how do i get a job with no experience?

Question

hello,

I just got my BA, majoring computer Information technology (software administrator). I didn't have a professional working experience or had never worked internship while I was in school. It has been only four weeks since I had graduated. However, while I was looking for a job on the internet, most companies ask for experience of at least a year or two. I am in fear of not finding me a job in the future. My question is -- Are there any options to look for a job other than monstertrak.com, dice.com, and craigslist.org? Or do I need to lie on my resume saying that I had worked as an intern even if I didn't? Please help!!

Best regards,
beniyamhabt

Answer 1

Unfortunately its not easy without experience. The IT industry is a fast pased market with a lot of competition. A lot of US corporations outsource IT work to overseas contractors. Nobody wants to hire a non-experienced software administrator. You must get you foot in the door at a much smaller scale. Do your research and find out whats the best 5 companies you would like to work for. Then find out what positions they have open. These can be positions in the mail room or a clerical positions. Just get your foot in the door.

Motivational story:
I studied criminal justice. Unsure of what area I want to succeed in I joined a small local security company. I was a security officer for 2 weeks. I learned how to patrol and conduct the duties of a security officer. A position became available in the main office for a security dispatcher. I applied for it at I got the job after only 2 weeks in the field. After 2 months the Operations Manager quit and I was offered the position. I was in charge of interviewing, hiring, training. I was the field supervisors supervisor. I was very dedicated to the job. Always on time. Stayed extra when I had to. Learning so much and after six months I learned of a position as a Director of Security at a residential management company. I applied and was intervied. I was 21 years old and I was up against retired cops, Other Security Directors. I thought I was through. We were al given a task. "Bring me a proposal as to how you would run the security division of this site". It was a Friday and we had to turn in the proposal on Monday. I put alot of energy into that proposal. I went above and beyond the expectations. I would not have been able to do that with just the college experience. I went from $250 a week to $540 in 7 months. Im now at $67k a year. This is nothing compared to what I would be earning if I had a software engineer degree.

You have an awesome degree buddy. You should have been networking with people during you college years. You should have been meeting people. You should on online forums related to your field . Never brag about what you know or what you do. Let people know you need help securing an entry level position in a software development firm.

Good Luck

Answer 2

First of all, don't lie on your resume. It's easy to lie, but it's also easy for employers to find those lies.

You have skills given you graduated with a BA, so make sure your resume has all those skills listed as well as acheivements using those skills. List projects you completed during your schooling to show that you can apply those skills.

Do you know people in the IT industry? If so, leverage those contacts to see if there are entry level jobs for people just out of school. And speaking of school, doesn't your school have a job placement service? Many companies post entry level jobs with the schools to hire new grads.

Post your resume on the various job sites and make sure the resume has all the various keywords (e.g. unix, java, windows, etc.) that are applicable to your skillset listed in it. This is because hiring managers search via specific keywords looking for hits on resumes. This will increase the odds of people seeing your resume. It's marketing yourself really.

Also, why not apply for jobs that state you need one or two years experience. Include a good cover letter and show you are very eager and interested. Maybe they have another position for a new grad that they haven't listed and can consider you for that.

Finally, think of it this way. You are your skills to the employers. You present yourself and they decide if they want to "buy" (i.e. hire you). But you only need to make 1 sale to acheive your goals. So figure out how many companies you need to present yourself to to make that one sale.

Be persistent, don't worry if people say no, and don't give up.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Do not lie about your lack of experience. Instead, highlight your solid educational background and turn what you think is a liability into an asset. In other words, don't think of yourself as "inexperienced;" you are youthful, energetic, enthusiastic and eager, with lots of fresh ideas. These are qualities that employers want. Be confident in your knowledge and skills. Be willing to start in an entry level position. If you're good at what you do, you'll be noticed and rewarded.

