We get it – you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to gain experience.
It might seem like a vicious circle, but there are a few strategies you can use to help overcome this as much as possible. More and more employers state they would rather recruit someone with the right attitude and ‘mindset’ over someone with years of experience.
Our employer partner, Alsco, tells us this is definitely what they look for in new team members!
And with a wide range of opportunities available right now, they join us to offer their insights into how you can get started – regardless of how much or how little work experience you have.
5 Ways to Tackle a Lack of Work Experience on Your Resume
While work experience is great, there are plenty of other ways to demonstrate to a potential employer that you have what it takes to do the job.
Alsco makes a point of not hiring based on experience. They much prefer people who can demonstrate that they WANT to work for them and have the right mindset and commitment to do a good job, be a dedicated team member and give it their best shot.
Here’s what they look for instead:
1. A Tailored Resume
When applying for any role, with or without experience, you need to make sure you tailor your resume to the industry and job you’re applying to. Utilising your personal profile and key skills section is ideal for this.
If you don’t have previous experience, it’s a good idea to pick up on the skills mentioned in the job advert and tell the employer where and why you have these skills.
2. Focus on Transferable Skills
Use the job description and person specification and relate everything on your resume to this as much as possible.
In your key skills section, bullet point the essential skills mentioned in the job description and back them up with an example of where you have achieved this skill. You can use schoolwork, hobbies, volunteer work or extracurricular activities you’ve participated in.
Highlighting these skills this way will help demonstrate to the employer that you can do the job.
3. Be Confident!
Confidence is key! You’ve got to be your own biggest fan and celebrate your achievements and skills.
This means having a strong awareness of your strengths, how your strengths/abilities match the roles you want to do and articulating this positively to an employer.
4. Practice Objection Handling
Practice objection handling so that if an employer asks you about your experience, you don’t say you haven’t got any – you turn it around.
Try something like, ‘The closest experience I have for this role was an experience I had at school when I did X and achieved Y. I achieved THIS, which means I have THESE skills which line up well with THIS part of the job.’
This is what will impress a potential employer – positive and proactive!
5. Apply to the Right Employers
If a job role explicitly asks for very specific experience and skills that you can only gain from having done the job before, it doesn’t make much sense to apply for it.
Focus on applying for the opportunities and with outspoken and positive employers about not needing experience for some of their roles, and see where this could take you!
Take Your First Step With Alsco!
Alsco has provided professional textile rental services throughout New Zealand since 1910.
Known for their friendly approach, their services include uniforms and workwear, commercial linen, floorcare, washroom services, first aid systems and business consumables.
Having called New Zealand home for over a century, Alsco wants to work with committed individuals who share their passion for looking after our unique and precious environment for future generations.
Sound like you? Head to their exclusive employer profile and check out their current opportunities online now!
