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Experience without Experience-How?
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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 counselor to evaluate
all this information.
- Review your calendar and mark off events that are you want to
participate in.
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Mock Resume
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