CJ Eason, “The Job Doctor,” Community Outreach Director with JobFairGiant.com.
Getty
The ongoing pandemic has opened new career opportunities for all kinds of job seekers. The way I see it, it is the perfect time to demonstrate your intent. If you want to get into a particular industry, make sure that people in recruiting positions know about you.
Employers are on the prowl for serious job seekers, from entry-level workers to qualified in-demand professionals, to fill thousand of positions. Employers are anticipating the end of unemployment benefits; many are ready to offer hiring incentives, education reimbursement, bonus pay and benefits packages to ensure the best candidates join their workforce.
If you are a recent graduate or looking to change positions or industries, you may feel constrained by a lack of experience. However, almost every job seeker likely has this frustrating thought at some point in their career.
Suppose you approach your job search with the right strategy: using your relevant skills and abilities to show employers you are the right candidate for a job, no matter how much experience you have. Here are some of the ways you can achieve the (seemingly) impossible and get a job with no experience:
Take Unpaid Career Opportunities
One method to develop relevant skills in the career field you want is to apply for specific volunteer positions. Always volunteer for a job title that will give you some necessary work experience to put on your resume. A few months of unpaid real work experience will pay off over time when you apply for jobs related to the position.
List the volunteer position on your resume under work history. Use the actual title; do not use “volunteer.” Be sure to ask for a recommendation letter from the organization to increase your hiring chances.
Boost Your Transferable Skills
If you are changing careers, you can use your previous work experience to show your potential to succeed in this new role. What are transferable skills employers desire?
If you worked in a customer service occupation, a transferable skill could be your resilience. In a busy coffee shop in New York City, it might be common for a customer to say “hurry up with my order,” and being short-tempered and belligerent in your response is not acceptable. It takes resilience to remain pleasant and calm in the moment and for the rest of your shift.
A standard interview question is, “Tell me about a situation when you had to use resilience?” First off, the definition alone can cause a candidate to stumble, but be prepared to explain this transferrable skill. A role dedicated to helping the public can position you well to land any job if you have this transferable skill.
Another example: If you’ve worked as a receptionist, you likely have good active listening skills. Active listening and communications skills typically go hand in hand, and these skills can be transferable to many different roles.
Learn Or Improve On Technology Skills
Many job seekers have used the phrase “proficient in Microsoft Office” on their resumes. Almost nothing makes a recruiter more worried than wondering what the word “proficient” might mean, especially when so many candidates lack basic computer skills, such as using Microsoft Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
You may not be a technological wizard, but receiving digital literacy or Microsoft Office 365 certification is a good idea. If you know how to work in one type of spreadsheet, the odds are pretty good you can figure out any spreadsheet, which means a hiring company will not have to teach you the basics.
Get A Career Certification
If you have absolutely no experience, get an industry-recognized certification in your desired career field. What is an industry-recognized certification? It is a credential recognized by the industry at the local, state or national level. Industry certificates measure competency in an occupation, and they validate the knowledge base and skills that show mastery in a particular industry.
Credentials can be viewed as a substitute for work experience; they signal to employers that you have developed the necessary knowledge for employment. If you can show them an industry-recognized certification on your resume, the employer will be more likely to take a risk on an entry-level candidate with no previous experience.
Here are a few popular types of industry-recognized certifications:
Professional Certificate In Team Leadership Management: A team leadership management certificate focuses on improving your ability to lead other people. Many employers need supervisors for virtual and in-person team management skills; all career fields require team leads, supervisors and management. Recently, the coronavirus pandemic forced thousands in management roles at companies globally to develop virtual team leadership skills. This certification can advance your current work experience and also let employers know you have the skills for in-person and virtual team management.
Corporate Sales Certifications: The sales industry is a lucrative, long-term career field with limitless opportunities for entry-level candidates, former felons and those who are homebound or disabled. Besides strengthening your persuasive skills and expanding your sales knowledge, a sales certification can help candidates stay ahead of their counterparts and build upon past experiences. For example, an employer hiring for an account executive, lead generator or sales representative is likely to be less concerned about your past drug convictions and more concerned with finding a professional who has excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to prospect for new clients and close sales ethically.
There are potential benefits for candidates who obtain an industry-recognized certification, including personal accomplishment, new skills to add to their resume and the ability to exemplify a commitment to career development to hiring managers. In addition, candidates who retrain and renew their knowledge of workplace operations for the industry they want to work in will increase their potential to land a job, even without previous experience in the role.
Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify?
