Some ideas of what to do when you have the education, but lack experience.

You did it! You graduated and after some blood, sweat and tears, you received a certificate, diploma or degree. You may have thought that your education alone would get you the job, yet now that you are ready to join the workforce in your chosen profession, you have encountered a bump in the road…..all the jobs posted require one or more years of experience, and to add to your worry, no one has contacted you for an interview.

Before, I share some ideas of how to overcome this obstacle, I would like to share with you a valuable piece of advice I once received, that once I heard it, it made perfect sense on a great way to look at and handle challenges. The advice the wise woman shared was simple: “take a deep breath and breath!” You can’t eat the elephant whole in one bite. You can only eat it, one bite at a time.” To this day, I still remember her words to keep perspective and avoid situations where I may be acting more like a dog chasing its own tail!

In order to prevent yourself from what may feel like is the equivalent to chasing your own tail, it is important to start with knowing what key skills employers are expecting from post-secondary graduates. Understanding this is the key to your self-assessment, direction and job search strategy. Post-secondary graduates are expected to have abilities in complex problem solving, critical thinking, people management, creativity, judgment and decision-making. Think about your life experiences, what you learned in school or during your practicum, and think about how you have demonstrated those skills. Here is a tip: Volunteer experience counts too!

To get started you should gain about as much knowledge of the places you want to apply to as possible. There are companies out there that do an AMAZING job of communicating their work culture, values and mission. I once stumbled upon an architectural company’s website, and after reading the information they posted, I became excited, and wanted to apply for an architectural intern position posted in their careers section. There was just one problem – I do not have a degree in architecture! What I am trying to say, is that taking the time to learn about a company, can be engaging and inspiring, you may be able to get a “feel” of their work culture, and also helps you to answer the question of “why should we hire you,” for example. Your efforts will show initiative, critical thinking and a genuine interest in working for the company. Doing the research will help you make a plan, know what to write in your cover letter, and as noted above, prepare for an interview.

Should I include entry-level work experience on my resume?

I would like to address what seems to be a bit of a misconception that having entry-level work experience (retail, hospitality, general labourer, etc.) on your resume will hurt your chances of getting a job in your chosen profession. The good news is that it absolutely will not. Do not overlook or underestimate the importance of entry-level jobs, even in an entry-level position, how well employees perform in those roles can have an effect on the success of the company. Employers recognize the skill and character development gained from successfully performing tasks and handling responsibilities. What you learn on the job develops different skills, then what you learn in school. On the job work experience is not irrelevant and can demonstrate your ability to show up on time, work diligently throughout your shift, ability and desire to work as a team, communications, customer service, time management, even problem solving to name a few. Did you just note that I listed some skills that you can add to your resume? Skills, including interpersonal skills and ability to perform job tasks will get you the job – does your resume reflect that? How well did you read the job ad and research the company to make sure you are demonstrating what is relevant to the potential employer, in your resume? Think of your resume as proof that you possess required skills.

But I don’t have any work experience. Now What?

Qualifications are not measured solely in number of years, so don’t panic. Rather than playing the waiting game to be hired, try a different way to gain rich experience and demonstrate your knowledge and work ethic. Some ideas can include making an impact on your resume by showing you are results oriented and take initiative. How? Sharing goals you set for yourself and the steps you took to get there, such as taking additional training to minimize skill gaps; learning code, mastering social media marketing. If, for example, you want to pursue a career as a fashion designer, building relationships with designers, retailers and PR executives is very important. Perhaps you can put your social media skills to good use and start a blog. There has been an increase in people starting their own clothing lines and promoting them on social media, building their own websites to sell their products online. Another example you could use is talking about a time you volunteered to manage a project no one else wanted to work on, or about stepping up to help complete someone else’s work to meet a deadline or just to get the job done, etc. This demonstrates to the employer, determination and foreseeing what it takes to achieve results, to name a few.

Instead of breaking down the doors, try using the handle.

