One of the biggest issues people who are looking for work face is finding a job without the relevant experience. Often people feel trapped in a loop of being able to find work because they have no experience, and unable to find experience because they can’t find work. However, there are ways that you can improve your C.V without work experience. In this article, we will explore the different options you can look at to make your C.V more attractive to a potential employer if you are struggling to find your starting point.
- Improving your qualifications. This can be done in a number of ways, from taking a course at the local college to online qualifications. There are many online qualifications you can take at relatively little expense. Groupon, an online service for finding discounts, often have discounted online courses taking the price from £300-400 to £50 and below. This makes an online course a very affordable option to boost your C.V and potential employers will be impressed by your willingness to learn. Online courses are often easy and can be done from home in your own time, which means you can carry on job hunting while you study.
- Taking on unpaid/volunteer work. Working for free might not seem like the most desirable option but it is an especially valuable way to boost your C.V, particularly if you are a recent graduate still living at home and therefore have no living expenses. While you can work for free, it may be your best option, as it will show potential employers you have a genuine desire to work. There are many ways to take on unpaid work, from working in your local charity shop to doing unpaid internships. Do something you think you will enjoy, as you will then be driven to get better results even if you aren’t being paid.
- Take some time to learn new skills through home learning. You don’t always have to take a course in something to learn more about it. For example, if you want to learn about web design, there are many books out there for beginners who just want to understand the basics. Teaching yourself new skills will not only improve your chances at landing a job, it will also boost your confidence because you have more knowledge than you previously had. Experiment with these new skills. If you are learning about web design, try building your own website so that you have something for your portfolio. Being able to bring real examples of skills you have learned to an interview will be much more impressive to a potential employer.
- Take on some new hobbies/interests. Having something interesting about yourself to talk about is a great ice-breaker for an interview. If you have a wide range of hobbies and interests, it makes you look like a more dynamic individual. In other words, your potential employer will find you more interesting and will think you are less likely to be lazy as you find things to do outside of work and keep active/preoccupied. This may also boost your confidence as you keep yourself busy and meet new people through your hobbies, which will come across in your personality at interview stage.
- Try and find some part time casual work. This will usually be working in a bar, for example. It may only be a few hours once a week, but it shows you are willing to work and also gives you a small amount of money in the meantime. Obviously, it’s not always as easy as just finding a friend who knows someone, so you may need to pop to some local shops/bars and see if they have any part time work going. Working part time could be the first and only step you need to take to find permanent work, so it is definitely worth looking into.
There we have it, 5 ways you can improve your CV even if you are not working in your chosen field. Following the steps above will improve your CV with enough to show any potential employer what you can offer, your willingness to learn and adapt and your dedication to working in that chosen field. Now it’s time to work on your interview skills for all the offers you will receive.
