Finding a Job When You Have No Experience

Most entry level roles require two to three years of previous job experience. If you’re new to the workforce, how can you qualify? The good news is that “years of experience” can usually be taken with a grain of salt, but your resume should prove that you have the skills to do the job well. Here are four ways to gain that experience and demonstrate you’re the right person for the role.

• Volunteer or intern for someone you know. Even tasks that feel tedious can help you build transferable skills that every company is looking for and that you can highlight on your resume: organization, writing, time management, collaboration, and communication.
• Start consulting in your area of interest. You don’t need to set up an LLC or a registered corporation to offer services. You can promote your skills in the same way on social media to gain access to people who may need them and offer free consultations.
• Create and highlight a series of personal projects. For those interested in joining a more creative field or a field in which you’ll need to showcase a portfolio of work, creating personal projects that lead to learning insights or positive outcomes (like traffic growth or audience engagement) is a great way to start building that portfolio.
• Get certified in your field of interest. Citing a certification on your resume will set you apart from others who also have minimal practical experience and are trying to move into a specific field. The exact certificate you should invest in will depend on your end goal.

When you’re new to the workforce or trying to shift into a different industry, finding that first job can feel impossible. All you need is one shot, but the barriers to entry are high. Every time you find a great role, you never seem to qualify. Almost every “entry level” position requires two to five years of experience.