No “Real” Experience, No Problem: 3 Ways to Land Your Dream Job (By: Jasmine York)

By: Jasmine York, contributing writer (@jasminethewriter)

Impressing employers is not easy, especially when you have absolutely no experience. That along with an irrelevant educational background is almost a guaranteed formula for your resume being tossed when compared to other candidates. However, there are ways around both of the education and experience roadblocks. Three ways are listed below. They can instantly help bulk up your resume and better qualify you for the position you desire to have.

Job Shadow: More and more companies are allowing students to job shadow professionals in their desired field. For a few days or weeks, you can gain a hands-on and a real world perception on what the job looks like in a practical sense. Not only will it introduce you to software or tasks you’ll need to hone to fulfill the job, but it may also help you gain inside connections or open doors that may not have otherwise been opened.

Intern/Apprentice: Most people know about internships. With a solid two or three under your belt, you’ll stand out among your peers and bring to the interview confidence and proof that you are capable of completing the tasks necessary. There’s also a high chance of interns and apprentices getting hired on after their term ends.

Online Study/Mentor: With various experts on the web and online programs readily within our reach, you can earn career-specific certifications to give yourself more credibility or even find a mentor. The mentor can offer you one-on-one guidance on how you can prepare for a job in your desired field.

While an educational background in a field is recommended for many positions, it doesn’t always equal the golden ticket. In many cases, the experience you’ll gain from job shadowing, interning or apprenticeships – or even the knowledge gained through mentors or field-specific online programs – can help open doors for you to thrive in the career of your dreams.

By investing in either of the opportunities listed above – no matter what career you choose – your resume will be sure to attract the attention of hiring managers who’ll be open to invest in someone with your qualifications.