Our guest blogger is Pam Robison of J. Gifford Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. J. Gifford Inc. is a small, quality conscious firm providing highly individualized recruiting services to clients on a local, regional, national and international basis. The firm’s recruiting activities are focused on professional, technical and managerial placement, as well as contractor and international staffing for clients. Pam is currently serving as Immediate Past Chair of the NPAworldwide Board of Directors. Today, she offers practical job search advice for new and early career candidates.
You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. If you’re just starting your career, you’ve probably run into this classic “Catch-22.”
Whether you’ve finished high school, completed a trade program, earned a college degree, or already started working, presenting yourself to an employer can be challenging when your experience is limited.
In my recruiting practice, I often help people at this stage with their resumes and interview preparation. My firm typically recruits for positions that require experience, but I welcome the opportunity to help someone get their job search off to a good start.
One of the first things we discuss is what they already bring to the table. Often, they have more than they realize.
Give Yourself Credit for the Experience You Have
You may be new to your chosen field, but you’re bringing something to the table.
Internships, part-time jobs, hands-on training, school projects, and volunteer activities can all show an employer how you work. They can demonstrate that you’re dependable, work well with others, solve problems, and take initiative.
Think about the responsibilities you’ve handled. Have you trained a coworker, helped a frustrated customer, completed a technical assignment, organized an event, or balanced a job with school? Those experiences give you something meaningful to discuss.
The key is to be specific. “I’m a hard worker” is something almost anyone can say. Explaining that you regularly worked an opening shift before heading to class gives an employer a much clearer picture of your commitment.
Help an Employer See the Connection
Your resume should make it easy for an employer to understand how your background relates to the job.
Start with the job description. What is the employer looking for? Which of your skills and experiences connect to those needs? Make those connections easy to find.
If you’ve completed technical training, include the equipment, tools, or processes you’ve learned to use. If you’ve worked in customer service, describe how you helped customers or resolved problems. If a school project relates to the position, give it space on your resume.
Keep the layout simple and the wording clear. When your experience is limited, one well-organized page is often enough.
And be honest. There’s no need to stretch your responsibilities or make classroom experience sound like years on the job. You should be able to comfortably explain anything you put on your resume.
Give Your Job Search Some Direction
You don’t need to know exactly where you want to be in 20 years. But it helps to have an idea of the work you’d like to do now.
Think about what interests you and the kind of environment where you might do well. Do you enjoy working at a desk? Would you prefer a hands-on role that keeps you moving? Do you like helping customers, working with equipment, or organizing information?
Use those answers to identify a few types of jobs to explore. Depending on your interests, search terms such as “trainee,” “assistant,” “apprentice,” or “junior” may help you find a starting point. Visit employers’ websites, too, so you’re looking beyond the job boards.
Read postings carefully. If you can make a reasonable case that you could do the work, consider applying even if you don’t meet every preferred qualification. Required licenses, credentials, and other essential qualifications still matter.
Let people know what you’re looking for—and make it specific. “I completed an HVAC program and am looking for an apprentice or entry-level technician position” gives someone a much better starting point than “I’ll take anything.”
Connections can help open doors. Teachers, instructors, former supervisors, classmates, and personal contacts may know an employer worth approaching or someone you should meet. You don’t have to ask them to find you a job. Asking for a suggestion or an introduction is a good place to start.
Prepare Before the Interview Invitation Arrives
Interview preparation is especially helpful when you don’t have a long work history to draw from.
Do your homework. Visit the employer’s website, learn about the business, and think about why the position interests you.
Then prepare a few examples of times you handled responsibility, learned something new, worked with others, or dealt with a setback. These can come from work, school, training, or volunteering.
Explain what happened, what you did, and what you learned or accomplished. Practice saying your answers aloud. You want to feel comfortable telling your story without sounding as though you’re reading a script.
Be ready for “Why should we hire you?” You don’t need to have all the answers. Talk honestly about the skills you bring, the preparation you’ve completed, and your willingness to learn. Whenever possible, support that willingness with an example.
Bring questions of your own, too. How are new employees trained? What would doing well in the first few months look like? What should you focus on learning first? The answers can help you decide whether the opportunity is a good fit.
Know Where Recruiters Fit
Many recruiting firms are hired by employers to fill jobs that require specific experience. A recruiter may simply not have an opening that fits someone who is starting out.
Recruiters can still be one part of your job search. Just make sure you’re also contacting employers directly, using your school’s career resources, exploring apprenticeships, and reaching out to people you know.
If someone offers useful feedback on your resume or interview approach, put it to work. A clearer explanation or a stronger example may help an employer see abilities you already have.
Your first job doesn’t have to map out your entire future. Look for an opportunity where you can contribute, learn, and build experience. You don’t need a long work history to make a good impression—you need to help an employer understand what you can offer today and how you’re prepared to grow.
Be patient with yourself, keep putting in the effort, and remember that the skills and experience you build along the way can bring you closer to the opportunity you’re looking for.