Catch 22: How to Get a Job When You Have No Experience

Finding a job is essential to starting your life after school or college, but it can be difficult to apply for anything if you have little or no experience.  However, there are ways that you can land that job even if you have no experience in your chosen field under your belt.

Step 1: Make a Resume

First, you need to have a professional resume.  Make sure that you format it correctly.  You’ll find tons of free resume help and free templates on the Internet.  You also need to compile a list of references to go on  the resume.  These should be professional references if at all possible, with job related references taking precedence.  However, if you have to, you can use friends of your family, church leaders and others who know you. 

Step 2: Collect References

If you have no references, you can create some by doing freelance work.  Ask around your friends and see if anyone needs help in your chosen field.  For instance, if you want a job as a photographer, take some family portraits of a friend’s family.  Then ask them if you can put them down as a reference on your resume.  If they are happy with your service, they will almost certainly say ‘yes.’  And now you have your first real reference.

Step 3: Network Online

Next up, you need to start working on creating a network.  Most of the time, you will land a job through a friend of a friend who has a job opening, rather than applying for an opening directly.  But nobody will know you’re looking for work if you don’t put the word ‘out there.’  Make a profile page for yourself on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) and search for all your friends and family members on the network.  Add them and see what connections they have to your desired field.  Put your references online and state your desired job. 

Step 4: Check Online Job Sites

There are plenty of job sites available online where you can start your search, or you can use freelance websites like Elance if you want.  Your local newspaper is also going to be a good place to start.  Also, start using social networks and meeting people in the real world who are involved in the career or industry that you want to enter.  You will definitely find that who you know makes a big difference here.  

Step 5: Help Out For Free to Start With

Always be on the lookout for people in your school, neighborhood or town who need help in your chosen field, and accept that you are going to have to go some work for free before you land a job.  Bear in mind that volunteer or intern work counts for a lot and can get you some great connections.  At the very least you’ll get a reference; if you’re very lucky, the person or company you intern with will be so impressed with you that they’ll hire you for a real paid job. 

So if you want to be a film-maker, for instance, start by offering to run the cameras or lights at your school’s theater for free.  That way you’ll gain actual filming experience, some footage for your demo reel, and some good references from the people you help that will look great on your resume. 

Step 6: Ask Around at Your School or College

Finally, you might be able to find help at your high school or community college.  Both of these locations often have information about entry-level positions in your local community.

When job hunting, remember; you don’t get something for free.  The more people you help while you’re looking for a job, the more people will help you land that job.