If you're a recent graduate, you're probably feeling the pressure from the urgency to get a chore after college.

Whether you lot took some time off to gloat finishing schoolhouse or dove into trying to get a job after graduation, nosotros can relate to the existential crisis of wondering how to get a task after higher with no experience. These feelings make yous question if you didn't brand the cut and you'll have to settle for a job you lot won't like out of desperation. It can lead you into a spiral of pessimism and negative self-talk.

It'southward time to get rid of self-dubiousness and learn the practical details. Many fresh graduates like you are getting a leg up on the competition by completing marketing apprenticeships. For but 10 hours per week over three months, you tin also become the hands-on grooming and existent-globe experience that set yous autonomously from other job candidates. And with 55% of mentors hiring their apprentices, your first job could be with your mentor! Submit your profile on Acadium for free to become started.

digital marketing apprenticeships

Many of Acadium's digital marketing apprentices get hired past their mentors.

But we agree that until you observe a chore, the situation remains confusing and overwhelming. Information technology doesn't aid that at that place are a ton of "how to's" and 'go a task' guides online, telling you that they know the all-time way to go your start job. Despite their differences, what they all have in common is that they emphasize having a plan or structure for your job search.

If you're having a hard time getting a chore afterwards college with no feel, or even that first interview, it's time to start taking a more than active approach.

To get a task after college with no feel, your arroyo should get beyond passively submitting your resume and cover letter to job boards hoping to get a response.

How to get a job with no experience: v things to do after graduating college

1. Get easily-on experience with real-life projects

In that location are a lot of ways to detect side projects that you lot tin can use to hone your skills and have something to talk about during interviews. You tin can practise freelance work, achieve out to a local store owner who could use your help, complete online design challenges, or expect for apprenticeship opportunities.

Often , you lot'll have to practise these things for petty to no money , and it tin be challenging to convince the business organization owner to trust you or get your first client on a freelance platform.

These projects, nonetheless , volition be the foundation of what sets you apart when landing that interview. Leverage the real-life results you get from these projects to make your resume more impressive. Runway your results and give hard numbers when applying for a position too equally during the interview.

At that place'southward nothing like applied experience applied to actual businesses to give you an edge over other chore applicants—even if you lot are fresh out of higher or university.

Acadium has fabricated information technology easier for you lot to match with business owners and get started on real-life projects to build your feel and skills.

2. Detect a mentor who will guide you to get a job

Another do good of taking on side projects is that you volition connect with people who could potentially be come your mentor s . Having someone at that place to give you direction every bit you navigate the commencement steps in your early on career can assistance  you lot overcome the confusion and stress of finding that starting time task.

A mentor volition too requite you valuable feedback on your work. This feedback is gold because it elevates your learning. Getting the guidance of someone who's in the trenches can't be matched by classroom learning. Some things tin be learned only through feel, and mentors allow you to learn from them.

three. Learn how others like yous got a task after higher

It helps to learn from those who have been in similar position south to where you are now. Learning nearly the process that others followed, the projects they worked on, and the critical connections they made tin can be instructive for you lot as well every bit inspirational. You lot're non alone in how y'all feel and it's of import to remind yourself that.

At Acadium, you can find a lot of success stories most people paving their ain way s and getting to where they want to be. Some are fresh college graduates who found their first jobs or launched their ain marketing businesses through apprenticeships. Others take decades of experience in another field and switched to digital marketing. And then others who accept work experience in another country and leveraged their apprenticeships to launch careers in a completely new location.

In case you're curious most my own story, I tell it in this video:

four. Tell your story — bear witness your drive through your experiences

Chances are , if you lot've already done all the things outlined , you have a pretty interesting story to tell , as well. These things take piece of work and endeavour. Showing recruiters that you had the enthusiasm and drive to piece of work on yourself and your network while looking for that job will ever be more interesting than a list of skills on a resume. People will have questions to discover out if you're the right person and these experiences will give you a wealth of examples to depict from.

5. Expand your network

"It'due south not what you know, information technology's who y'all know that matters," the maxim goes. Sad but truthful. Put yourself out in that location and run into people in different positions and levels in the manufacture y'all're interested in. This is of import because some open up positions aren't publicized at all.

"Depending on the source, between 70% (Forbes) and 85% (LinkedIn) of jobs are not posted online at all—these positions are filled via networking and internal referrals." – Glassdoor

Your connections can also introduce you to potential employers and give you insider tips that can give yous an edge.

Incidentally, building relationships with business owners is another benefit of Acadium apprenticeships. Mentors have been where you are now and tin offer advice for what yous should be doing. They can also connect you with their network , which can open doors for you lot in the future.

The above steps are more than proactive than just submitting resumes to tons of job boards. Each project you consummate will introduce y'all to new people, hone your skills, teach you new ones, and move you forrard and so you don't become stuck searching online.

how to get a job with no experience

Frequently asked questions on how to get a job after college:

1. How long does it take to get a job after higher?

On average it takes iii to half-dozen months for new graduates to find their outset chore s . That can feel like a lifetime to someone who used to complet e entire semester s in the aforementioned amount of fourth dimension.

