It’s that age-old dilemma: to get a job, you need work experience, but to get work experience, you need to work. This is akin to the permission paradox, which basically states you can’t succeed because you’re not qualified, but you’re not qualified because nobody will give you the opportunity to try.
If you’re only just embarking on your career and wish to get your foot in the door, you might be limited by your lack of experience. The good news is, there are ways to get around this and land your first job – all you need is to use the resources at your disposal.
Here are six ways to help you on your way!
1. Make your resumé stand out
When hiring managers look at your resumé, they get their first impression of you as a candidate. But what should you list down if this would be your first job and you haven’t actually worked yet?
Work experience is not the only thing that matters on your resumé. Show off your academic qualifications, related coursework, internships, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and any transferable skills you have.
Also, talk about how ready you are to learn, how hard you work, how optimistic you are, and how well you can adapt and work as part of a team. These will make your resumé more appealing and increase your chances of getting the job you want.
2. Polish that portfolio
A personal portfolio is one way to clearly demonstrate your skills and abilities to prospective employers. Choose your best work carefully – whether a project, an assignment, or something you accomplished on your own – to show how knowledgeable and dedicated you are.
Organise your portfolio well, make it look good, and ensure it is easy to navigate so that hiring managers can look through it quickly. If you’re a writer, for example, compile your best written articles, short stories, poems, and/or blog posts to show off your writing style.
3. Learn skills that are in demand
With the right practical skills, you can improve your chances of getting employed. Check out websites or organisations that offer short courses to develop your skills, bearing in mind they should be closely related to the field in which you wish to excel.
4. Use your network
Your personal network can help you kickstart your career by connecting you with possible employers. Note that those in your network don’t have to be purely business-related; they could consist of classmates, friends of friends, and/or family members.
Reaching out to them in a courteous manner could lead to employment possibilities, especially if any of these contacts put in a good word for you.
5. Look for entry-level jobs
There’s absolutely no shame in starting from the bottom and working your way up. Entry-level roles can help you gain useful experience and hands-on skills as you move forward.
Remember, these positions are made for those who are just starting out in their careers and might prove to be stepping stones to greater things – so don’t be so quick to dismiss them.
6. Be passionate, or at least try to
Managers will often want to know why you are looking for a job, so it’s crucial to demonstrate your enthusiasm, if not passion, for the part.
In other words, while earning money might be your primary goal, it’s probably a good idea not to state this outright! Instead, be prepared to articulate why you are interested in your field.
Give specific reasons and show how serious you are about dedicating yourself to your line of work, and these just might open doors for you. Good luck in your job search!
This article was originally written by Anisa Aznan for jobstore.com, an online job site that specialises in providing jobseekers with the latest job opportunities by matching talented individuals with reputable companies in Malaysia. Find your dream job with over 40,000 job vacancies in Malaysia.