It’s a myth that experience is a must to land a job you like.
Every day, you scroll through job listings. Despite filtering through entry-level positions, you see the job descriptions still seeking a minimum of 2 to 3 years.
To every Gen-Z aspiring to land their first job, it is a roller coaster of job search since they graduated.
The rite of passage is here. It’s completely possible to land your first gig even if your resume covers only a single page. With the right hack, you are all set to power through the odds of the job description.
Let’s take a deep dive into the different ways you can crack the first job with zero experience.
Step 1: Deep-clean your resume
Everything lies in the right packaging.
All you need is a resume that slays in with the details of what you can bring to the table.
Your resume should directly speak of your skills and the values you can rightfully bring in for the organisation.
Given below are the important steps to keep in check with your resume,
- Highlight the relevant skillsets you have mastered that correlate with the ones that are entailed in the job description.
For instance, it could be a writing or analytical skill that you must have integrated while doing coursework or a group project.
- If you have killer scores in your academics, you must make them shine on the resume.
- Moreover, have you done an extra something in your college, maybe a football captain or volunteered for a cause? Keep highlighting it as a transferable skill on leadership or team participation in your resume.
- Make sure to mirror the job description so that you easily get through the automatic resume scanning.
- Tailor the cover letter by essentially portraying the experiences, skill sets, and achievements seamlessly.
Pro-Tip: Always use numbers, action verbs, stats and outcomes so that it catches the eye of the recruiters.
2. Get involved with micro experiences
Create the experience if you have none.
If all you have is time, make the best use of it to count on your model work experience.
Living in the digital world with endless opportunities, here are some of the ways you could derive a significant amount of real-time experience.
- Register on several freelance platforms like Fiverr and professional sites like LinkedIn to fetch the right opportunities.
- Participate in case competitions or get involved in project-based gigs.
- Offer yourself to volunteer for a regional or international NGO that can give you real-time experience of similar work in a regular firm.
- Start building your portfolio and showcase your skillsets by posting regularly on a LinkedIn blog or even capturing videos on a YouTube channel.
Pro-Tip: Remember there is no big or small when gathering experiences. Even if you have done a project that lasted only for two weeks, it is sufficient to count on it as a solid experience.
3. Enrol yourself in learning
Learning that never stops is where continued growth happens.
When recruiters look for numbers on a resume, they also equally prioritise the candidates learning ability.
Correspondingly, it is high time for you to invest in the process of learning, as all you need is a WiFi connection and a laptop.
By showcasing that you have continuously invested in learning, you have an upper edge to dodge against the fierce competitive lineups for any job.
Given below is the list of online platforms that are so good to be true in taking you forward with your professional journey.
- Coursera & EdX
- LinkedIn Learning
- Google Digital Garage
- Udemy
- Notion/ Canva tutorials if you are interested in exploring the designing tools.
Be a self-starter- pick your domain, choose a subject, earn your certification and make it look visible on all your online platforms.
4. Network like a pro
Prioritize relationships that you have never done before.
When all the other methods fail, networks and connections are your next safety net to fall on.
Networking also helps you save a lot of time scrolling over the different job posts leading you to nothing but dead ends.
Here is your go-to list of platforms where you hit it with networking,
- Industry or company-specific discussion forums- Discord, Quora, Reddit and Slack communities,
- Job or career fairs
- College alumni groups
Do not rely on your first level of connections alone; make sure to reach out to new people on professional platforms like LinkedIn, followed by other social networks.
Try to find connections from the mutual lists too, and do not hesitate to drop in a message. Avoid cold connecting with a lot of people on LinkedIn as it may tend to backfire your candidature.
Hence, choose your connections wisely and craft a message which implies both a formal and casual tone to make it look appealing and as realistic as possible.
Pro-Tip: Always remember that messages with genuine intent have the highest opening rate.
5. Apply speculatively
Intentional applications sell faster than random goose chases.
Always be mindful of your application.
Do proper research priorly on the organisations, the demands of the job role and your state of readiness before applying for the job.
If you have a dream job or workplace in mind, regularly check the career section on the website and send an enquiry email occasionally.
This will not only help in narrowing down your focus to specific jobs and workplaces, but it also enables you to get yourself registered on the databases of those companies. Hence, in case of any updates on job openings, you will directly get them in your inbox.
Stop waiting to get chosen. Instead, take the lead and show them that you are worthy of it.
Wrap Up
Real talk- You’ve got to begin somewhere.
Your first job is not a milestone, but it is the starting point to get you there.
All your friends and family members who seem to have it all in their professional journey were once similarly stuck in the status quo the one you are in right now.
By following the simple steps and guidelines, obtaining your first job no longer must sound like an extensive and time-consuming job.
Remember, your first job is just a steppingstone to leap further into the journey.
