25/07/2018

If you have recently left school or university, or are thinking about changing careers then you might be lacking the relevant experience for the job that you really want. But this shouldn’t avert you from applying for the role, especially if you feel like you could bring something special to the job.

There are a number of things that you can actively do to make sure you get valuable experience, such as partaking in an internship or work experience, reaching out to contacts that you already have, or simply volunteering. However, if you don’t have the time or resources to do this, then you can always rely on the transferable skills that you already possess.

Outline your skill set

Write a list of all your skills; everything that you have learnt over the years, whether it is from school, sports, clubs you attend, qualifications you have achieved or just things that you have learnt in your day to day life. For example, you might have learnt team work from being involved in your local sports team, or you might have taught yourself how to code or play guitar.

Understand what qualities the ideal candidate needs

Next you need to write down all of the qualities the role is looking for in their ideal candidate. You can do this by reading through the job description and also by researching the company, it is essential that you know what their aims/visions are.

Emphasise your skills

When you are writing your application or CV ensure you emphasise your skills. Remember you are pitching yourself to people; you need to sell yourself and all of your skills – well, the ones that are relevant to the role. Highlight your ability to communicate, or work as a team; any soft skill or transferable skill should be emphasised in your application. Make the person reading your application think “what this person lacks in experience, they certainly make up for in soft and transferable skills.”

Support what you say

Remember to give examples of everything you write. For example, if you write that you are have excellent communication skills; explain a time where you used these skills for instance, during school you might have delivered a presentation to the class, draw examples of how you communicated well with your peers.

Adaptability

Don’t forget to include that you are willing to learn new skills. This is a very admirable trait for any employee, especially if you currently don’t have the appropriate experience or skills necessary to fulfil the role. Being adaptable with a strong desire to learn new things will be exactly what the employer will be looking for.


Are you seeking employment? Twin offer a variety of employment programmes, as well as help and support in finding a job that is right for you, check out our Twin Employment and Training website and contact our team today.