Landing your first meaningful job may appear impossible if you have not already completed an internship or been an employee in the field. Once you get beyond high school and summers of lifeguarding and being a camp counselor, industry appears to be a closed circle.

To break in and get a job, you need to have experience; to get experience, you need a job. So how can you get more experience and convince would-be employers to give you a second glance? Take a look at these ideas, and think about how each might be a viable option for your own situation.

Education
Additional education can count in lieu of the required number of years of experience for some positions. Having a degree makes you eligible for more jobs, and it illustrates your dedication to the field you are pursuing. Furthering your education increases your background knowledge and practical skills. If you are already employed but are looking to advance in your career, a degree may seem out of reach with your work and family obligations. In these instances online programs may be a good fit as the programs are designed for people like you. An online option offers flexible schedules and varied degree programs to help you reach your goals.

Volunteer
Beyond being personally rewarding, volunteer work can provide professionally relevant experience regardless of which industry you are pursuing. Future educators can volunteer in schools, future healthcare workers can assist in hospitals, and future political workers can be volunteers in election campaigns. While working on a community project, you may be able to find an expert to teach you skills that will aid you in your future career. Potential employers will take note not only of your experience, but also of your concern for contributing to your community.

Networking
Advice to network is fairly standard these days, and you’ve probably heard it so much that you’re sick of it, but the advice is so important that it bears repeating. So, just in case you somehow missed it, you’ve forgotten about it or you simply haven’t done it yet, here it is: you need to network to improve your chances of getting the job you want. The more virtual and in-person connections you make, the better. You can network online on social and professional networking sites, at academic conferences, and at job fairs. The key to networking is presentation, so any time you may meet potential employers, dress formally and act professionally to make a stellar impression.

If you are able to impress recruiters at job fairs with your wit and charisma, they are likely to cut you some slack on your lack of experience. They may recommend you to the hiring department when jobs open up and give you an advantage over other applicants so you get invited for an interview. Of course, make sure your resume is polished and that you practice your interview skills thoroughly.

Getting a good job can be a brutal process, especially when you are trying to enter a new field that demands more experience than you already have. However, some dedication and creativity can be beneficial when you are trying to quickly enhance your experience. Continuing your education, volunteering, networking and working on your professional persona can make you more attractive to potential employers.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2012 at 8:01 am and is filed under Career, Job Search, Resumes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.