How can I get your first job with no experience?

It’s a tough job market out there—even for people with experience. In fact, getting your first job after college can be even more challenging for recent grads without any work experience like internships or part-time jobs. The question is: how can you get your first job with no experience? If you’re reading this article, it means you’re looking for answers and strategies to land that first job after college. And we get it; it feels like everyone you know has some kind of gig as a result of their university connections or some other advantage. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up. Because if you’re willing to put in the work, there are plenty of entry-level jobs out there for people with little to no experience.

Network, network, network!

First and foremost, we have to talk about networking. If you have no experience, but you have a ton of connections, you’re in luck. You have an opportunity to get your foot in the door much earlier than your peers. Start reaching out to your friends, family members, professors, and anyone else you can think of. Ask how you can get involved in their company, find out if they know of anyone who might be hiring, and keep your network growing until you find your perfect opportunity. It can be difficult to know where to start if you don’t have any connections, but keep looking until you find someone who can help you. It could be anyone—and it might just be exactly what you need. If you don’t have any connections then this shouldn’t stop you from breaking down doors either. People with internal referrals don’t get interviews, people with close friends in companies don’t get hired, and you’re never out of the race for a position so don’t let your network limit you. Consider building your network and connecting with professors, Alumni, and employers on Linkedin to learn more about your desired roles, the interview process, and what skills these jobs desire the most.

Try volunteering

One of the best ways to get experience and show off your skills is through volunteering. It’s a great way to learn new skills, build connections, and get your foot in the door. You can do anything from tutoring kids to helping out at a local non-profit. Keep in mind, the more specialized the type of volunteering is, the better it is for getting experience and proving yourself. For example, if you’re interested in marketing, volunteering at a charity or non-profit isn’t going to be very effective. On the other hand, if you volunteer at a marketing agency, you can learn and practice the skills you need for your future job. You might even be able to get your name on the company website as someone who contributed to their success.

Check out internship opportunities

If you want to get some experience while in school, an internship is a great way to do it. Internships can be paid or unpaid, depending on the company, so you might be able to get one while still in school or during the summer. There are many different types of internships out there and it’s likely that you can find one that best suits your interests. For example, if you’re interested in marketing, but are also interested in design, there are plenty of companies that offer both internships. If you don’t know what you want to do after college or don’t know where to start, an internship is a great alternative to spending a ton of time trying to find what fits you best. It’s also a great way to get your foot in the door with a company and make connections that can help you get a job after you graduate.

Internships are also a great way into companies since you’re able to land a full-time job offer at the end of the internship if you’ve done a great job. We’d recommend never going for an unpaid internship, but if it’s a great company that you think will boost your resume in a significant way then a conversation can be had. Overall an internship will likely always help since a candidate with just 3 months of experience as an intern (even if they didn’t do anything impactful) will look better on a resume than someone with no experience. Running the social media profile for your management club counts too! There’s no shortage to find some opportunities to add some skills and experience to your CV.

Consider using internships to also find what you like. Each summer you can target different industries, small startups vs large corporations, and different job functions. This would also create a well-rounded team member as an employee since you’ll have a better understanding of how teams work together.

Network even more!

If you’ve tried everything on this list and still can’t find an opportunity, it could be time to look for something different. It’s possible that you may need to change industries, jobs, or even the company you work for. You don’t want to be the person who refuses to do anything they aren’t already good at. You want to be the person who takes on new challenges, even if they’re difficult at first. The best way to do this is to reach out to all of your contacts and see if anyone knows of opportunities you may be interested in. Don’t be afraid to ask. You may be surprised by who has the answer. If your dream is to land an entry-level job at Amazon but can’t seem to get an interview for their marketing team consider looking into their entry-level roles on other teams like business development (sales) or product management. Taking on a role one degree away from your dream team is always a great idea since internal transfers are much easier than cold applications for a position.

Conclusion

Getting your first job after college can be difficult, especially if you don’t have any experience. But there are a few ways you can try and make it work. Networking, trying out internships, and finding different ways to get experience can help you land that first job after college. You just have to stay focused, keep trying, and know that it will get better. It’s a tough job market out there, but you can make it happen.