It’s the age-old employment predicament: you can’t get a job because you don’t have experience, but you can’t get experience because nobody will hire you.
Stay calm: you’re not alone. As a recent humanities graduate, I know that constant CV-sending doesn’t always provide the results you’re looking for.
So what can you do to get over the ‘no experience’ hurdle?
Transferable Skills – Highlight Them
Transferable skills are crucial. Make sure that they’re clearly visible on your CV. You might not have much work experience, but even university or college will allow you to develop traits like teamwork, time-management, and communication.
It’s all about being able to market yourself. If you can do that, then you can begin searching for the perfect roles for you. What do you have that the next applicant doesn’t?
Seek Unpaid Experience
It’s not the most fun idea in the world, but working for free will allow you to put noteworthy experience on a CV that’s otherwise lacking in it.
Also, companies love anything free. If you’re not hearing back from regular applications, offering your services for no cost might be just the thing you need to get a foot in the door.
It doesn’t even need to be in the sector you want a career in – consider those transferable skills you could get from any professional environment. Search around, and begin putting in the hours to maximise your attraction as a candidate.
Ask for a trial, some shadowing, or apply for an internship.
Just Give it a Go
Even if job advertisements state that “1-2 years” experience is a necessity, it’s not always the employment gatekeeper you think it is.
If you see a job you’re interested in, then apply for it anyway. If your CV is up to scratch and you’ve marketed your skills and abilities, then there’s a chance hiring managers will want to call you in for an interview.
It’s all about getting your foot in the door. Perseverance is the most important part of any job search, so make it the driving force behind yours.
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