As a job-seeker, you may be thinking about changing careers to something more suitable and enjoyable.

However, with that change comes a lack of experience. It’s no secret that employers will always look to a candidate’s experience in similar roles before deciding to interview and offer them the job.

Landing a new job with a lack of experience can be tricky, but it’s far from impossible.

Many employers will see greater value in the skills listed on your CV, as opposed to your overall experience.

In this short blog, we provide five tips for landing a new job with no experience, to showcase your skills and tailor your job search effectively.

1. Search for entry-level roles

An entry-level position is ideal if you’re looking to change careers to something completely new, as employers won’t necessarily value experience over skills for these types of roles.

For example, if you’re searching for a role within a contact or call centre, but haven’t previously worked in one, you could search online for “entry level contact centre jobs” to narrow your search for suitable vacancies.

It’s also a good idea to familiarise yourself with the specific names of entry-level roles in your industry of interest.

An example of these could be; Warehouse Assistant, Customer Service Assistant, Junior Graphic Designer, etc.

2. Create tailored CVs

Interested in more than one role? You can create multiple versions of your CV to highlight your skills for specific jobs. An example of this could be two different Customer Service roles, one based in an office, and the other working-from-home. Emphasize your abilities to work as part of a team on one CV, and your willingness to work independently on another version.

Top Tip: Show off any references you have

You don’t have to give away any contact information, but by showing you’ve got more than one reference ready to go, you’re telling the hiring manager that people are willing to back you up. Valid references can be anything from university tutors, school teachers, your boss from a weekend or voluntary job, or even a family friend who can vouch for your character and personality.

3. Volunteer or apply for internships

These are both great ways to learn more about the industry you’re interested in. Volunteering provides you with the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the daily routine of going to work, as well as picking up key skills and responsibilities that will be expected in a paid full-time role.

Internships are also a great way to get your “foot in the door” with an organisation while learning on the job.

Another option that could be available is to “job shadow” someone for a week. This could a family member or friend who’s currently working in a similar job to the one that you’d like to pursue, who could be open to you following them during their daily activities at work to give you an idea of what’s expected in the role.

4. Focus on your transferable skills

While you may not have the required experience for the job you’re looking for, ask yourself in all honesty – can I do this job?

If “yes”, then explain in your CV, covering letter or interview why you feel this way.

Some transferable skills you can talk about are problem-solving, your eagerness to learn, and overall positivity. Those are all vital in every career and should be the skills that you shout about.

At the same time, remember that honesty is the best policy. Don’t lie about having experience if you can’t back it up. There’s nothing worse than working your way into an interview by lying your CV, because you’re bound to be caught out eventually.

Instead, focus on your strengths and all the things you can bring to the role.

5. Complete a pre-employment training course

A pre-employment training course is a great way to learn new skills and gain relevant and industry recognised qualifications before you attend any interviews in the sector of your choice.

At Back2Work, we have many different pre-employment training courses available with the option of being introduced to an employer on completion.

These courses also provide you with accredited Level 1 certificates and awards that are specific to the type of role you’re interested in – which demonstrates that you’ve learnt the skills required for the job you want.

Each of our courses are fully-funded, meaning they’re available to complete at no cost to you, and are delivered online, so you can learn from the comfort of your own home.

Looking to get back into work?

If you’re currently unemployed, we can help you get back into work with a wide range of fully funded training courses.

All of our pre-employment training courses play an important role in preparing you for the world of work, and deliver key skills that are specific to the employer who could be interviewing you upon course completion.

Each of our courses run in various locations throughout the UK on a weekly basis, and include training in:

To find out more about our fully funded, pre-employment training courses, simply fill out one of our contact forms. One of our friendly advisors will then get in touch to discuss our courses in more detail with you.

Alternatively, you can call us on: 0161 474 7603, or email: [email protected]

Back2Work Complete Training provide Pre-Employment Training throughout the UK.

Pre-Employment Training works great as both a recruitment service for employers and an employment service for those who are unemployed.

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0161 474 7603
[email protected]

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