Inexperienced and jobless? Here's what to do...

It's the catch-22 that is blamed as the hindrance of young people when applying for jobs - you've not worked. so have no experience, yet cannot get any experience because you can't get a job. Your
options are limited, and the application process is limited as you filter through what little vacancies exist which don't call for previous experience. You're probably ready to give up, but read our guide first...


Volunteer

Voluntary work can be quite easy to come across as you're working for free. Ideally you'll volunteer at a time when you can afford to do so, such as whilst you're a student or on Job Seekers Allowance. Do you have family/friends who own businesses where you could help out for a while? If you're looking to work in retail, try applying to charity stores. If it's office work, offer to help out with administration duties at local businesses. These jobs may put you at the bottom of the food chain, but at least you're on there! Find a Voluntary position here.

Apprenticeships

This is a step-up from voluntary work, as you'll get paid for being an apprentice. The National Minimum Wage is currently set at £2.65 an hour, and as well as gaining experience in the field, you'll also be working towards a nationally recognised qualification. Find out more about Apprenticing here.

Transferable Skills

Maybe you have more to offer than you realise. Eduction can offer a great number of transferable skills that will help you with a job application. A few examples are teamwork (many projects require working in a group, which means communicating, comprimising, and distributing work fairly between members - often working independently of a teacher/authoritative figure), adaptability (working in new modules, new environments, with new people etc), deadlines ( most academic work has a deadline to meet, and penalities if not complied with. Most students get into the habit of organising work to hit these dates), research and planning (again, the requires independent research and planning to make it work) and timekeeping (teachers remember those students who were consistently late or absent, and so if you're the punctual type, using a teacher as a reference can greatly help back up this claim if mentioned on your CV).

Ask for a trial.

Perhaps you're after a job in particular, but it is something you're totally unfamiliar with - a career change for example. If you believe you have the skills, but no experience or qualifications to show - why not offer to work for free for a month or so to give the employer/business a chance to see what you can do for them? This won't always work when applying for a vacancy, as most employers will want to fill the position quickly - but you can always try! Even if the only outcome is work experience, it is still time very well spent. Also, as this is unpaid, it will not affect things like JSA or other benefits.

Join an agency.

There are many vacancies that come via agencies, many of which can be very short term and short notice, but means that lack of experience isn't always a game killer for the inexperienced job seeker! Being open to anything will definitely help, and your performance on the job could even lead to a permanent placement if you impress the employer - don't pass off temporary work as a waste of time! Find your local Essential branch here.