How do I gain experience without a job? Candidates often ask how to get a job without any experience. It can be frustrating to see job adverts again and again state that some level of experience is required when one has just left school! It is a common frustration. But with a little planning and extra effort, it is possible to gain experience without a paid position, and before leaving school. It is important to understand that a job is not the only place to gain experience. There are many opportunities to gain real world experience in a work environment that will be considered by employers as a substitute for experience in a paid position. Experience comes in many forms: 1) Internships - These are paid and unpaid. The key to success in using an internship for experience is to have outstanding references from the company and/or individual the intern was assigned to work under. 2) Learnerships - Paid Learnerships are opportunities to gain experience in the workplace and can often lead to paid positions when performance is excellent. 3) Volunteering - Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) are terrific places to gain experience as a volunteer. Not only can a candidate gain experience, they are demonstrating commitment to improving something, helping people, saving the environment, etc. This can be a great value-add on a candidate’s CV. 4) School/University/College activities - Student activities, especially those which are constructive, in leadership, or in business, can be viewed by employers as experience or as the key differentiator when making hiring decisions. Employers like to see that a candidate has diverse interests and is an active person. 5) Professional and Trade associations - Networking is the primary reason to engage with organisations within the industry a candidate wishes to work. Secondary in importance is the inside industry knowledge that enables a candidate to learn more about the industry and stay abreast of current trends. 6) Chambers of Commerce – These are organisations of business leaders and owners which are great places to network, learn more about the business climate in a community, and to meet potential employers and get involved in their community activities. Benefits to these experiences: 1) Expand professional network 2) Gain references 3) Avoid gaps in CV employment timeline 4) Learn about a chosen industry or alternative industries 5) Gain positive references and job referrals 6) Learn new skills 7) Demonstrate commitment to the community 8) Do good for others 9) Demonstrate industriousness 10) Polish existing skills 11) Gain employment Landing a job without work experience is harder, but it is far from impossible. Wise candidates will not be unemployed for long if they plan ahead and take advantage of the varied opportunities to gain experience that are available to them. Above all remember, everybody working today had no experience once, yet they successfully overcame that barrier and are now employed.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 06:18:23 +0000
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