Have you recently graduated? High school? College? Well, during both of these periods, you’re expected to go out into the workforce. If you finish high school and don’t want to pursue education or an apprenticeship (or even take a gap year), you’re supposed to jump into job hunting and get into the workforce.
It’s the same for college. When you’re done, and you don’t plan to pursue anything large, like a higher degree, you’re expected to jump right into a job. Sometimes, people get lucky and have one waiting for them right when they graduate, and for others, right when they graduate, they need to find something.
The scenarios and situations are entirely different for everyone. But there’s something that’s the same, no matter what level of education you have. Nowadays, just about every job listing is “experience required.” Often, even low-paying and entry-level jobs will say “x amount of years of experience required,” when years ago, the same job wouldn’t require anything like that. It’s basically a catch-22 situation, right?
Regardless, a job is a job, and you need a job, and you need to build up those much-needed soft skills that employers want, too. So, with all of that said, how can you get a job when you need experience but lack the experience because you’ve never had a job? Well, here’s what you need to know!
Start with What You Know
Even if you’ve never clocked in officially, chances are you’ve got some skills or experiences under your belt. Maybe you were a club officer at school, helped organize a charity event, or even managed a busy household schedule. All these are valuable on a resume. They show leadership, organization, and commitment.
So, just go ahead and begin by listing all your informal experiences and the skills they’ve taught you. This could be anything from time management, teamwork, to specific technical skills like editing videos for a school project. It’s all about framing—translate these everyday tasks into professional skills.
Look into Volunteering
For a lot of people, the direction is going to be pointed towards volunteering, and honestly, this is the best route. Volunteering is a fantastic way to gain real-world experience. Non-profits and local organizations are often looking for help, and they don’t usually require experience as a prerequisite. This can be anything from helping out at local events, working in community kitchens, to assisting in administrative roles.
What’s great about volunteering is not just what you’re doing but also who you meet. But on top of that, networking is a natural outcome of volunteering. These connections can lead to job opportunities or recommendations that are invaluable when job hunting. Plus, depending on where you’re volunteering, there’s always the chance that a job might be offered to you as well.
Try and See if You Can Get an Internship
So this actually might be the tough one because sometimes, even internships require work experience (granted, that makes zero sense). Plus, sometimes internships require you to currently be in school or only recently graduated. But with all of that said, depending on your circumstances, this might be a good idea.
So, internships are the traditional route to gaining work experience, and for good reason. They offer a chance to work within a professional environment and learn industry-specific skills. Many companies are open to hiring interns with little to no experience because they expect to train you.
Yes, some internships are unpaid, which isn’t ideal for everyone. But, the experience gained can be a significant stepping stone, so consider your financial feasibility and the potential ROI from an unpaid internship. There are also many paid internships, which can be a win-win situation if you find the right one.
Look Into Certifications
Thankfully, nowadays, learning has never been more accessible. For example, there are platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and even YouTube that offer tutorials and courses in nearly every field imaginable. Want to learn graphic design?
There’s a course for that. Interested in coding? There’s a class for that, too. Plus, a lot of certifications are free or really cheap, so you can look into those as well.
Look Into Jobs That Hire Without Experience
Sometimes, you might not be able to get your dream job or the first job, or maybe any job that you’ve always wanted. Sometimes, you need to start from the bottom, but that’s totally okay. Now, most jobs expect experience, but not every job is going to expect experience.
For example, a house cleaner job usually doesn’t expect much experience. You might be asked some questions about previous experience, but in this line of work, it’s very forgiving if you’re limited. Someone can even oversee your work for a bit to make sure it’s up to standards. The same can usually be said for certain types of handyman work, landscaping (like mowing lawns and weed eating), janitorial work, and sometimes even kitchen work (like a dishwasher).
These roles can teach you time management, attention to detail, and customer service skills. Many people start here and either make a career out of it or use the skills learned as a stepping stone to other opportunities. You earn a lot of soft skill experiences in these too.