2. Why does it accept and so long to get a task after college?

You may feel similar you're in no position to be picky with what jobs you want to take, merely it's important to evaluate yourself, your skills, your desires, and what you want to spend your time doing.

A little soul searching won't hurt and at that place are activities similar the IKIGAI or The Large v Personality test to understand yourself better and what you'll detect fulfillment in.

The majority of recruiters say their biggest claiming is finding candidates with the skill and quality they need for the open positions. With this in heed, it's up to you to larn the skills and qualifications for the task yous're aiming for.

Besides Read: The Hard and Soft Digital Marketing Skills of Rockstar Marketers

Here are the most mutual reasons why fresh college grads have a difficult time finding a job:

  • Lack of grooming

Finding your first job requires checking off some not-negotiable requirements similar having your resume upwards to date with relevant experiences, a cover letter, an online portfolio, and being interview-ready. Having your ducks in a row will give you more confidence when y'all kickoff applying to your first few dream jobs.

Speaking from personal experience, being able to take a professional portfolio that showed my resume, cover letter, and recent projects made a lot of a difference when trying to stand out.

what to do if you can't find a job after college

Acadium apprenticeships help you observe mentors who are willing to requite you hands-on experience in digital marketing.

  • Applying only to job boards

By this point , y'all should have the foundation to start applying for jobs. You tin withal get defenseless in the loop of sending the same resume and slightly contradistinct embrace letter to job postings on all kinds of dissimilar platforms without hearing anything dorsum . Information technology's tough to be in that position because you don't get any feedback on what to change. This is a passive approach to applying for jobs , and there are more agile means to start getting more experience, building your network, and moving towards that dream job .

how to get a job after college with no experience

  • Using just traditional ways

Did you know many chore candidates today are building creative resumes including video resumes to stand up out in the crowd? Creating a resume that reflects your personality and job sector can brand a huge difference. There are many tools to create impressive and unique resumes such as Canva.

What'southward the quickest way to go a job after college (Even with no feel)?

Landing that first chore is a chore in itself. It takes endurance and consistent work.

Here's an 8-step task search plan from the JohnLeonard employment bureau:

  1. Prepare your goals. Have a articulate thought of the type of job you want, including the piece of work environment, civilisation, salary, location, and specific tasks. Set a goal for when you'd like to begin working as well. Having articulate goals helps you get and stay focused in your job search.
  2. Update your data. Proceed your resume, professional person portfolio, and social media profiles updated. As yous complete each project or apprenticeship, add the results to your resume.
  3. Schedule a dedicated time. Ready a regular time for your chore search, and steer clear of distractions during that time. This will help ensure that you give the job search the time and energy it requires for you lot to exist successful.
  4. Swoop into your network. Tell everyone yous know that you're available and looking for a job. Begin with your family and friends, and remember people you lot met in school, church, volunteer activities, and online communities.
  5. Create a list of references. Don't wait until a potential employer asks for your references. Go alee and arroyo people who may be willing to be a reference. You may wonder who'd give you a reference when you don't have work experience. Think back to your volunteering experiences. Former professors may exist references likewise. And, of course, if you've completed an Acadium apprenticeship, your mentor will give yous a reference that will act as a solid social proof for you lot.
  6. Connect with a recruiter. Don't be shy nearly reaching out to recruiters. It's their job to observe the right candidates for jobs, and they're only likewise willing to connect with job seekers.
  7. Stay organized. I've heard of chore hunters tracking their efforts with a spreadsheet. If that's your style, go for it!
  8. Be mentally prepared. Stay positive and motivated. Rejections are role of the process. Don't let them discourage yous.

8-step plan to get a job even with no experience

Finding a task after college requires planning and persistence. (Epitome Credit: JohnLeonard)

Iii to six months can feel like a long time if you're merely sending out resumes and hoping they catch someone's heart.

But if you spen d that time building your skills, expanding your network, and working on real – life projects , so that outset job will seem like a natural progression of what yous're already doing.

Too Read: Job Search Strategy: 5 critical habits to develop

Need help finding real-life marketing projects to showcase on your resume?

Acadium has made information technology easy to friction match yous with mentors online and discover projects that volition abound the skills you need to kickstart your career. Larn more than about Acadium hither.

Interested in launching a career in digital marketing?

Starting your career in digital marketing can exist a daunting and overwhelming journeying. Don't permit that stop you from joining an industry that offers diverseness, excitement, and endless growth opportunities.

Check out this complete guide to starting a career in digital marketing if you desire to know everything you'll need for your journey.

And if you're ready to immerse yourself in real-world marketing projects, then become an apprentice on Acadium today. The skills, results, work samples, and network you develop will make it much easier for yous to get your first—or next—job.

This post was first published in Oct 2020. We've updated it with contributions from Lexi Rodrigo and Alisha Sharma, Content Manager at Acadium.