Finding a job after university can be daunting. How do you get a job with no experience when you need a job to get experience?
I had this exact worry when I was at university, But do not worry. It is completely possible to get a job with no official experience but that doesn’t mean you will have no experience at all.
University is a time for new experiences, to push yourself out of your comfort zone and grow into adulthood. As part of this, you will naturally gain new skills that you can highlight when applying for a graduate job.
You can also boost your employability by looking for opportunities outside for your degree that test you in new ways and impress employers (even if they are not classic work experience.)
Here are my top tips for how to get a job with no experience.
Think in terms of skills not experiences
When you apply for graduate jobs, you won’t have a CV full of relevant past jobs. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have the skills required to be successful in the role.
A lot of job applications and interviews now focus on whether you have the right skills rather than your past experiences. You might not have used leadership in a work environment, but you could talk about how you demonstrated leadership as president of your university society.
To start thinking in terms of skills, write down a list of core competencies that employees are interested in (you can find some good examples here). For each one, brainstorm when you have used this skill at university.
Here’s an example:
Teamwork
- Year 2 university group project. Worked in a team of 5 to deliver a joint research project and present results to the rest of the class
- Netball team – play every week in a casual netball league building strong relationships with the rest of the team
- Part time job events catering team – worked as part of an events catering team for university graduations.
You might find you struggle to come up with examples for some core competencies. These are your skill gaps.
You don’t need to be amazing at everything but you might want to use your identified skills gaps to help guide you deciding what next activities might be worth taking on.
Building your skill set
There are lots of ways you can build your skillset while at university.
Course Modules
Most subjects allow you to pick some of your modules. Think carefully about your picks. Some modules might develop different skills e.g. a group projects, giving a presentation or researching for an essay.
In addition, some universities offer the opportunity to do a module outside of your subject area. You could study a module of a language or a business subject. My university even offered a work experience module where you got university credit to do an in-term placement.
This could be a great way to do something a bit different and expand your skill set.
University clubs and societies
University clubs and societies are fun. You get to socialise with like-minded individuals with a shared passion. Make the most of these clubs and try something new!
If you can, take the opportunity to be involved in a society committee. These roles can be a bit of work, but the work can actually be quite similar to work done in a graduate role.
For example, you may have to help organise a summer ball as part of a university committee. You could be emailing potential venues, keep track of costs in a spreadsheet and organise transport with bus or taxi companies. Even if your future job is not in events, you will still likely have to work with clients or stakeholders and work within a budget.
Part time jobs
Part time jobs are essential for many students to help cover living expenses and fund their studies. While you might be doing the work for the money (rather than the experience), you will still get many useful skills.
Working a part time job shows good time management skills to be able to fit in your work around your studies. Each part time will also develop unique skills depending on the challenges you face.
In retail or catering you might develop good conflict resolution skills when you deal with difficult customers. Working as a tutor shows you have the ability to upskill others. Working in administration shows good attention to detail.
Top tip! If you want some additional money and to develop new skills, without the time commitment of a regular weekend job, it can be useful to find one-off or short term paid work such as working on university campus open days, university graduations or catering specific events.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to build your skill set, meet new people and try something different. Most universities will have volunteering opportunities on their website or you can look at this list on prospects.
You can find a whole range of different opportunities including one-off events and long term commitments. In particular, charities offer some good volunteering opportunities where you can learn new skills.
For example if you are interested in marketing, many charities are looking for volunteers to run their social media and online presence. This could be a great way to get some experience before you apply for a job.
Work experience and Job Shadowing
If you have no formal experience of work, why not look for an opportunity to get some experience while still at university. Many companies offer interesting job shadowing or internship opportunities.
A lot of people get put off applying for more formal work experience opportunities, worrying that they will be too competitive or not having the time to go through the lengthy applications.
However that doesn’t mean it is impossible to get on one. Your university might have a work experience jobs board for more local opportunities (which will be less competitive) or search online for more formal internships and placements (e.g. here).
Some companies also offer specific programmes for people from minority backgrounds which can be a great route if you qualify. Search online for “diversity internship” to find out more.
If you want to get a feel for what working in a particular company is like, you could try reaching out to them directly and seeing if they have any opportunities or would let you do a couple of days shadowing. They might say no, but there is no harm asking!
Make use of your summer holiday
The university term is a busy time and perhaps you struggle to find time to take on any additional part time work or volunteering opportunities. In this case, you could instead make the most of your long university summer holidays to gain new skills.
As well as the opportunities discussed above there are lots of fun things you could do with your summer holiday.
Volunteer Aboard
You could volunteer abroad and see the world while gaining new skills. Some population opportunities include teaching English as a foreign language, conservation work and children’s summer camp work. There are many opportunities available so do some online research to find a programme or see here.
Summer Internship
You could also use your summer holiday to do an extended internship programme. These programmes are usually paid and last up to 12 weeks over the summer holiday. They are effectively like starting a graduate job in a company and give you a real taste for what working there would be like. On top of this you can find out in advance if the career is right for you.
Hobbies
You could also use your summer holiday to take on a new personal project. For example, you could teach yourself a new skill like photography or learning to code (there are many free resources for this). You could develop a new hobby like playing music or joining a band. You could start a new online venture like starting a blog, instagram or youtube.
These could be used to demonstrate skills to employers as well as a fun way to spend the summer.
Networking
If you are searching for a job with no experience it can be tricky to get in and know what the company is looking for. However you can boost your chances through attending job talks and careers fairs on campus.
By networking with employees who already work at those companies you can get inside knowledge about how to pass the online application and interview rounds.
You can find out what particular skills they are most interested in and how to make your application stand out.
Sell yourself properly
It is completely possible to get a job with no experience. However you do need to make sure you sell yourself to the best of your ability in the application and interview.
All the skills and experiences you have built up during university can be put to good use in your application.
For written applications, get someone to read through it before you submit. They can proofread your application and also suggest any areas that could be strengthened. This can be especially helpful if you are naturally modest and find it difficult to sell yourself.
For interviews, make sure you use the STAR technique and stick to the key points that show what you did in each example. It is helpful to practice your interview technique in advantage as practice really does make perfect!
For more advice see the secret to success at video interviews, and my guide to landing your first job after university.