Volunteering can help to get a better inside view. If you have not already done so, think about your career objective; now think about places where you can volunteer to get experience. Even seasoned professionals had to start somewhere, and I highly doubt they started at the top. Volunteering, and let’s not forget internships, both present a perfect opportunity to get your whole body in the door and make meaningful connections, while gaining experience, and demonstrating your abilities and willingness to learn. Why go through the effort of breaking down the door, when you can just walk through it? I cannot stress enough how important it is to really take the time to reflect on these areas. Taking the time to do this will help you develop and implement a plan that allows you to continue to grow and help narrow the “lack of experience” gap. This could be a crucial step to ensuring you are able to achieve your ultimate goal. I have had conversations with individuals who got their degree, but ended up going in a different direction because they lacked “experience” and since bills do not go away and a roof over ones head is always nice, they took jobs that did not relate to their degree and soon after, life happened and they stopped pursuing their profession. This is not the end of the world, but if before you know it, five or so years have gone by, you may have compounded the problem. Speaking of bills, if you need to take a different kind of job, do not feel bad, but try to find an entry-level position within your field of study that may provide opportunities for making connections aka, networking, or at least something that will offer you transferrable skills to add to your resume. Remember that volunteering allows for some flexibility so that you can still work, while keeping your eye on the prize.

Already volunteering? Great, but don’t stop there!

Another way to try to make meaningful connections is by attending networking events for professionals in your field. Currently we are in the middle of a pandemic, but all is not lost, do some research, look-up- companies and associations, for example, and see what professionals are doing to stay connected; are there any online webinars or networking events you can attend? How about an online Job Fair? This could be a great way to reach out and connect with other professionals.

Ugh! Is it really necessary, to network?

The short answer is yes, it is. If the word “network” suddenly made you feel like there is giant elephant sitting on your chest, don’t worry, we have two workshops designed to teach you how to network like a pro: Branding Yourself and Informational Interviews. Here is another quick tip: when you are conducting informational interviews, you are networking, and you are humbly in the driver’s seat, asking the right questions to get advice on how you can achieve your career goal. The good news is that it does not have to be anything complicated or overly involved. If you are not feeling as confident as you usually feel, and are at a low point in your job search, our Self-Care for Job Search workshop, can help a great deal in overcoming the job search blues and give you a renewed hope and self-confidence.

If you need ideas of different resources you can use for research, help with networking and interviewing call us at (204) 989-6503. Our workshops will help to ensure you can articulate your goal, sound professional and prepare for interviews. We would love to share some helpful tips to help you on your journey.

By: Lianne Stephensen – Career Counsellor and Workshop Facilitator – Osborne Village Resource Centre

As a workshop facilitator and career counsellor, I have come increasingly aware of some commonalities with some of my participants and one-to-one clients. Most seem to have fairly good research skills when using the internet and searching various websites as part of their job search. What I found interesting, however, was some of the fear of using Linked In, perceiving it to be a place where managers or business professionals are. I do believe after further discussion with my participants was that a lot of it had to do with not wanting to be on those platforms for personal reasons or fear of networking with people. What I try to do in these instances is educate them on the increasing benefits of using Linked In as the job market can be extremely competitive particularly when applying for advertised jobs.

Here are my 5 Top Reasons for using LinkedIn as part of your Job Search Success:

1. Linked In – The Hidden Gem

Even though LinkedIn has grown in popularity over the last couple of years, it is still a fairly new platform used by many job seekers for a variety of reasons. For those of us that have, it is a great way to network and build connections. As someone who is also a small business owner, I have had several contract work leads come from people I connected with on Linked In. The current job I am in as a Career Counsellor was also advertised on Linked In. I just happened to be checking that day and came across the position. Had I not, I may not have seen it advertised.

