Niche Recruitment

Posted by Niche Recruitment
1st March 2023

7 Top Tips: How To Get The Job With Minimal Experience

• Candidate
• Career Advice

Not having any experience is a real Catch-22 and often feels like a hopeless circle. You can’t get a job because you have no experience, but you have no experience because you can’t seem to get a job (waah!). This can often feel like a huge disadvantage before you’ve even walked through the door at an interview; however, there is hope, and Niche Recruitment is here to help! We’ve put together our top tips on how to get the job EVEN when you lack experience…

Own It

There’s no denying that it can be intimidating walking into a job interview with minimal experience, and there is the temptation to exaggerate or say what you can to get the job. However, overselling will only cause problems later in the application process. We suggest embracing your inexperience; instead, focus on your hunger to learn and your motivation to develop your skills. Chances are you’re applying to entry-level roles, which means the hiring manager is looking for someone willing to learn and progress within the company.

Highlight Your Skills

Don’t underestimate the skills you’ve developed from the experience you do have. Highlight the skills you’ve learnt from your education and any relevant extracurricular activities. Don’t underestimate the power of ‘soft skills; these are a combination of people skills, social skills, attitudes and more. Showing you’re a good fit for company culture is just as important as displaying your more practical skills.

Key soft skills to mention:

• Verbal and written communication
• Creative and critical thinking
• Willingness to learn
• Problem-solving

Try to find strong examples of when you were able to use these skills.

Focus on The Positive

if you’re coming up against the lack of experience label time and time again it can be frustrating and it’s absolutely normal to feel de-motivated by it. No matter how negative you feel on the day of your interview, it is important not to let it show. A positive, friendly attitude goes a long way and won’t go unnoticed!

Be Prepared

Do your homework. Spend time analysing the role you’re going forward for and all the requirements of the job specification, so you’re familiar with every aspect. It’s also a good idea to match your skill set to each requirement. Draw upon voluntary or extracurricular activities you’ve completed over the years!

Utilise Social Media

Follow the companies you’re interested in working for on social media, interact and engage with the content they are putting out. Why not share the company’s blog post or join in discussing posts by commenting? Whether it’s the Marketing Intern or Head of Marketing managing the page, it’s a good way to get your name recognised! It’s a soft introduction and a brilliant way to show your passion and enthusiasm. A great way to do this is through LinkedIn, create a strong profile and build up your professional network. If you have any awards or a portfolio you’d like to share; this is a great place to display the achievements you are most proud of.

Volunteer

If you’re starting from scratch with your work experience, volunteering is a great way to get some industry knowledge under your belt. Reinforce to future employers that you are proactive in building your career and passionate about your work.

Benefits of volunteering:

• learn new skills
• Experience different work environments
• Gain valuable experience

Try Temporary Work

Temporary work can be a really useful way to gain industry experience in different roles, learn the various systems companies use and build your confidence, all whilst earning. Get your foot in the door of major organisations by looking for temporary job vacancies on our live jobs page today.

Benefits of temporary work:

• Flexibility
• Entitled to benefits
• Gain industry experience

Keep Learning

Show you’re eager to learn and demonstrate your proactiveness! There are endless online courses available, many of which are free, so make sure you take full advantage. Sometimes your career is worth investing in; platforms such as Google, LinkedIn and Coursera provide courses that allow you to gain professional certificates from your home.

If you’re looking for an entry-level role or would like some help with your job search, register with us today!