Job hunting tips with lack of experience
Discussion
If you've been putting as much thought and application into your efforts to find a job as you have that post, then I'm not surprised you've not found anything.
Give us some clues, a little background, what you want to do, what skills you have, what experience you have and what you've been trying.
Then perhaps, just perhaps, someone will provide some good ideas.
Until then the only chance anyone has is providing generic bulls
t and there's already an excess of that on the interweb.
Give us some clues, a little background, what you want to do, what skills you have, what experience you have and what you've been trying.
Then perhaps, just perhaps, someone will provide some good ideas.
Until then the only chance anyone has is providing generic bulls
t and there's already an excess of that on the interweb.spikeyhead said:
If you've been putting as much thought and application into your efforts to find a job as you have that post, then I'm not surprised you've not found anything.
I tend to put more into applications than posts on forums. spikeyhead said:
Give us some clues, a little background, what you want to do, what skills you have, what experience you have and what you've been trying.
I'm 18, and have spent 3 years doing a paper round, 1 year as a self employed gardener and have various work experience in Macdonalds, City Electrical Factors and Think Media/Think Yachts.spikeyhead said:
Then perhaps, just perhaps, someone will provide some good ideas.
I hope so.spikeyhead said:
Until then the only chance anyone has is providing generic bullst and there's already an excess of that on the interweb.
Well there is that risk. t and there's already an excess of that on the interweb.Edited by RetroCosworth on Wednesday 23 June 12:17
RetroCosworth said:
One thing I'm finding is that due to my lack of experience no-one is prepared to employ me.
Good post above - more info needed. Lack of experience as in no work experience, or just in that particular field? Have you spent time writing/analysing/re-writing your CV? Targetting your applications? Bothering to write a worthy covering letter?The job market is still tough but there are opportunities, if you pitch yourself correctly and aim in the right places.
scirocco265 said:
Good post above - more info needed. Lack of experience as in no work experience, or just in that particular field?
I do have work experience - this is stated above. The main roles include:Waiter, Kitchen Porter, Customer Service Advisor/assistant.
scirocco265 said:
Have you spent time writing/analysing/re-writing your CV?
I have, but it is a never ending process as I never seem to be happy with it.scirocco265 said:
Targetting your applications?
I my best do, but could with improvement in that area.scirocco265 said:
Bothering to write a worthy covering letter?
An area that needs improving I feel. scirocco265 said:
The job market is still tough but there are opportunities, if you pitch yourself correctly and aim in the right places.
That's what I am hoping.Edited by RetroCosworth on Wednesday 23 June 12:27
As much as it pains me to say this, work for free to gain experience.
What qualifications do you have?
Im sure their are race teams about who want someone who will work for nowt put in the hours for the enjoyment and just do the general crap a race team needs doing (polishing spanners, making the tea, carrying stuff etc).
Its how I got started in motorsport even though thats not what im actually doing with my life now at the time it was what I wanted to do and it gave me a good insight into the path and careers available.
I decided it wasnt for me due to the hours and the stress.
Just turn up, dont send CV's etc. Make a good first face to face impression. If you can find somewhere local a privateer team then all the better.
What qualifications do you have?
Im sure their are race teams about who want someone who will work for nowt put in the hours for the enjoyment and just do the general crap a race team needs doing (polishing spanners, making the tea, carrying stuff etc).
Its how I got started in motorsport even though thats not what im actually doing with my life now at the time it was what I wanted to do and it gave me a good insight into the path and careers available.
I decided it wasnt for me due to the hours and the stress.
Just turn up, dont send CV's etc. Make a good first face to face impression. If you can find somewhere local a privateer team then all the better.
Edited by Odie on Wednesday 23 June 12:32
Edited by Odie on Wednesday 23 June 12:33
blindswelledrat said:
Are you getting past the application point i.e. are you failing at interview stage or just initial application?
This is key.In terms of approach, what are you finding out about the companies/businesses to which you're applying?
What are their objectives and challenges? What are the wider national (or even global) issues within that area of business/industry/sector? The internet and telephone are your friends.
How can you contribute to these? What can you bring? How driven are you? What are the pitfalls within each job and consequently why are you a 'safe pair of hands'? Be prepared to think a little bit bigger, -a bit more strategic than previous jobs have equated to.
Are there defined career pathways within the career you're looking at? Hence is there a structured way of getting in at the bottom? (Fnar. -Sorry).
Odie said:
As much as it pains me to say this, work for free to gain experience.
I did almost consider this for a Classic Car restorer, however, due to his location I couldn't afford to it for free as much as I wanted to. Odie said:
What qualifications do you have?
9 GCSEs all C's. Odie said:
Im sure their are race teams about who want someone who will work for nowt put in the hours for the enjoyment and just do the general crap a race team needs doing (polishing spanners, making the tea, carrying stuff etc).
I would love to do that sort of thing, although classic car restoration is the preferred route. The issue again is, money. Odie said:
Its how I got started in motorsport even though thats not what im actually doing with my life now at the time it was what I wanted to do and it gave me a good insight into the path and careers available.
I've got another two weeks work experience coming up with a Classic Jaguar Specialist and can't wait. I'm hoping it will give me an insight as to whether I want to do it for a living or not. Odie said:
Just turn up, dont send CV's etc. Make a good first face to face impression. If you can find somewhere local a privateer team then all the better.
Surely, that would depend upon the business?bonsai said:
You've still not said what you're aiming at?
The aim is for it to be my first proper job as it were, but if I can go into classic car restoration that would be better.bonsai said:
Is it just "jobs" as in pretty much anything or are you actively targeting a particular industry?
