How to Get a Job With No Experience

For recent graduates, starting a career with no experience can be a Catch-22. What you lack in experience, you may more than make up for in skills and work ethic, but is that enough to land the job?

What are hiring managers looking for?

Employers will post positions with a laundry list of skills, knowledge and experience. An entry-level job requiring at least two years experience seems like an impossible feat. However, often a job description is the hiring manager’s wish list. A good rule of thumb is, if you meet at least 80% of a job posting, you should be dusting off your resume, not worrying about the other 20%.

5 tips for getting a job with no experience

Here’s how to improve your chances of getting hired for a job with little to no experience:

1. Identify your transferable skills

Transferable skills, which are often also soft skills, are capabilities that can be applied to a variety of roles or industries. Examples of transferable skills include creativity, problem solving and communication skills. 

Take the time to identify the skills you have developed, whether that’s through volunteer experience in school, your community, or summer employment. Prepped can also help you identify your unique job skills and capabilities.

2. Polish your resume

Update your resume to match your soft skills or transferable skills to the requirements of the job posting. If you have experience in any sort of capacity, include it! For example, time spent selling sneakers over the holidays counts as relevant communication skills. Be sure the wording on your resume mirrors the job description.

3. Write a cover letter that stands out

Don’t let a lack of professional experience hold you back. Showcasing your skills and capabilities in a well-written cover letter will help you to get noticed. Prepped has free online resources to help you craft your cover letter, with helpful tips on how to address your letter, conveying the company’s values and how you’re a great fit for the job, as well as templates to use. Get started by checking out Prepped’s free resumes, cover letters and email templates.

4. Expand your professional network

While in the beginning networking can feel overwhelming or awkward, it’s also a necessary part of finding a job. There’s some truth to the saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Building your network is a vital part of your job search – especially if you have no experience.

Tell family, friends and colleagues you’re actively job hunting and ask them to help.

Before you attend a networking event or coffee date, have your elevator pitch ready. Your 30-second pitch should cover who you are, what you do, what makes you unique, and what you’re looking for. Remember, companies do rely on referrals, so don’t be shy in spreading the word.