How to get a job with no experience

5 ways to approach getting a job without experience

Whether you are a student, new grad or looking to change career paths you may be in the classic Catch 22 of how to get a job without the experience you need to get that job.

Here are 5 ways to get a job with no experience:

1. Volunteer

Volunteering is the best way to get into a career with purpose. In the world of social impact in particular- you are what you do, not what you say you do- so demonstrating your commitment by volunteering or being active with causes you care about is important. Volunteering, not only provides you with valuable experience but also the opportunity to meet people in the field you want to get into and develop relationships.

Check out CharityVillage’s Volunteer Page

Related article: Check out How to amp your resume using TalentEgg’s xosial impact movement.

2.  Showcase your knowledge 

Now more than ever, sites like Medium, LinkedIn, instagram and twitter make it easier to share your opinions and knowledge with the world. Write about relevant topics, demonstrating you have the knowledge and passion even without direct experience. Don’t have something to say yet? That’s ok, you don’t always have to write an article. To start, thoughtfully comment on thought leaders blog posts to show your insights.

3. Network and attend events

The word “networking” gets a bad reputation because many still approach it from the lens of collecting business cards and meeting people so that they can eventually ask for something. The key to meaningful networking is to re-frame your mindset to meeting people for relationship building. You are looking to connect with people not just for the short term but for long term as well.

4. Take advantage of informational interviews. 

Ok so it’s definitely a faux-pas to ask for a job in an informational interview, but getting to know the people at the different companies you are interested in or the jobs that you think you may want, is key to ultimately landing your job.

Related article: How to ask for an informational interview by email

5. Highlight EQ not just your IQ

In today’s AI world, being emotionally intelligent is of increased importance. Emotional intelligence is defined by Psychology Today “as the the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others”. Traditionally labeled as “soft skills”- traits like communication, positive attitude, curiosity, compassion, team builder etc. (a full list of “soft”- aka real skills by one of my favourite writers Seth Godin) – will only continue to grow in importance. How you manage those skills is related to emotional intelligence and emphasizing the areas you are strong in will help you land your next job.