I have been unemployed for almost a year after being a cashier for two years. For the past few months, I have applied for several store positions and cashier positions that have my skill set, yet I have had no response at all. Most employers want people who have the experience, but how can I gain experience if nobody will hire me?

I've been told I'm overqualified and told that I do not have enough experience. Where does one find someone to help with experience and to allow me to use talent to better their organization.

I’m trying to find a summer job but most of the offers don’t hire people without any job experience. What do I do? I do community service related to that field does it counts?

okay, this is a big one (for me anyway) i have been out of the work force for awhile now.. a long while..years & years.. so i'm totally lost in this whole thing...don't know where to start and don't even know the proper procedures to go about it all ... overwhelmed and lost, but i will get it, in time..the other thing is i don't really have to much work experience..was a at home mom for years and the experience i do have well everything is so much more advanced now..its all different..any advice would be appreciated..thanks

Has anyone else felt that even the entry-level jobs require you to have some experience? I have been passed up for these jobs because I "don't have enough experience." Can someone tell me how to get over this hump or if anyone else has seen it? I have the experience with internships and past job but employers are saying that it's not enough

How am I supposed to get experience in anything if they have an experience requirement? Other than school. I did that and it didn't help. They still want me to have experience 1+

I recently graduated from the University of Toledo in December majoring in finance. I had an internship with a local company in the area that is about it for relative job experience. After graduation I took a job in financial services and I am quickly learning this is not a job for me. I started applying to other jobs about a month, month in a half a go and have yet to receive anything back besides rejection emails. I really want to get a job in my field to gain experience because everyone seems to want 1-5 years of it. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips?

I've been an stna since i was 19. I love my job. Medicine and the human body fascinate me. I completed medical assisting in 2008. Soon after i started to become I'll and ignored it because I needed to work. Till it got to the point I was in bad shape. Now my immune systems is compromised. I can't be around sick people but taking care of people in the medical since is all I know. I feel lost in today's job market because a) I'm not to technical and b) I don't know what I qualify to do People see my resume and they want to hire me as an stna; and don't get me wrong I'd love to, but I'm not even licensed as an stna anymore.

Get Hired - No Experience, No Problem!

You're looking for a job, but you lack work experience. With some opportunities requiring many years of experience and even entry level positions needing 1 to 2 years, you might think that getting hired without experience, isn't going to happen for you. This can leave you feeling hopeless, like you are chasing a pipe dream.

You ask yourself, how can I get hired when I need experience to gain experience? Whether you are entering the workforce after recently graduating, spending a period of time as a stay-at-home parent, or taking care of an elderly parent, here are 8 tips to landing a job when you lack work experience.

1.) Be Realistic

Being realistic means taking into consideration your qualifications when applying. Instead of applying for every position that interests you, only apply for jobs that you are qualified for.

You may not be suitable for your dream job right now, but you can gain the skills and experience to land an awesome opportunity in a few years. Instead, focus your search on roles that will teach you transferable skills for your dream job. For example, if you want to be a Sales Accounts Specialist in the next couple of years, then taking a job as a General Office Clerk can get you started with gaining the skills and experience needed.

Additionally, be realistic about the time it will take to find a job. You want to start a new job next week, but the truth of the matter is, the average unemployed American takes about 7 months to find a job according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2.) Rewrite Your Resume

Write your resume again, but this time don’t leave anything out! From early on, we are taught to be humble and not brag about our achievements. Though this philosophy comes from a good place, it may hinder you from securing an interview after submitting your resume. Employers look for you to be confident about your accomplishments. They need you to brag! Otherwise, they will not know what you are capable of and if you will be a good fit for their company.

Highlight your personality traits as well as any soft skills you possess. Include academic successes, projects you have worked on and any volunteering you have done. Also, don’t forget to tailor your accomplishments to the role you are looking to obtain. While you might not have much paid work experience, there are other traits that an employer may be looking for. So don’t overlook that time you planned your friend’s engagement party, as it demonstrates you have skills in budgeting, multi-tasking, organization, creativity—all which are needed to get a job as an Event Planner.

3.) Create a Career Portfolio

In addition to sending employers your updated resume, you can demonstrate that you are qualified for the job by sharing with them your career portfolio. Your career portfolio is a collection of all of the professional work you have. Your portfolio can include projects, articles, PowerPoint presentations, graphics, or, truly, anything that is proof of your experience. Also include awards and personal statements from people who know you professionally. If you do not already have items to include in your portfolio, this would be a good time to start creating them!

A good way to compile and present your work into a portfolio is through a website where you upload all of your work. There are several free and inexpensive websites to help you do this. LinkedIn and Google Sites, for example, are platforms where you can upload and share your portfolio. You can also create a free blog on WordPress or SquareSpace.

4.) Internships

If you are a current student or a recent graduate, an internship could be the key to getting your foot in the door. There are so many benefits of attaining an internship that you should focus on securing one in your field of study! Benefits include gaining knowledge about your field or industry, using your education in the workplace, adding valuable work experience to your resume, developing new skills, and networking with those in your industry.

You can apply to many internships via the internet or visiting your schools career services center. There is often heavy competition for internships, so be sure your grades are in good shape before applying… Bonus! These internship opportunities may be paid depending on the company!

5.) Volunteer

You can choose to help at any organizations looking for volunteers. Volunteering is similar to interning as they both offer some of the same benefits mentioned above. However, volunteering is different in that you will not get paid, it is not as competitive, and anyone can do it.

You may even be able to work at your dream company in order to get your foot in the door. When you choose to volunteer, make sure you are somewhere that will help you gain valuable, transferable skills and experiences that you can add to your resume. Treat volunteering like it is a real job and be consistent. For example, start out by committing a set number of hours per week. Depending on your availability, you can adjust these hours.

6.) Work For Free

If you want to gain skills in a particular craft or obtain a specific job title, you can offer your services for free. For example, if you are trying to better your graphic design skills, you can gain practice by creating graphics free of charge, then adding your services to your resume.

7.) Start Your Own Business/Freelance

When starting your own business, do it seriously and passionately. Starting your own business will help you develop skills and produce valuable work experience while building your resume and earning money! If your business manages to take off and you end up producing an income, you can consider staying with your own company instead of working for someone else.

Things to remember when starting your own business: Do it seriously and passionately. Don’t work on it just for one day in order to put “experience” on your resume. Take the time to develop your business and hone your skillset. As stated before, it takes the average unemployed American about 7 months to find employment, which means you have time to devote to your passion! Continue to search and apply for jobs while you are working on your business. You never know, a job fitting your qualifications might become available. If you have a friend that is also interested in developing similar skills and experiences, consider partnering up to form a business together.

8.) Network and Surround Yourself With the Right People

With a competitive job market, employers are handed dozens of resumes to review for one job opening. It is easier for an employer to give hiring priority to someone they know, or someone a current employee knows, as opposed to sorting through a database of resumes. According to a recent survey, 75% of all jobs are filled via networking. Therefore, reach out to your friends, family, acquaintances, previous work associates, etc., and see how they can help your chances of employment!

Final Thoughts

Figuring out how to get hired when you need experience to gain experience seems like an impossible conundrum. However, the trick to getting the experience that gets your foot in the door is to create it yourself. Take into account these 8 tips to landing a job when you lack work experience and you will be headed in the right direction!

Follow Me For Weekly Informative Articles Patrick Coppedge

I applied to multiple jobs for months even jobs i had no experiance with and kept getting told "NO" finally after a few months i finally got a job offer to be a supervisor and of course i was so excited and cried tears of joy!