How to Find a Job With No Experience or Qualifications

Signage for a job fair is seen on 5th Avenue after the release of the jobs report in Manhattan, New York, on Sept. 3, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Searching for a job can be quite a daunting process for many. Most companies looking for desirable candidates list out a specific set of educational qualifications and work experience in specific areas.

Quite often, you may find yourself in scenarios where you believe you have the skillset for the job and yet you may not have the specified qualifications or experience listed by the company.

This article explores the possibilities of acquiring a job even if you do not have the specified educational degree or experience.

How to Get a Job With No Experience or Degree

According to a recent study from Harvard Business Review and Emsi Burning Glass, an increasing number of companies have been accepting candidates with no bachelor’s degree for a number of middle-skill and even higher-skill occupations. These companies are placing emphasis on skills-based recruitment instead of a college degree.

According to the study, just 26 percent of the job postings from Accenture required a college degree while IBM had just 29 percent postings with a degree requirement.

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In fact, an executive order from the White House in January 2021 stated that prioritizing college degrees during recruitment “excludes capable candidates and undermines labor market efficiencies.”

The level to which technology has influenced nearly every aspect of our lives, along with the extreme labor shortage that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, has forced companies to adopt a different perspective when it comes to recruiting, and the kind of people they need to help achieve their goals going into the future.

So in these circumstances, even if an opportunity posted by a company mentions they require a degree, there is a high likelihood that you could get the job provided that you furnish a reasonable justification as to why you would be the best candidate. By detailing your skill sets and a brief account of scenarios where these skill sets have been successfully deployed in your cover letter or in an interview, you could actually compensate for the absence of a degree or professional experience.

Be sure to read the job description carefully as a lot of companies may list a degree as “preferred” rather than “required.”

It may not be easy to acquire the job when you are competing with candidates with a degree or experience, or even both, but with some improvised efforts and the right attitude, you definitely have a chance. In an interview with a potential employer, make sure to capitalize on any opportunity to demonstrate your skill sets and convince them why you would be the perfect fit for their organization.

How to Get a Part-Time Job With No Experience

When it comes to part-time jobs, there seems to be a sea of opportunities out there, especially with the internet opening up revenue streams that didn’t exist a few years back. That being said, not everything advertised online as an “easy way to make money” is actually the real deal.

You will benefit from doing research about available part-time job listings. It’s important to verify legitimacy, and make sure that the role fits your schedule and long-term plans. There are reputable platforms like Fiverr and Upwork that provide a wide range of part-time jobs that could fit your skill set and schedule.

When seeking out a part-time job, it would be a good idea to pick something that you genuinely have an interest in or that would help you develop knowledge and experience. It should preferably be a task you would like to pursue on a long term basis. When you start out working part-time with no experience, the pay may not justify the time you invest in it. You will need to see this as an opportunity to understand your strengths and weaknesses, train yourself on time management, and learn how to improve yourself.

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Invest time into improving and customizing your CV for the different jobs. Spend a specific amount of time every day seeking out different platforms and listings for part-time jobs that fit your skill set and can be accommodated within your existing schedule. Stay consistent with the process. You can also share your CV within your personal network—friends, relatives, professors, and small business owners that you meet on a regular basis.

Start with picking out small assignments. It’s perfectly natural to fail a number of times, but through this trial and error, you will eventually find your niche and have an understanding of what technical areas you need to improve in or whether you need to try something new. It takes time to begin to generate a steady income from your part-time job.

How to Find a Job With No Experience or Qualifications (shutterstock)

How to Get a Part-Time Job as a Student

As a student, you have your priorities pretty much sorted out. It’s not easy to make enough time for a part-time job when you have virtually all of your time taken up by classes. That being said, getting a part-time job when you are a student is a rich experience for a number of reasons.

• You get a taste of professional life, learn to interact with people and communicate in a serious work environment
• It’s a great way to network and build your contact list
• You can earn some extra cash

The challenge would be to find a part-time job that fits into your study schedule. An easy solution for this would be to check your campus database. Most university campuses provide part-time job opportunities for students. These could include positions in the library, canteen, as a social media specialist or writer for the college magazine, and in the campus gym or laboratory. There are also opportunities as a teacher’s aide or campus ambassador.

The staff at the campus are most likely to be more than happy to help you find a solution that fits your schedule. Apart from that, it’s a great way to meet new people.

Another option for students would be to seek out an internship with a company that correlates with your degree program. Companies are often on the lookout for interns who are young, enthusiastic, and eager to learn. It’s important that when you get a meeting with a potential employer, you show them that you can be resourceful and are grateful for the opportunity to gain new knowledge.

A well-prepared CV can make the right first impression. Instead of empty generic statements, provide a brief description of your skill sets and a personalized account of how you have applied these skills in a scenario such as during a competition or at a sports event. This will help you stand out from the crowd.

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Which Job Is Best for Students?

In the United States, the federal minimum wage is currently set at $7.25 per hour but this varies state to state. There are states where the minimum wage is set at $15, so earning potential for students can depend partly on where you choose to study. But keep in mind that living costs are likely to vary with minimum wage.

For international students on an F1 visa, another important factor is your work conditions as you can only take on-campus jobs and work for a maximum of 20 hours a week during the course of your studies. This limit could go up to 40 hours during holidays. Here are some on-campus jobs that students can opt for:

Barista worker

Most universities have a café on campus. As a part-time employee, your responsibilities would include preparing and serving hot and cold beverages, and working as a cashier. Perks include huge discounts on coffee and a great opportunity to network and make new friends. The average wage would be around $12 per hour.

Library assistant

If you prefer to work in a quieter environment and like being around books, you could work as a library assistant. Responsibilities would include helping people find study materials or books and shelving books. You would also be expected to organize events at the library. The average wage comes to around $13 per hour.

Campus ambassador

If you are great with people and like helping others, being a campus ambassador would be a great part-time job opportunity. As an ambassador, you are expected to promote the university and advise potential students on what courses they can apply for. You would also give guided tours for new students around the campus. The average wage comes to around $11 per hour.

Department assistant

As far as on-campus jobs go, this is one of the more lucrative opportunities for a student. The experience gained in this job can also add some major points to your CV and build up transferable skills. A department assistant is required to provide support on an administrative and secretarial level to a department. You will be working closely with departmental faculty and assisting them in tasks on various projects. The average wage for this job comes to around $17 per hour.