The majority of employers advertise their jobs with that age-old phrase ‘experience required’. Not surprisingly, they want people who can hit the ground running and perform well from day one in the job.
For candidates who are keen to follow a certain career path, many struggle to get to the first rung on the ladder simply because they don’t have the experience recruiters are looking for. It could seem as though all the qualifications in the world won’t help if you haven’t actually done the job before.
If you’re in this situation, then here are a few tips to help you get a foot in the door:
- Find a way of gaining experience – even on a voluntary / unpaid basis. There are lots of organisations who will gladly give you some work experience to help you build up your CV. You may end up working for free, but you’ll reap the rewards when you can show potential employers you have that all-important experience. You just need to call them to get the ball rolling. Even if you end up working for free for a time, you will be making valuable contacts in the industry and you may end up being offered a job because of your keenness and great attitude to the work. At the very worst you will have relevant experience to add to your CV and hopefully a new positive reference as well.
- Make sure your CV reflects your ability to learn, and learn quickly. Applying for jobs is, to some extent, governed by luck. If you show you are keen to learn, and the recruiter doesn’t have many applications from suitably experienced people, then you’ll be in with a chance. Appearing keen is one of the most under-rated ways of breaking into the jobs market in a competitive area. Recruiters are always looking for people who they can help to develop and who are keen to learn. You may even find a mentor who takes you under their wing at the company because of your excellent attitude.
- If you see an advertised job and you’re keen to get it, show your interest by first calling the recruiter before you submit an application. Explain your background, your desire to work for them / in their field, and ask for an informal meeting (not an interview) where you could ask them about the job in more detail. This will go a long way to making a great impression. Recruiters like to see people who take initiative!
- And finally, apprenticeships are a great way of learning on the job whilst gaining a qualification in your desired field. Granted, pay could be low, and one or two years might seem like an eternity, but you’ll be guaranteed to improve your CV and your career prospects too. A large percentage of apprenticeships actually turn into full-time jobs once the apprenticeship is successfully completed. This means that an apprenticeship is actually a great way to get your foot on the ladder, not just in terms of experience but potentially picking up your first full-time job as well.
