Are you wondering how to apply for jobs with no experience?

It’s a common question—especially for recent grads—and it’s one that just kills me every time someone asks it because I remember the frustration of job searching.

After I graduated from my HRM (Human Resources Management) program, I felt lost despite the many resources and tools available through my college. I remember not knowing what I was qualified to do and feeling like a fraud when I finally did get up the nerve to apply for jobs. I had no understanding of how to navigate my job search and, as a result, ended up having a lot of painful experiences that could have been avoided.

The first hurdle is understanding job postings and figuring out how to find the entry-level positions that are right for you.

How to Apply for Jobs with No Experience (Amaze Them Without Lying!)

Understanding Job Postings and Finding Entry-Level Jobs

Have you ever looked at a job posting and felt a mix of excitement and sheer terror?

Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Many people look at job postings and fantasize about the job being described, but their daydreams go up in smoke once they start to work through the application process. Unfortunately, it’s pretty common for doubts to start creeping in (don’t even get me started on imposter syndrome!)

There is a way to look at job postings that helps combat feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

Before you get too invested in the position, look for this keyword: entry-level. While it’s not always obvious, usually, these words will appear somewhere in the job posting or even be tagged on Indeed. You can also infer that a job is entry-level based on the number of years requested in the Qualifications or Requirements sections. Jobs asking for 1-2 years of experience are generally great jobs to apply for if you lack experience.

While you can’t completely disregard how many years of experience are required, don’t overthink it either. Often companies post their requirements based on their ideal candidate. However, just as often, the ideal candidate never shows up! So, don’t count yourself out early. Take the chance and let the company decide if your experience is enough.

When you’re looking at a job posting, the other things you want to consider are the tasks and responsibilities. Before applying, be sure to look at what you can do and what you need to learn. Be prepared to justify how you make up for the areas where your knowledge is lacking. You should be capable of performing at least 50% of the list and feel comfortable giving concrete examples of your experience in these areas.

Once you know how to determine which jobs are the best to apply for, you can move on to tailoring your resume and creating a lasting impression on the hiring managers!

Build a Functional Resume

People frequently talk about crafting an effective resume. You’re probably no stranger to the concept of trying to fit everything you’ve ever done onto a single page—or you are ruthlessly reviewing your resume to spot any errors that might result in your resume being thrown in the trash immediately.

But, arguably, it’s more important to look at the structure of your resume. If your work experience is not related to the position you’re trying to get, then you shouldn’t have your work experience front-and-center on your resume. Instead, your skills and education should take center stage since they are the most applicable.

You want to ensure that the most relevant information appears first on your resume. When you feature your most related skills and experiences, it highlights your suitability for the position while masking the sections of your experience that may not appear to be a great fit.

Novoresume has some great sample resumes.

The next step is ensuring that your resume is effective from top to bottom. Check out my article on building a career-boosting resume.

Review Transferable Skills

When you’re applying for a job, it’s essential that you review the tasks in the description and identify connections between them and tasks you’ve performed previously. You need to identify your transferable skills.

Transferable skills are skills you have from previous experiences (not necessarily work-related experiences) that you can use to complete this job’s required tasks. Not all hiring managers are mindful of transferable skills when reviewing a resume, so you have to ensure that you make yours stand out. For example, it may not be immediately obvious that the skills you used in your internship can also be used in the job.

Again, this comes down to having the proper resume structure. You need a way to highlight all your competencies while also minimizing any distracting information. I consider distracting information to be anything that does not meaningfully relate to the position you’re applying for or could make a hiring manager think you’re not what they’re looking for. From the manager’s perspective, if you can’t highlight any relevant skills, then it looks like you’re grasping at straws.

Sometimes things like your previous job title can be “distracting” because it seems like a completely unrelated career path. Once again, this is why it is so essential to create a functional resume that highlights your strengths as they relate to the job you’re applying to.

Take Advantage of Online Learning

While I can pretty much guarantee that you do have transferable skills, one thing you can do to make up for your lack of experience is take advantage of online learning platforms. There are so many resources that can help you with your professional development goals, which is exciting if you enjoy learning.

And note to the wise: you should enjoy learning. People with growth mindsets are enormous assets to organizations, and I can tell you firsthand that they are in high demand. Almost all of my clients specifically ask for this trait.

