What to Do When an Employer Requires Experience and You Have None

Arkansas Hiring and Employment trends in 2021

Sure, you might not have all of the experience required for a job, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t qualified!

If you just graduated college (or are about to graduate), You may be coming up short in required relevant work experience, whether this is your first job or you already have some experience. Finding employment in Central Arkansas could be a full-time job in itself, but Apex Staffing can help show you how your college research projects, volunteer work, or previous work in different fields can help pave the way for getting the job you want.

A great reason why you should use a staffing agency: cover letters and resumes can be tricky! You might say too much or not enough. An experienced recruiter on the Apex team can help highlight your past experience and demonstrate how hiring you would add value to a company.

Great Cover Letters + Resumes = You Will Stand Out From the Crowd

If you are changing careers and already have experience – just not what the prospective employer seems to want – there are ways around that: career guru Ryan Kahn suggests putting together a cover letter connecting your life and career passions while helping employers connect the dots between skills you have built over time with other companies and showing how these can help meet the needs of the prospective employer.

Relevance is the Key to Getting a Foot in the Interviewer’s Door

As a college student, you likely worked on at least one important research project, or perhaps collaborated with others on a class project. Even projects and related tasks that were undertaken outside of school, such as organizing volunteers for a local food bank, can highlight your organizational and teamwork skills. In your resume and cover letter, you will want to show the connections between these experiences and how you plan to apply what you learned to your prospective job.

If You Are Still in School, Find a Job Now

You need to find some kind of work (even if it is not as relevant to your field or career choices as you might like) to gain that all-important work experience. While the work itself may not be what you plan to do long term, having a record of showing up on time, doing your work well and developing networking relationships with employers and co-workers can provide you with glowing referrals that can make or break landing that first “real” job.

Internships Can Bridge the Gap

When deciding on applying for an internship, according to University of Texas (Austin) Liberal Arts Career Services director Dr. Katharine Brooks, look for opportunities that you feel truly passionate about, and offer the chance to develop the skills, experience, and networking contacts you will need for a future job.

If you’re looking for a new job, check out our Job Openings page + to see what’s available. Apex Staffing specializes in connecting talented job seekers with high-quality, local employers. Our service is completely free for job seekers and we are always accepting applications.