Update profile

With Linked In you want to be make sure to develop and update your profile that highlights your skills and experience in a way that attracts people in your field and potential employers or associations to want to find out more. Under each job you can add a brief description (use point form) what you did and only go back 10 or 15 years similar to how you format your resume. Make sure to include all your relevant education, certifications, courses, and volunteer experience. The beauty of LinkedIn is that you can add a lot more to your profile than you could your resume. I even suggest to job seekers to add their LinkedIn URL link to their resume as another way for employers to review your job application.

Check Job Tabs

There is a section on Linked In where you can click on a Jobs tab to search for jobs. Instead of advertising through the newspaper or large sites like Indeed, more companies are trying to save money posting their job ad on LinkedIn. The benefit of that is when you become a Linked In member, you will automatically be referred to people or organizations that are in your field or area of interest. Employers and recruiters know this and may even reach out to you about a position before they advertise it as there is no cost to them. As well, you may have already started a conversation with them or know them through social networks or conferences you have attended in past positions you`ve held.

2. Get Involved By Building Your Contacts

It’s also beneficial to get involved in LinkedIn Groups or Forums to stay abrupt to topics in your field. You will also be able to identify professional groups in your area and get involved. This will expand your network and show your expertise. LinkedIn Groups allow people to get to know you without selling yourself. You are able to post articles, blogs or share other people’s articles. In addition, you also want to be actively engaged on a regular basis on Linked In at least once per day reading posts, blogs, and asking questions as your network continues to grow. You will start to be a recognized professional in your field. It is also okay to ask for “recommendations” from former or current colleagues and contacts and provide recommendations in return. This adds creditability and enhances your profile further.

3. Research Companies of Interest or Those In Your Field

In addition, click on the search tab and research companies or individuals in your field or career of interest to find out about what their qualifications are, their work history, events, and any testimonials they may have to get to know more. Sometimes company websites are not always up-to-date and so Linked In may be one way to find out the ins and outs of a company. You can also send personalized greeting/messages to new contacts who work for companies or in your ideal job to introduce yourself and possibly set up an informational interview to find out more about what they do. This will help you establish relationships and build your network of people you know that work in your field of interest or company. You also will to want to send a “Thank You Message” to new contacts that connect with you and keep a Linked In Contact List the same as you would your for your job search for future reference.

You will notice that as you develop your LinkedIn network the context for your home page will start to include many special events or conferences are posted by companies. Events such as: career or job fairs, free or low cost classes, and volunteer opportunities. You will want to check out these further and consider participating to add to your knowledge and skill base, particularly if there are gaps in your employment history.

4. Update Your Headline

Make sure that you have a professional current looking photo with your name and headline that will “stand out” and highlight what type of position you are looking for. For example, “Chemical Engineer in Civil Service Sector.” It is also good to include in your headline that you are “Currently Looking for New Employment Opportunities.” Consider your LinkedIn profile like the first impression page that potential employers will view to get an idea of who you are, your qualifications, skills, education, and work experience. Always keep in mind what your new contacts would want to know about you first.

5. Effective Summary Page

In addition to your headline, your Summary section should tell your personal story and be written in the first person using “I.” Instead of Summary I also like to use the words, “Vision or Mission” and talk about the type of clientele I help, successes I have in my current or past jobs. In addition, I like to include my interests and what I am passionate about using statements like “I love seeing people reach their goals and discover a life they love living!” I have had people comment to me when sending me a personalized message something they read that resonated with them in my Summary section of my Linked In. I call this my personality section as well where I can go more in depth than I could on my resume describing my strengths, skills and attributes in greater detail.

And that is it for an introduction as to why I believe using Linked In as part of job search is crucial. Who knows? Your next job may be awaiting you very soon!

References:
Top Resume. (2019). Are You Using Linked In to Its Fullest To Get A Job? [Blog Post]. Retrieved https://ca.topresume.com/career-advice/14-ways-to-leverage-your-linkedin-profile-during-your-job-search
Kelly Wellness Consulting Inc (2017). LinkedIn 4 Workplace Wellness [Online Course].