How to Find A Job With No Experience As A New Graduate
Publié le 7 June 2023
Learn how to find a job with no experience as a new graduate and get your career off to a strong start in your industry of choice.
First things first—-congratulations on graduating! Pop the champagne and celebrate.
Now, onto the next step in life—- entering the job market as a recent graduate can be a daunting task. It is challenging, especially if you have limited work experience as a result of your academic experience. It gets even more demotivating when hearing the saying, “You need experience to get experience.”
I, too, was a graduate not long ago, and I was in the same boat. Honestly? It was not easy. At one point, I didn’t even know what career to choose despite already having a finished degree. But here’s the thing, there are many ways to land a job without experience, and I’m going to share with you how I achieved that—the tips and strategies that helped me increase my chances of getting hired and that I’m positive will help you as well.
How To Find A Job With No Experience As A New Graduate
- Build your network
- Keep learning
- Internships and volunteering
- Job fairs and hiring events
- Create your CV
Build Your Network
You can start building your network before you walk across the stage and collect your diploma. Build professional relationships with peers and mentors in your industry and maintain these connections using LinkedIn and other platforms.
Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date before you start connecting with others, and include your academic experience and all your related skills. Although social media was once a fun way to pass the time or relax, it is now a powerful tool for fresh graduates and experienced professionals alike.
You might be thinking finding a job with no experience can make starting off challenging, but it’s really not. People are constantly looking to connect with others—whether it is through LinkedIn, Twitter, or basic emails. You can use the internet to build your professional network and get your foot in the door.
This includes connecting with professionals in your field of interest, such as employers, recruiters, or hiring managers, potentially gaining valuable insights into industry trends and perhaps even referrals for job openings.
Even if the people you connect with aren’t able to refer you, they may know someone who does. It doesn’t hurt to try!
Additionally, you’ll be able to find people who are in a similar situation as you and maybe exchange valuable information or experience, such as job leads and advice for salary negotiation, or even provide feedback on your job search strategies, such as creating a resume and cover letter that promotes your academic success. Connecting with others who are also looking for a job and meeting the same challenges as you can help you stay motivated.
Keep Learning
Just because you have completed your schooling, it does not mean that learning stops. On the contrary, a commitment to learning and growth is one of the key attributes they look for from job applicants. There is an abundance of free online courses available to develop or hone new skills. Doing so will make you a more attractive candidate, demonstrating your willingness to learn as well as providing valuable knowledge that you can highlight in your resume.
Internships and Volunteering
There are a number of ways to go about gaining experience that will help you stand out in the job market. These can range from internships and apprenticeships to volunteer work.
All of these allow you to learn new skills, work on real projects, and build your professional network, which, in turn, improves your CV. Soft skills are still very much important to employers, and honing these skills can be both affordable and be learned at one’s own pace. Moreover, taking part in internships or volunteering lets your employer know that you are constantly looking for ways to improve and work on yourself.
Even if they are unpaid, they can still provide you with valuable experience that can ultimately lead to a job offer. Just be sure that these roles are following all regulations governing internships in your area. Being open is crucial when you’re trying to find a job with no experience, whether it refers to temporary positions, freelancing, or entry-level contract work.
Additionally, volunteering is a great way to gain work experience while giving back to the community. Not only does it help develop relevant skills, but also gives more talking points during a job interview and displays your commitment to your community, which is a trait that employers value greatly.
Job Fairs and Hiring Events
We’ve explored volunteering, apprenticeships, and internships, but where do we even find those? Sure, looking online is one way to do it, but it isn’t the only way to gain experience.
Job fairs and hiring events are where you’ll be able to meet career coaches, mentors, or job placement opportunities. These events are often organized by universities or community organizations. They more often than not reach out to local businesses recruiting new graduates for any job openings, as well as provide a list of virtual and remote internships.
Create Your CV
It is important to be familiar with your strengths and weaknesses because these are the things that will help you create a great CV and tackle job interview questions head-on.
Wondering how to get a job with no experience as a new graduate is daunting, but if you really think about it—-you do have experience, and you do have skills and traits to offer an employer. This can range from skills and accomplishments from your education, volunteer work, and internship experience or any other extracurricular activities that you believe may be relevant. These skills are your strengths which can be highlighted on your CV or cover letter, aligning with the job requirements and description.
Being able to identify the areas where you can improve and where you already have valuable knowledge is a valuable skill in itself. This will allow you to further develop and polish your professional brand for the future. It is a one-way ticket to ensure steady career growth.
To Wrap It Up
To answer the common question of “How to land a job with no experience as a new graduate?” one has to be willing to put in the work required to build a strong professional profile. By highlighting your skills, creating a network, and gaining experience through volunteer work and internships, fresh graduates can build a solid resume that offers great value to employers.
So stay motivated, keep applying for job openings, and you’ll see—you’ll be able to find a job in your chosen industry and begin your successful career.
