Tips for Finding a Job for College Students with No Experience
Looking for a job with no prior experience can be intimidating. But it is possible to land a position with the necessary preparations
A lot of students decide to combine college education with part-time employment. Some do it for financial reasons, and others want to gain work experience. In any case, it might seem intimidating to start. However, there is no reason to stress too much about it.
There are plenty of jobs for students without prior experience. And many employers are open to hiring skilled and motivated students. One just needs to approach this with proper preparation. Together with the Jooble team, we’ve prepared an ultimate guide on job search for students.
How to find a job as a student?
One needs to evaluate opportunities, responsibilities, and actions to make it all easier. Here are simple steps to follow.
Decide What You Can Do
If you already have some experience, it is a good starting point. For instance, if you helped your parents at their shop or worked in retail in the summer after high school. Any of that counts as work experience and comes in handy in a resume.
Also, it might help to narrow down the focus of what position you might look at. To understand what jobs you can do, think of:
- How much time do you have;
- How flexible is your schedule;
- What specific skills do you possess (communication, writing, design, painting, etc.);
- What do you like to do;
- Whether you want to work with people or not.
Sure, one might apply to any job available. But striving for something useful in the future is also a good idea and won’t drain you too much.
Create a Resume
A resume is your first impression of a recruiter, so it needs to be exceptional. In many cases, it is the only way to stand out from the competition and grab the employer’s attention.
Look through CV samples and follow the traditional layout. If you do not have experience, focus on your skills and strong points. Highlight motivation for professional development.
Also, put them in if you have academic achievements or extracurriculars relevant to the position. For example, working for a high-school or college newspaper is a good point to mention going for media or writing positions.
Keep your resume up to one page. Make sure it looks professional.
Search for Opportunities Online
The next step is to find the postings you can apply to. There are plenty of online resources you can scroll through. Jooble is a job aggregator that collects offers from all over the internet in one place. In a way, it works similarly to Google but for job seekers.
Create a profile, add your resume and start searching.
You can filter the posting by:
- Time;
- Location;
- Salary;
- Position;
- Type of employment;
- Skills.
You can subscribe to updates if you do not find what you are looking for immediately. So when a similar position is open, you’ll receive an email.
Apply for Jobs
Now that you’ve found relevant and suitable postings, it is time to apply.
Here, it is essential to remember two factors. The first one is that even if the position seems a bit off your league, it doesn’t hurt to try. A posting is a description of an ideal candidate. In most cases, ideal candidates do not exist, and employers are willing to compromise on some requirements.
Also, you will not be competing with this perfect candidate. You will compete with other applicants and never know who applies. Maybe among them, you are the most fitting person. So do not limit yourself to the options.
The second factor is to always check the employer online. It will help to prepare for an interview. And it will ensure that you know what you are signing up to. Make sure it is a credible business with a good reputation. Also, look into what former or current employees say about it online.
Prepare for the Interview
Usually, recruiters give a call to candidates who are interested after application. It is the first screening. Such calls take 10-20 minutes and are pretty general. Just be ready to answer openly and honestly.
Then, get ready for an interview. The exact questions depend on the industry, business, and recruiter. But many of them may be standard, like “How did you find this opportunity” or “What can you bring to the team.” Be prepared to dwell on the points from your resume.
If you lack experience, think of your explanation for that.
Look into More Opportunities
Online search is not the only way to find a job as a student. Be sure to give attention to other options such as:
- Working for your university/college;
- Starting a small business;
- Freelancing;
- Attending career fairs;
- Networking online and offline;
- Trying recruitment agencies;
- Reach out directly to companies you are interested in.
It wouldn’t hurt to create a LinkedIn profile as well. There, one can network and find professional groups and prospective employers. As for other social media, make sure they look professional or are private. Many companies do the screening online, and if there is some questionable content, it might decrease your chances.
In Summary
You can find employment as a student even if you have no prior work experience. There are many entry-level positions in various industries, from retail to marketing. Explore all the options, craft a winning resume, and prepare for an interview.