HOW TO GET EXPERIENCE WHEN NO ONE WILL HIRE YOU
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash
How much experience do you need for an entry level position? I graduated from college in May 2020 and began an active job search, which included a healthy amount of rejection. Throughout this process, the feedback I received was the same. “We went with the person with more experience.” Although I understand that, as someone who had a multitude of internships throughout college and held multiple leadership positions in my extracurriculars, I kept asking myself, how much experience do I need for an entry level position?
How can I gain more experience if no one will give me that chance? I decided to demonstrate my creativity by coming up with unique ways to gain experience on my own.
Certifications and courses
In most interviews you’ll probably be asked “Why do you want to work at [insert company]?” or “Why [this industry]?” Your passion and interest for the given industry comes off a lot stronger when you can speak to your experience with it. If you don’t have much experience, or it's been a period of time since you’ve worked, taking courses or getting certifications is an effective way to fill that gap.
It also shows an excitement and readiness to learn new skills, which is important since any new job will require a certain amount of onboarding, using new softwares, adapting to company culture, etc.
Freelance work
What do you really enjoy doing? What are you both passionate and educated about that you could charge as a service? For me, it’s social media management. I began reaching out to local businesses in my town and offering free social media audits so that I could gain experience. When I had enough experience and proof of work, I began pitching my services with a charge. Eventually, people started coming to me first for help with their social media. Doing freelance work on your own, not only gives you experience (and money!) but it also shows initiative and keeps you up to date with new trends and practices happening in your industry while you’re (technically) out of work.
Be open to work not immediately in your niche
Okay, hear me out. I’m not saying give up on your dream, or to disregard what you went to school for. But, reflecting on how you can use your passion and your degree in a different way could open up a multitude of new opportunities. During college, I worked in my school’s advancement office, soliciting donations from parents and alumni over the phone. Although I knew sales was probably not going to be my career path, this job is one I talk about in every single interview. It taught me listening and communication skills that have been invaluable throughout my personal and professional life, and it stands out against all my other more traditional marketing jobs.
Networking
They say getting your foot in the door at a company is all about who you know. Well, networking does have a lot of benefits. Not only do informational calls break up the humdrum of sending out job applications, but they allow you to be inspired by other people’s stories, and think about how you could apply their advice to your own life. Not to mention, it could result in a job referral, recommendation letter, introduction, and more! This kind of endorsement can go a long way in your application process.
Create your own job
Whether you’re looking to be your own boss full time or just want a side hustle, creating your own job is a whole new level of job security. At this time, working remotely and on your own hours is more feasible than ever, and we have the most resources at our disposal.
I have taken my own advice and used the above opportunities to gain experience while I was unemployed and it has pushed me to build out my portfolio and resume in ways I hadn’t imagined before. Good luck!