Using online learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning or Coursera enables you to learn new skills and pursue your professional development goals on your own time. You can include any relevant courses on your resume (and on your LinkedIn profile). These courses aren’t usually considered equivalent to university or college courses in the eyes of a hiring manager, but they show that you’re driven and committed to continuing to learn and grow.

Create a Portfolio

Depending on your field, you may be able to create a portfolio of your work. Marketing, graphic design, and social media are great examples of areas where you can easily build a portfolio and show off your skills. If you’re not in these fields, don’t worry; there are still ways to showcase your talents in your area of expertise.

Track your performance and keep a list of metrics that you can use when applicable. For example, you can track sales, money saved, customer retention, employee engagement…the list goes on. Anything you can use to show that you have the skills you need to excel in the job should be included in your resume.

Take Tests to Prove Skills

Not a lot of people realize just how fantastic recruitment agencies are. I have heard many horror stories from exhausted, frustrated candidates. They are reluctant to even talk to me because they’ve had such terrible past experiences. But, agencies can have their perks, too: testing.

Some recruiters test their candidates for specific skills. I’m most commonly asked to test candidates on their abilities in Word and Excel, but there are many other programs and skills that I can test as well.

If you’re looking to build a baseline for your competencies, you can ask recruiters to test you and provide you with the results. Any reputable recruiter offers this service, but there are other resources available on the internet as well.

Find Connections

Ah, the dreaded networking advice.

Well, sorry, there is no way around it. If you’re looking to get a job (especially one with career potential), you need to network and connect with as many people as possible. You never know where your next opportunity is going to come from.

Networking doesn’t have to be intimidating; you can meet people at your own pace. Keep in touch with your classmates, friends, and coworkers (past and present). Talk to your family.

If you’re more adventurous, attend conferences (there are still many great virtual ones happening.) Join clubs, groups, professional associations…your options are endless.

The only caveat is that you be genuinely interested in whatever you attend or join. People want to make real connections and aren’t interested in meeting people, just looking to use them to get ahead. You can’t be selfish when you’re networking; people see right through it.

Put Yourself Out There

Take chances. If you see a job you really want, contact the company to introduce yourself to the hiring manager. The only exception is if they specifically say not to in the job posting; if they say no, don’t do it! You need to make sure you follow the instructions in the posting; you don’t want hiring managers to think you can’t follow instructions.

Beyond that, take the risk.

It might seem a little old-fashioned to introduce yourself to a hiring manager, but it works. Seriously, it really does! Even the most well-structured resumes can slip through the cracks, so calling the hiring manager is never a waste of time. I’ve filtered out resumes and then had those candidates call me and change my mind. A quick chat shifted my perspective completely!

What changes?

When I speak directly to a candidate, I can hear their story and understand their abilities beyond what is listed on their resume. I can also assess other traits such as drive, friendliness, and professionalism—things that don’t always translate well on paper.

Even if you’re not suitable for a specific job, the hiring manager is more likely to remember you if a position you are ideal for becomes available. Putting yourself out there is just another way of networking and making business connections in your community.

Maintaining Confidence and a Positive Attitude

Maintaining your confidence and a positive attitude is extremely difficult when it feels like all you’re hearing is the word ‘no.’ But, it really is an important part of the job search, so it is worth doing what you have to do to stay optimistic.

Confident candidates perform better in interviews because they instill trust in their ability to get the job done. Positive candidates also perform better because it’s easy to imagine them as a part of the team.

These two traits are hallmarks of good candidates, and the great news is that you don’t need years of experience or a fancy degree to possess them! Of course, education and experience help, but there are tons of highly educated and experienced people who simply don’t believe in themselves—and it shows. And it affects how they interview.

I’ve had clients choose candidates who had less technical skills but had the confidence, drive, and positive attitude that the client was looking for. It truly comes down to a personality fit almost every time.

Final Thoughts on How to Apply for Jobs with No Experience

Job searching is hard, especially when you’re just starting out. However, there are ways to stand out even if you don’t necessarily have all of the experience. It can be challenging to move through the job search process, but hopefully, these tips and tricks help you navigate.

Remember:

• Look for entry-level opportunities (or 1-2 years of experience)
• The requirements are a wishlist, so don’t get too hung up on not having everything listed
• Create a resume that highlights your skills and masks your weaker areas
• Tailor your resume to the job description
• Take advantage of online learning platforms and develop the skills you need
• Create a portfolio of your work; provide concrete examples of what you can do
• Take tests to prove your skills
• Network and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there

Did this help you? Still, have questions? Leave them in the comments!