4 strategies for overcoming a lack of experience in your job search | From Dorms to Desks Podcast | ep28

On this week’s episode of the From Dorms to Desks Podcast, we discuss how employers almost always prefer to hire candidates with experience, even for roles that they consider to be entry-level. Why? Because their risk of hiring the candidate is lower than their risk of hiring a candidate with little to no experience.

But if you have no experience, how do you get it? In short, the question isn’t right. You do have experience. Everyone does. You have transferable skills from jobs that might, at first glance, not seem related to the job you’re now pursuing. Some of those skills may come from other jobs, others from volunteering efforts, and others from classwork. Your job is to inventory your skills, figure out which ones might be relevant to the employer, and then market those skills to that employer.

In today’s episode, our cohosts first, emphasize actively gaining experience through paid work or volunteering. Second, include all relevant experience, such as volunteer work and academic projects, on resumes and in interviews. Third, showcase your valuable soft skills to compensate for limited experience. Finally, pursue additional training to address any skill gaps.

Overlaying the entire process is that job seekers need to objectively consider the skills they’ve developed, how they’re communicating those to potential employers, and acquiring those that are missing. It is up to you to get the experience you need, not a potential employer.