The job didn’t require much experience, but I needed to get my Food Safety Certification since I’d be handling different types of food, depending on the products I prepared during my shift. It was a short class to get certified, but it helped me start the new job with basically no prior experience.
In some fields, certifications are required in order to work with certain customers or clients or handle certain materials. In other cases, it demonstrates your dedication to developing your skill set and advancing your career. Either way, take some time to thoroughly research your job market and what employers look for before you invest your time or money in getting certified.
Going to college is expensive, and there are plenty of well-paid professional roles that don’t actually require a bachelor’s degree. So it’s always important to research and know what your ideal employer is looking for.
3. Apply for a No-Experience Entry-Level Job
Some companies hire people without any experience. Some of these jobs may include customer service or sales roles, or other remote roles like data entry.
Whether you’re looking for a new career path or not, these jobs are often in high supply and can train you and help you develop certain skills. These skills and experience can be transferred to other roles in the future, even if they’re in a completely different job field.
Another trick I recommend is using the filtering features offered by most online job platforms. You can often specify what type of job opportunities you want by choosing options like ‘entry level positions’ or ‘no experience required’ to better help match you with roles that might be a good fit.
Related: 36 Legit Work From Home No Experience Jobs
4. Expand Your Network
As the popular saying goes, “it’s not always about what you know, but who you know.” There’s never a better time to build and grow your network than when you don’t have a lot of job experience.
Create a profile on LinkedIn and connect with old classmates, recruiters, and follow jobs that you’re interested in. If you’re doing an internship or trying to build a portfolio, you can post on LinkedIn to grow your reach and connect with more people.
LinkedIn is more than just a place to share your resume and skills. It’s become quite the social platform in the past few years, and there’s even a feature now that allows you to create your own long-form newsletters.
You can also consider testing LinkedIn Premium (a paid feature) to see if it adds value to your job search.
5. Attend Industry Events
Don’t count out industry events or conferences even if you’re early in your career. While I wouldn’t recommend attending a conference at random, attending an event strategically can help you grow your career.
Be sure to weigh the out-of-pocket costs and realistically estimate how you might get a return on your investment. I used to attend a conference yearly, and it helped me meet so many people I likely wouldn’t have met otherwise, and I was also able to secure a lot of freelance clients this way.
You don’t have to travel cross-country for an industry event either. You can start small by going to local mixers and meetups. Check to see where these events are happening and be willing to put yourself out there. Who knows, you might meet your future employer at one of those events.
6. Follow Up Like a Professional
Following up after you apply or interview is one of the simplest ways to set yourself apart. But unfortunately, it’s also one of the most overlooked steps in the job search process. Following up after an application or interview shows potential employers that you’re very interested in the role, respect their time, and are serious about contributing to the company.
You should send a follow-up email or letter within 24 hours of the interview. Share something that stands out about your life experiences, past volunteer work, or your goals, and how you plan to contribute this to the role in some way.
Even if you don’t meet all the qualifications shown in the job description, express how you’re willing to learn and take action to grow. Doing this will help you position yourself as a strong potential fit, even if you’re still at the entry-level stage.
7. Bonus Idea: Create Your Own Job
Of course, if you’re finding trouble landing a job with no experience, you can always step outside of traditional employment and create your own job.
There’s always a demand for freelancers and creative entrepreneurs these days. This isn’t an easy route, but if you’re passionate about something and willing to learn, you can try creating products or services to sell on your own.
You don’t have to step out and do this full-time either. Maybe this looks like getting an entry-level job somewhere or working part-time in retail, sales, or hospitality while building your self-employed dream career on the side.
It can be different for everyone. But be sure to assess the market for your business idea and identify which specific skills and soft skills you might need. Over time, you can use that business you created as relevant experience for a traditional job if you ever decide to switch gears later down the road.
Get Hired Without Experience: It’s About Momentum, Not Perfection
It’s common to struggle with finding a good job when you’re lacking relevant experience. But instead of searching for the perfect opportunity, you can focus on gaining traction with these creative ideas. Jobs are often stepping stones to other opportunities throughout our careers, and we all have to start somewhere.
Start expanding your network, volunteering, and creating a resume and cover letter that leverages your personal and life experience to narrow down a job that may be a good fit for you at this time. You can also work on growing your skills through internships, apprenticeships, and opportunities that you create on your own. This builds momentum that will help turn ‘no experience’ into your next paying opportunity.