But please, never lie in a resume or on a work application. If your lie is discovered, you will be much worse off than someone who simply doesn't have a lot of experience. Be honest, self-confident, unapologetic, willing and eager...and I believe doors will open for you.

Answer 4

Why didn't you work as an intern? Can you intern now? If not, you'll have to just wait. You can't lie becuase they do background checks and look at your last jobs. Have you tried Monster.com? I've got many call backs from that web site. Just send out your resume to EVERY place with the work your looking for. Do not lie. It will not get you anywhere. Adn even if it does, if they find out later, they will fire you for lying. Not good to lie, Hinesty is Always the best policy! :o) Good luck.

Answer 5

I don't believe you need to lie about having experience. I am 16 years into retail sales though it was humble beginnings. My first job was at a local Wal-Mart. Your education is a very good tool but you must also have some experience to get that you may have to take something close to your field to get your start. Just a little advice be prompt, polite, and show some enthusiasm. A dry short and no feeling interview will most likely stay that way dry and short. Good luck

Answer 6

Have your resume say you are looking for a trainee position. Get out the yellow pages and call companies and ask if you can fax over your resume and to who's attention. Follow up with a call to that person after a few days. Most jobs are not filled by ads, they are given to people recommended by someone or to someone who contacts them when they have a position to fill. If the company you call doesn't have an opening, ask them if they know someone who does. Tell all your friends and relatives you are looking for a job. apply for civil service positions. They have jobs that require just a degree.

Answer 7

If it's any consolation it took me six months to get my first job out of college, and I'd started sending out resumes months before graduation. You have to be persistent.
Things that might help are getting letters of recommendation from some of your professors, ones you have a good relationship with and who can comment on your abilities and work ethic. Another thing that helps is networking, talk to people you know who are in the industry and find out who they know who might know about an opportunity. When you find out someone who might know never ask them specifically for a job ask who they know who could help you, if they have an opening they may tell you but asking for it first of might come across as rude. Remember the perfect job for you might not be listed in the want ads, but someone you know will know someone who knows someone who knows about it first hand and can give you an inside track on the position.
Whatever you do don't lie on your resume, if they check on things it will turn around and bite you. However it would be wise to take your resume to a employment councilor at your University, or a web based service and get it evaluated. Feedback on how to word your resume can be invaluable.
Finally, you may not get a job exactly in your chosen field at first, but you may find one that's semi related. If you get that kind of offer jump at it. That way you'll have a paying job and your getting work experience which will help you when you find a more ideal job.

Answer 8

DO NOT LIE!

Show me the stuff they don't teach in college, that goes with your skills. Are you dependable? Reliable? Honest? Do you fit in with others and work as part of a team? You can show that through volunteer work, work-study, and even a summer job that includes saying, "do you want fries with that?"

A lot of people can get skills and degrees. Your cover letter needs to address the non-hard-skills parts of the job - like, "must be a team player." Tell me in your cover letter that you're a team player as shown by your participation in a group science/engineering fair project that went to a national competition...stuff like that. I want to know that you're a real person I can rely on.

Also, it's NEVER too late to work for free. Any internship - even if your university didn't set it up for you - is a good one. If you're unemployed, work for anyone you can find for free while you look. They can then talk up your performance to a prospective employer. Finally, you might want to know that there's a rule of thumb among career counselors - one month for every $10k of salary/year you want to make. If you want to start at $40k, you're looking at a minimum of four months.

You can do it. Hang in there.

Answer 9

To the person who said this "You're right that some companies want a year or two experience at least. HOWEVER, some companies are willing to waive experience for education."

This just shows how freaking stupid most companies are. I am in the IT field and to equate education with real world experience is absolutely retarded. I guarantee a company that hires their IT people that way will never have a stable computer environment.

Answer 10

First, the best way to find a job is by hitting the bricks, in other words, not online or over the phone, but live and in person. Many companies offer positions to those with little or no experience, but they need to see YOU, not a name on a computer. Good Luck and I hope you find a job soon.