Just a simple first job, so that I can afford to have a Morris Minor, tweak it a bit and go to car meets. bonsai said:
It seems you have more general work experience than he average 18 year old really.
Ta 
Original Poster said:
Have you got your CV on any job boards?
If not, put it on Monster, Reed, Jobsite, CV Library etc.
I have put my CV on Jobsite, but not on any other boards. Thanks for the suggestion.If not, put it on Monster, Reed, Jobsite, CV Library etc.
Edited by RetroCosworth on Wednesday 23 June 13:24
blindswelledrat said:
What kind of jobs are you applying for?
That's an important piece of information before anyone can give you meaningful advice.
Store Assistants, Customer Service Assistants, Sales etc That's an important piece of information before anyone can give you meaningful advice.
blindswelledrat said:
Are you getting past the application point i.e. are you failing at interview stage or just initial application?
I'm not getting past the application stage.OK, could be your CV (but I doubt it). Unemployment at your age is pretty high at the moment so its far more likely they just have loads of applications.
I am 100% certain that you are infinitely more likely to get an interview if you sent your CV and then phoned the person beginning the conversation along the lines of "sorry to bother you, but I know you will probably bypass my application due to no experience and wanted to ask you personally for the opportunity of an interview to prove myself". Takes a bit of balls to do this, but to look at it another way- it will take 2 minutes and perhaps get you a job.
As long as you have put a reasonable amount of thought into your CV there is nothing you can really do to make it stand out positively.
Edit: As an employer- provided you are articulate and intelligent- there is no way I would not at least give you an interview if you did that. It instantly shows you have more about you than the other 10 people with identical CVs
I am 100% certain that you are infinitely more likely to get an interview if you sent your CV and then phoned the person beginning the conversation along the lines of "sorry to bother you, but I know you will probably bypass my application due to no experience and wanted to ask you personally for the opportunity of an interview to prove myself". Takes a bit of balls to do this, but to look at it another way- it will take 2 minutes and perhaps get you a job.
As long as you have put a reasonable amount of thought into your CV there is nothing you can really do to make it stand out positively.
Edit: As an employer- provided you are articulate and intelligent- there is no way I would not at least give you an interview if you did that. It instantly shows you have more about you than the other 10 people with identical CVs
Edited by blindswelledrat on Wednesday 23 June 13:33
You only have GCSE's? May I suggest going to college and getting some proper qualifications.
GCSE's are worthless no matter what the idiot teachers at school tell you, they are just a qualification in order to get more qualifications. Our education system is built around getting you to a certain level to meet a target not preparing you for the world of work and actually making something of yourself, I really do feel sorry for the niave youth of today.
If all your CV states is 9 GCSE's then employers are just going to bin it straight away. You may be the brightest guy in the world but without job specific knowledge (and a qualification in it) your on a hiding to nothing.
Oh and their are some really good suggest above too.
GCSE's are worthless no matter what the idiot teachers at school tell you, they are just a qualification in order to get more qualifications. Our education system is built around getting you to a certain level to meet a target not preparing you for the world of work and actually making something of yourself, I really do feel sorry for the niave youth of today.
If all your CV states is 9 GCSE's then employers are just going to bin it straight away. You may be the brightest guy in the world but without job specific knowledge (and a qualification in it) your on a hiding to nothing.
Oh and their are some really good suggest above too.
Edited by Odie on Wednesday 23 June 13:42
Odie said:
You only have GCSE's? May I suggest going to college and getting some proper qualifications.
I also am doing a National Diploma in IT - Pretty much have Distinction overall. Odie said:
GCSE's are worthless no matter what the idiot teachers at school tell you, they are just a qualification in order to get more qualifications. Our education system is built around getting you to a certain level to meet a target not preparing you for the world of work and actually making something of yourself, I really do feel sorry for the niave youth of
You have to start from something, to get somewhere. Theres no point in me waiting until University by which time I could of had a job. Odie said:
If all your CV states is 9 GCSE's then employers are just going to bin it straight away. You may be the brightest guy in the world but without job specific knowledge (and a qualification in it) your on a hiding to nothing.
There is the stated experience mentioned earlier, plus interests but no personal statement. RetroCosworth said:
Notes: My aim is to become an Automotive Engineer for Marcos Engineering.
If that isn't enough I would love to restore classic cars for a living.
Get yourself enrolled on a course at your local college starting in September. The area you ultimately want to get into not only has a small job market but is also highly competitive. It will be a good starting point for the skills/experience and also for meeting like-minded people.If that isn't enough I would love to restore classic cars for a living.
In the meantime, for the sales assistant etc jobs - it may be more lucrative to actually go into the stores and hand in a CV/fill in their application form there and then. Also, get yourself registered with a few local employment agencies and (as aleady suggsted) put your CV on the interweb e.g. Monster etc
RetroCosworth said:
Notes: My aim is to become an Automotive Engineer for Marcos Engineering.
If that isn't enough I would love to restore classic cars for a living.
If that isn't enough I would love to restore classic cars for a living.
scirocco265 said:
Get yourself enrolled on a course at your local college starting in September. The area you ultimately want to get into not only has a small job market but is also highly competitive. It will be a good starting point for the skills/experience and also for meeting like-minded people.
I am planning to do an Automotive Engineering course at Uni - but I feel it's more important to have a job as this stage. scirocco265 said:
In the meantime, for the sales assistant etc jobs - it may be more lucrative to actually go into the stores and hand in a CV/fill in their application form there and then. Also, get yourself registered with a few local employment agencies and (as aleady suggsted) put your CV on the interweb e.g. Monster etc
I have being doing the above but have had no luck - bar the employment agencies. Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff