Do you think your experience will hold you back? It most likely will, but the truth is most of us are only qualified for a small percentage of the positions out there. So don’t sweat it!
How can you get experience if companies won’t hire you because you don’t have any experience? Having this issue is normal for most new graduates and career changers. Are you frustrated because you can’t get a company to hire you because of your lack of experience? Again, it’s impossible for you to have experience in every position in the world. So keep things in perspective.
So what’s the answer? How can you overcome this never-ending problem? The truth is you’re not the first person that has had to deal with this issue. All of us have. It’s how you prepare for this issue (which you know is coming) that makes the difference. The best way to prepare for this lack of experience is to get into an internship program as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you graduate or soon to be. That’s too late!
As soon as you know your major, start looking for an internship! That’s how early I want you to get into an internship program. If you’re working in your industry for a year or two, albeit in an internship program, you will gain that all-important experience companies are looking for. Plus you will gain contacts in your industry, references from your industry when you’ve complete your internship, and the strong possibility of getting a job offer from the company you’re doing your internship with. What’s to lose? Nothing!
And internships aren’t just for students. If you’re looking to change careers I would strongly recommend you get into an internship for your specific industry. Believe me, a large majority of you will get job offers from these companies. The company will know you. They trained you. It’s less risky for this company to hire you then it is to hire an unknown candidate they didn’t train. I cannot stress the importance of internships enough. It’s the best way to get a jump on your competition.
If it is too late for you, because you didn’t plan accordingly, you will have to convince a company to take a chance on you. Invest in you. Take you on as a project. I can tell you without hesitation, a lot of companies won’t take this risk. They will tell you to apply once you have gained more experience. Yikes!
I wouldn’t have gotten into my first career position without my internships (Yes, I had more than one internship). When I graduated college I had almost two years of industry experience before I ever applied for my first position. Do you think I had an advantage over my competition? Absolutely! I had offers from my internships and other firms in my industry. By gaining that all-important industry experience, I took the risk out of it for the companies that wanted to hire me. I had experience.
So get into an internship, apprenticeship, On-the-job-training, or whatever it’s called in your industry. I know these situations don’t pay very well, but it doesn’t matter right now you need experience. Did I say this was going to be easy? No! And you’re not the first person that has dealt with this issue and you won’t be the last. I am telling you from my own personal experience how to overcome your lack of industry experience and what you need to do to be successful. I hope this helps.
Good luck to you!
Mike Palumbo
Business owner, executive recruiter, author, radio talk show host, blogger, motivational speaker and career consultant! My goal is to help you find that dream career you’ve always wanted!
Tags: Education, Internships
Leave A Reply (2 comments so far)
Rofhiwa
370 days ago
Wow, what a great piece.
Thanks a lot for this information it is really helpful.
As for myself i am stuck, i can not move. I hold a Masters degree in Metallurgical Engineering and currently i am working as a Lab Supervisor but it is not really my field. I have been trying to apply for jobs in the mining and mineral processing field and they all tell me that you have no experience. Then i ask myself how am i going to get experience if the companies are not giving me a chance?? Well i guess you have just given me the answer. INTERSHIP IS THE WAY TO GO.
Thanks very much!
Mike Palumbo
369 days ago
Hi Rofhiwa,
Well, for someone like you it’s more flexibility. When a company tells you (specifically) that you don’t have the experience they could be telling you they can’t afford you. In their mind, they cannot justify paying you the compensation you need without the specific experience THEY need. Make sense?
If you let the company know that you want to get in their industry and you’re willing to be “flexible” on the compensation to learn their business, watch and see what happens. My gut is with these companies it is a money thing. Why do I feel this way? I feel this way because I’ve never had a client tell me they want less experience, not more. All companies want good, experienced, people that can make a difference to their organization.
Explain to these companies what you can bring to the table with your current experience, but that you understand there will be a learning curve in their industry. And because of this, you are flexible on compensation. See how that works.
First comes the learning curve, and then comes the earning curve. You need to be “flexible” when you approach these companies. They will appreciate your understanding of this fact and this will improve your chances of getting hired.
You just need to “get in” right now and prove what you can do. By being flexible on compensation you take the risk out of it for the company. If you have to take less money, do it. If you have to supplement your income with a second job, do it.
You can do it! I hope this helps.
Good luck to you!
Mike Palumbo