How to Get a Job With No Work Experience

By TERRA Staffing Group

Posted on November 10, 2022

Man shaking hand with woman

It’s a really good time to start looking for your first job because there are more jobs than people right now. In fact, many employers have started using creative tactics to attract job-seekers just like you. 

So how do you get a job without any experience? Where do you start? 

We can help. 

Tips to help you get your very first job. 

  1. Volunteer
  2. Create a resume
  3. Apply for entry-level jobs.
  4. Join professional networking sites
  5. Partner with a staffing agency
  6. Don’t give up.

These tips will help you get started on your job search, and hopefully make your experience a smooth one!

How to get a job with no previous experience. 

Volunteer.

Volunteering is a great way to gain work experience and increase your value to employers. 

You can develop new, useful skills to add to your resume, build your network and even earn references—especially if you make a positive impression on your supervisor. An excellent reference can go a long way in bridging the gap when you don’t have work experience.  

Volunteering also shows employers that you want to work and be of service since you are not being paid. And it provides employers a glimpse of who you are as well as your values. 

As an added bonus, if a paid position becomes available while volunteering, you might be more likely to get hired because you’re already familiar with the company and its practices.

Create a resume.

A resume is the most effective way to get noticed in the job market. That’s because employers rely on resumes to review work experience and skills. It shows what you bring to the table. 

Being new to the workforce, you may not have any previous employers to include in your resume—and that’s okay! 

Instead, focus your resume on the skills you possess. Think about how they relate to the jobs or industries you’re interested in pursuing.

This will help you incorporate keywords in your resume, which recruiters use to search for job seekers with specific skills. The more relevant your keywords are to the job, the better the odds your resume will get noticed.

For more insight on crafting a standout resume, check out this article

Apply for entry-level jobs.

Many entry-level jobs don’t require any previous work experience. And some offer extensive training or even career development.

Conduct an online search for “entry-level jobs” and see what you find. Look for seasonal work, too, because a lot of temporary positions are entry-level.

And if you come across a job posting with a long list of requirements, apply anyway. Even if you don’t have 100% of the qualifications needed for the job, your experience might be enough to land an interview. 

You never know what’s possible unless you try.

Join professional networking sites. 

Joining a networking site such as LinkedIn allows you to share your experience, skills and qualifications. You can interact with your network, grow your brand as a professional and keep your eye on job postings. 

Employers also use networking sites to post job openings and search for job seekers like you. By joining a professional networking site, you’re more likely to connect with recruiters—or at least get on their radar. 

When it comes to your profile, put as much effort into setting up your account as you would your resume. Recruiters are more likely to reach out to candidates with a clear and comprehensive profile rather than a sparse profile that leaves them with questions.

If you’d like help with creating an effective LinkedIn profile, this article can get you started. 

Partner with a staffing agency.

If you want extra help searching for jobs, definitely team up with a staffing agency. They allow you to build strong relationships with recruiters who can advocate for you and help grow your network. 

Discuss your experience and what kind of opportunities interest you. And if you’re uncertain whether a job is right for you, they can pair you with temporary or temporary-to-hire opportunities. 

Those kinds of roles are well-suited for “trying on” different positions without making a long-term commitment. You’ll gain insight into your strengths and what kind of work you enjoy, which will give you a stronger sense of direction.

The added benefit of partnering with a staffing agency is that many support a wide variety of employers, making them a great resource for jobs that you might not have found or considered pursuing otherwise.

Don’t give up. 

It’s tough searching for your first job and it can take longer than you might expect, or even want. 

Just remember, searching for a job is a process. There’s no time limit when it comes to finding a job that’s right for you. 

And if you start to lose momentum, there are things you can do to help you stay motivated. Reach out to a friend and ask them to review your resume and cover letters. Set a dedicated time for job searching to give yourself downtime. And pace yourself. 

Keep your spirits up, and continue applying. No matter how long it takes, your hard work will lead you to your first job.

Hopefully, you feel more prepared to get out there and start looking.

This is an exciting place to be. When you have a blank slate, the possibilities are boundless.

How TERRA Can Be a Resource

Looking for your very first job? We can help! 

TERRA Staffing is a leading staffing agency with many resources available for job seekers. We partner with companies large and small, across a variety of industries and we can help open the door to new career opportunities.

Getting started with us is simple. Just check out our current job openings. We have offices in the Seattle-Puget Sound, Portland, Phoenix, Denver and Dallas-Metro areas.

Categories: Career Tips

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