9 to 5
danimarie88
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
How does one acquire experience if nobody is willing to hire you without experience?!
in 9 to 5
I am in such a rut at my current job (I work as an aide at a daycare). I would really love an administrative assistant/receptionist type of job, but most of the listings I see on craigslist and monster.com all require experience and a lot require a degree. I have my diploma and a few college courses (plan on going back summer or fall 2011 to start back up on classes.) Any tips on how to get a job without experience??
Re: How does one acquire experience if nobody is willing to hire you without experience?!
Networking, networking, networking. If you know you want to be an admin, connect with other admins who work at companies with openings. Consider starting college now to take advantage of their career help. GL!
I know, right?!
I do agree that networking is key. One job I got because one of the girls in my neighborhood knew I was looking for something and knew that her company had a position open, so I told her I was interested and they called me for an interview, and it worked out.
Another job that I got, that is hard to get, I think I only got it because I personally went in and spoke to someone in person, who then called her friend about a job she knew was open, who called me in for an interview.
Other than that, I know our county has good jobs that are entry level. They have tons actually. Have you looked with your county?
Once you start classes, start interning at a company you want to work for. This can be paid or for credit. Either way, it is an excellent way to make connections within company that can lead to a job. This is how I got my first jobin my field. Make sure to dress for the job you want, show up on time and be willing to work, even if the pay is bad or none-existant. It can really pay off in the long run. BTW-to become a receptionist, you could probably make the transition with no additional training but by simply knowing someone who is hiring. Stress your people skills and ability to multi-task, and you will be set
There is a difference between demonstrating experience and demonstrating that you possess certain skills.
Networking gets your foot in the door. It is, IMO, the best way to land a job and should be where 80% of your job hunting efforts are focused.
But once you are "in the door" you need to be able to articulate why you will be able to succeed in that job...and succeed better than any other candidate. This may be accomplished by demonstrating the skills (interpersonal, computer, organizational, etc) that you have. It is also accomplished by demonstrating professionalism, maturity, passion for the field of work, credibility, work ethic, and that you would be a pleasant person to work with for 40 hours per week.
Writing a resume is a great way to figure out how to demonstrate those skills. Once you have that nailed, you'll be better equipped to articulate them in an interview.
My trick, way back before I had experience in my field, was volunteering. I volunteered my butt off, doing what I wanted to be doing paid, as a volunteer. Even though it's not a paid position, you can put it on your resume. Tell possible future employers that you know how to do this-and-that, that you were involved in planning whatever they might be interested in.
It's really really helped me. I graduated both high school and college fairly early, which meant my entire experience was just odd teenager type jobs. Let alone life experience
Once I started volunteering in my desired field and was able to write that I'd organized this-and-that in my cover letters and/or resume, I got interviews all the time and was able to pick what I wanted, not the other way around.
Volunteering shows employers that you're willing to work hard, that you're willing to learn, and that you're flexible.
Another thing that's worked for people I know is just start at an entry level no experience required type job and just learn, work hard and make promotions!
Good luck with it!!!
There is no quick fix. It's all pretty much a joke right now on the hiring front.
There are people wiht advanced degrees that are being told they are "overqualified" for the jobs they apply for. Every single one of these employers wants the bag of chips and all that for a very minimal amount of pay.
Also, you might really consider just taking a part-time job at McDonalds, a gas station, something.
It shows you have initiative by taking a job that may not be what you want, but you try to be sufficient.