It’s the employment conundrum. How do you get a job without experience and how do you get experience if you don’t have a job? If you’re fresh out of school or have been working for a while and want to change career paths, landing a job without work experience can be challenging.

There are a few things you can do to boost your appeal to potential employers even if you don’t have hands-on training at a particular job. You can also gain experience outside of formal employment that can be used to make your resume stand out from the rest.

1. Focus on the Positives

Experience is one of the things explorers are looking for, but it’s not the only thing. People are also looking to hire workers that have a positive attitude, are willing to learn, and are motivated to be successful, as well.

Oftentimes, a company will hire someone with less experience because of their willingness to step up to the plate and motivation to succeed. Companies are looking for people that will be with them for years to come and a good work ethic will help the company in the long run.

2. Be Honest and Address the Issue

If you don’t have the experience they are looking for, don’t try to brush over the fact. Instead, be open and honest about it and play to your strengths and willingness to learn and adapt. A positive attitude and forthcomingness can go far with potential employers.

3. Remember the Experience You Didn’t Know You Had

When you apply for a job where certain experience is required, think about your past jobs and make connections between the experience they are looking for and the experience you have. For example, if you worked at a store during college, that could be considered sales experience. 

Another way to create an experience is to do volunteer work or an unpaid internship. Although you won’t be drawing an income, the experience you receive from volunteering could help you land the job you’re looking for if it’s what your potential employer wants from a new hire.

4. Network and Get Recommendations

If you just finished your education and you did an outstanding job, you might consider asking your teacher or professor to write a letter of recommendation. Employers often take educators’ recommendations seriously, because they know what you’re capable of doing and how you’re able to perform.

5. Apply for Jobs You’re Interested In

Once you’ve done your research, apply to jobs that interest you and keep applying. Just because you don’t get the first job, doesn’t mean you’ll get passed up for the next one in six months. Just be sure to find out what you can do in the meantime to land the job on the next try.

6. Get an Interview

If you’re confident and motivated, you just might get the chance to prove yourself as a new hire. Sometimes lack of skills could be the reason you get passed over, and other times it’s for other reasons such as age or gender. 

If you think you’ve been the victim of employment discrimination, contact an employment attorney San Francisco to help you. An interview is an opportunity to show your winning attitude. If you can get an interview even without experience, you will be able to sell your strengths and prove your worth to the company.