11 Tips for Finding a Job Without Experience

The job search is overwhelming when you still haven't made your debut in the labor field. Put your worries aside and take note of these to find a job without experience.

Reviewed and approved by the psychologist Elena Sanz.

Written by Luz Marina Carpio Hernández

Last update: 15 December, 2022

Getting that first job is sometimes an uphill battle. Some companies require previous internships or work experience, which causes insecurity if you lack contact with the working world. However, the only way to nurture your resume is to remove your insecurities and face the adventure of finding a job without experience.

It’s not impossible to fill a vacancy if you find the right places. It helps to be honest about your goals, be patient, and know how to promote yourself. Bearing this in mind, we’ll tell you some other helpful tips in this article.

1. Prepare a good resume

Specify your personal information, academic formation, languages, aptitudes, interests, and goals in your resume. Make sure the document reflects your willingness to learn and how you would contribute to the company. Highlight your strengths and expectations. Present it as a summary, and do not overload it with details.

2. Check digital agencies

There are online platforms that offer jobs in many different areas. These systems often filter the search if you check the “no experience” box. That way, you will compete on equal terms with others who also don’t have any experience, which relieves some of the stress generated by measuring yourself against people who have already worked.

The mechanics of digital agencies is to subscribe, upload your resume, and wait to be contacted. If you match the requirements, it will only be a matter of time.

3. Aim for the right offers

One of the frequent mistakes in finding a job without experience is to apply for vacancies contrary to your training. Applying for jobs that don’t really with your skills also reduces your chances of finding a job. Just like you, many, many people are looking for an opportunity, and companies prioritize applications that fit their market.

4. Learn about your area and the current market

Don’t wait until it’s time to apply for a job to prepare. Read blogs, sign up for workshops, join groups, interact in forums, diploma courses, or any course that could help enrich your profession.

Educating yourself is a testament to your dedication and commitment to your education. By enhancing your qualities, you position yourself as an ideal candidate.

5. Expand your network of contacts

Recommendations are important in the labor field. How many people find their first job through a friend of a friend? Create and cultivate your network by promoting what you do and what you know.

This technique works online and offline. LinkedIn is one of the most comprehensive platforms for circulating your resume on the internet, while word-of-mouth is the traditional method of referrals.

6. Don’t rule out scholarships or internships

There are companies that promote internships or training scholarships or internships. This is the perfect opportunity to learn and gain experience.

7. Don’t let your guard down

After handing out resumes, stay active. When you meet any potential employer, inquire about vacancies, attend talks, and tell others around you about what you learned. Maybe someone knows of an offer that interests you.

8. Plot your path to success

List your skills and the personal characteristics required for your future job in circles. Join the circles and pay attention to the intersecting aspects. This graphic representation is known as Venn diagram and serves as a reference to know what to correct or strengthen in your cover letter.

9. Get some mentoring

When looking for a job without experience, mentoring works as a great guidance technique. You receive knowledge from a more experienced professional.

According to studies, this learning methodology stimulates personal and professional development through a model of personal qualities and values.

10. Shine in interviews

Show your best attitude in interviews. Focus on your strengths and be sincere with what you have to offer.

11. Be patient

Finding a job without experience takes time. Although it may take several weeks or months, you’ll be sure to find an opening and fill it eventually. As the process moves forward, be sure to check offers, ask questions, and explore other areas. Don’t give up, and be patient.

Mistakes to avoid when looking for a job for the first time

Just as it’s good to know what to do, it’s also good to know the mistakes you should not make. Take note of the following bad practices.

Don’t lie

It does not help to pad your resume with lies. It’s useless to say that you have worked in certain places if it’s not true. Those who do so run the risk of being found out.

Don’t arrive late for the interview

The appointment with the interviewer has finally arrived…but you show up late. Wrong! Punctuality is essential in any job, especially to make the first impression. Arrive half an hour in advance so you can take advantage of the time to prepare and get to know the building.

Don’t project a bad image

What should you wear to an interview? Wear clothes with which you feel confident without drawing too much attention to yourself. Also, be careful with language: don’t use vulgar or prejudiced terms. Pay attention to the speaker and participate naturally in the conversation.

Don’t come unprepared

Practice the interview with someone you trust, so that they can express their point of view. This is a way to optimize your public speaking, expression, and promotion of your skills.

Knowing about the company is a plus. Even if you don’t have experience, knowing as much as you can about the company is a big boost to getting the job. Remember, it’s also very likely that the recruiter will ask you “What do you know about us?”

Don’t neglect your profile on social networks

As of 2016, Infoempleo-Adecco refers to the labor market as a global village in which 86% of companies have social media. This may be even higher now and in other countries. They also add that 84% of recruiters use them to find candidates.

Considering this, do not neglect your digital identity. If you think it’s a good idea, differentiate your personal networks from your professional ones. Social networks could be your first approach to the company.

Don’t forget to make it known you’re looking for a job

The first steps in the labor field will not be effective if no one knows you are looking for a job. Opportunities may arise from professional meetings, forums, workshops, and events that you attend. Always show up with your business card and don’t be afraid to give it out.

Don’t get overconfident

Arrogance and overconfidence play tricks on us, especially in young candidates. Instead of exaggerating your qualities, highlight what you would bring to the table, how you would do the job and why you would fit in with the company or ground.

Don’t bring a disorganized resume or forget a cover letter

To find a job without experience, volunteering, or short internships, your qualities, and aspirations make a better resume than writing these experiences in chronological order. Remember that you don’t have much of a work background.

Don’t forget a cover letter. Two simple paragraphs are enough to highlight your interest in working and why you consider yourself suitable for the position.

Extra recommendations to get a job without experience

The labor market is becoming more and more competitive. However, there will always be someone willing to give you a chance. In the meantime, don’t disregard these additional suggestions:

• Contact temporary employment agencies (ETT): These are a kind of agency that looks for temporary candidates for other companies. Their portfolios often have a variety of profiles, and maybe one of them fits you.
• Try freelancing: Become your own boss and find projects that match your skills. Applications like Freelancer or Fiverr are useful in this case.
• Start from the bottom: Those who want to find a job without experience often find their first opportunity in a store. Vacancies in shopping malls are useful to earn money and experience and show that you’re not limiting your options.
• Join an internship exchange: Schools and universities usually facilitate this process for their graduates.

Success in the search for your first job also depends on persistence and positivity. Keep your head up! You’ll see that the effort will be worth it.