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List Experience without
Experience-How? |
If you haven’t got a job, how
do you list experience on your resume? And if you haven’t got
experience, how do you land a
job?
Jasmeet has just
finished an MBA from an Institute in Delhi. Each day he opens
the appointment pages of the papers with a lot of hope, but
closes them a disappointed man. He knows he can't do much
about it: he just doesn't have the experience. But that's not
something which should run him down.
Like the best of
corporations that have been built from scratch, the best of
careers can also begin from zilch. So what do you do if
employers stonewall you simply because you do not have
experience? After all, you have to begin somewhere. Give these
hints a go if you’re a first time job seeker, ‘with no
experience’.
PEG
LOWER
- If you have to take a job a peg
lower than what you expect, take it. Just make sure the
company you join has equity. That way whatever you do here
will add to your portfolio. You can get ahead in time, even
if you have to start lower.
- A lot of people are disappointed
in their jobs because their expectations were too high to
begin with. You'll get to the job you want. But you can't
skip the necessary steps that will take you there.
- After a point, what you’re doing
is as important as your qualifications. Get good remarks
entered in your record book. It’ll all make up for your
temporary compromise.
MAXIMISE YOUR 'TRAINEE' EXPERIENCE
- Many companies hire freshers
only as trainees. Most trainees are not paid. The situation
isn’t ideal, but it’s at least quid pro quo—you get your
experience, they get an extra hand.
- A traineeship isn’t the most
exciting prospect, but it isn’t the dumps either. You work
with a peer group, learn team values, and work impossible
deadlines—perfect fodder for future success.
GATHER PROJECTS
- The more projects you
have on your CV the better. Work on challenging projects,
it's the best way to learn.
ETIQUETTE MATTERS
- Persuasion prevails. Don’t take
a 'no' at face value, at least not always. Your
persuasiveness will add a plus point to your profile.
Especially in a marketing/sales opening.
- Always remember to write in to
say thank you after an interview. It increases recall. It
also tells your potential employer you have etiquette. For
all you know, this might fill in for the lack of
experience.
BE
INFORMED
- Research the company where you
go for a job interview. It says that you're not hanging out
for just any company that comes your way. You've taken the
trouble to learn more about the company you want to work
with. That makes your coming for an interview an informed
decision.
APPLY AT THE RIGHT PLACE
- When you're researching
prospective employers, find out what qualifications a
company prefers when they recruit freshers. Do they show a
preference for a particular qualification sequence or
specialisation? Apply to the companies that show a
partiality to the qualifications you have. After all, a
person who seems to be not getting a job anywhere may not be
applying to the right places.
STRESS THE LEARNING FACTOR
- Stress that you're just raring
to learn as much as you can. Companies like enthusiastic
youngsters who're ready to fit in with their way of working,
who don't come in with rigid mind-sets.
KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING
When an interviewer
asks you where you see yourself in 5 or 10 years don't say you
don't know, even if it's true! Make a course for yourself,
realistically ambitious. You don't have to say exactly what
you'll be doing and in which company, but you can outline the
kind of work of work you'd like to be doing or the challenges
you see yourself as facing.
HONESTY PAYS
- Be honest about what you can do
and tell them your talents. Nobody is going to do that for
you. At the same time don't say yes, I'm really comfortable
with speaking German if you know well enough that if you
spoke to a German he'd tell you no speak
English!
- Don't take a rejection to heart.
Just take it to head and perk up your determination. It's
very difficult to keep the chin up but remember there’s a
job out there for you. Try hard enough and you’ll find it.
Sooner rather than later.
ZERO IN ON
INTEREST AREAS
- You can also analyse your
checklist and try to find out what you love and what you're
good at.
- Take advantage of
self-assessment tools your career centre has to offer and
maybe even sit down with a counsellor to evaluate all this
information.
- Review your calendar and mark
off events that are you want to participate in.
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