How to Get a Job With No Experience, 12 Genius Strategies

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1. Spin Your Skills

Everyone has some transferable skill or talent to apply to a new job. Think about organizations you belong to, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work that you’ve done.  Perhaps you have experience selling for fundraisers, running a personal Instagram account, or customer service when volunteering. Add these skills to your resume!

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2. Internships or Apprenticeships

You can gain experience or explore career fields with an internship. To find internships, check out Chegg, CollegeVine, and Idealist.

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3. Focus on Your Soft Skills

Instead of experience, focus on your soft skills. Traits like work ethic, motivation, team-player, and communication skills are just a few examples.

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4. Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and test out a new career. If you volunteer, track the hours and dates you work, the organization, and your tasks.

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5. Spec Work

If you work in graphic design, video, writing, photography, or the like, try submitting a spec project to a company. If your work wows them, you may get a job offer!

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6. Network

It’s not what you know, but who you know, and this is just as true when you're new to a field! To start networking, create a list of friends, family, teachers, and colleagues. Once you have your list, start reaching out to individuals, let them know about your job search, and ask them if they know of any available positions.

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7. Informational Interviews

You can also reach out to individuals in the field you want to break into. When conducting an informational interview, you’re not asking for a job; you’re gathering information on the industry and company. Ask questions like: >  What does your typical workday look like? >  What’s the hiring process at your company?

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8. Get Active on LinkedIn

Create a professional LinkedIn profile that lets recruiters know what type of position you’re searching for. Here are just a few things you can use LinkedIn for:  > Connecting with companies you’d like to work with > Conducting background research > Networking with people > Searching for job opportunities

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9. Resume and Cover Letter

Prior experience isn’t everything! If you can convey passion and enthusiasm in your cover letter, a hiring manager may overlook experience.

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10. Enhance Your Skills

There are specific career paths where you’ll need a certification, degree, or apprenticeship. There are a wide variety of training options, both online and in-person. Before you plunk down a large chunk of money though, I suggest figuring out what you really want to do via either volunteering or conducting informational interviews.

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11. Gain Experience

I know you’re looking for a remote job, but if you’ve never held a job before and are not making any progress with your job search, you may need to apply to a traditional entry-level job. Getting six months to a year of experience in an entry-level position will teach you a wide variety of skills, and it will give you the expertise you need for many home-based jobs. 

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12. Start a Business

Here are a few reasons to start a business: > Learn new skills without getting a job or degree > Unlimited earning potential > Build an asset > Freedom and flexibility > Work in a field that you’re passionate about With advances in technology, it’s never been easier or more affordable to start a business.