Most recent graduates and experienced professionals seeking to change their career paths battle with the Catch-22 situation – you need a job to have experience; you need experience to get a job.
Admittedly, finding oneself in this situation, even for entry-level jobs, could be disappointing. Yet, employers are only seeking to build teams that will boost their performances in order to avoid having to micromanage teams of incompetent employees with all of its accompanying consequences.
Nevertheless, there are a number of ways to overcome this dilemma. Below, we provide 4 useful tips that can help you gain the experience you need to secure the very first job you desire.
How to get experience without a job
Find below 4 tips that can help you to acquire relevant experience for your first job.
1. Research the skills
It takes specific skills to perform tasks competently. Therefore, it is expedient to find out the skills employers require from candidates. To find out these skills, study the requirements in advertised vacancies for your desired role. Identify the applicable skills you possess and those you do not. Where there are gaps, seek ways to acquire the necessary but missing skills. Use online and offline resources, including speaking to those who have been doing this job. Also, acquire critical skills employers look for in all candidates regardless of the industry and field.
2. Embrace internships and volunteering
If you can’t get a job because you lack the required experience, then look for the experience now and money will come later. Internships and volunteering provide opportunities to take up unpaid jobs that can give you relevant experience. Many organisations need interns and volunteers to address staff shortages or augment their staff strength at no cost. Some internships also come with stipends. As an intern, you can start building your professional network, which can enhance your chance of being employed.
3. Employ yourself
As already pointed out, employers only want to be sure you’re capable of doing the job. The easiest way is to be your own employer – freelancing. By rendering paid services to individuals and SMEs, you will set yourself on your professional track and begin to sharpen your skills, grow and acquire relevant experience. Freelancing gives you the opportunity to undertake and deliver projects, samples of which can serve as evidence that you are competent.
4. Write a creative CV
In most instances, new graduates are not entirely without experience. Relevant experience may be acquired while in school and from religious, community or social group activities. These may not be traditional workplace experiences, yet they are valuable, if relevant to your career. Highlight the skills developed and achievements from such activities in a creative way in your CV.
The bottom line
Acquiring relevant experience is important for professional newbies to be entrusted with critical responsibilities. With experience comes skills, competence and confidence. You can achieve all of these through a strong commitment to learning, service, entrepreneurship and a creative application of experiences acquired from other aspects of social engagements. Be engaged!
Also Read:
How To Get A Job Without Experience
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