How to Get Experience for Companies Looking for Candidates with Employment History
You need experience to get a job, and you need a job to get experience. Where do you start?
Whether you’re entering a new field or beginning a career, sometimes the best option is to start with an internship. These entry-level opportunities are often the best way to get your foot in the door.
With an internship, you can make connections, build relationships and enhance your skills, making it a great way to enter into your desired industry. Our guide will help you find an internship and take the next step into a job.
Internships Pave the Way for Future Employment
Even though an internship might feel like a step down from a job, they are valuable in a variety of ways.
For one, you get hands-on experience in a given industry, potentially without the responsibilities of a full-role position. Experience like this is essential to advancing into other jobs and gives you an edge over other applicants.
When you get your internship, treat it like it’s your dream job. Your work ethic and passion will reflect positively on you, which builds rapport with other employees at the company.
Internships are also the perfect role where you can start your professional network. Build relationships with bosses, co-interns and other industry leaders. These individuals can provide recommendations for your next job or might be people to turn to when you’re hired for a full-time position.
How to Find Internships
Internships are highly-competitive jobs. To find them, you have to look in a variety of places.
Just like full-time jobs, you can find internships on job and networking websites. A good first step is to build a profile on LinkedIn. This site allows you to construct a profile around the job and industry you want.
Some of the best job search sites include:
Other ways to find internships:
- Local career centers
- Your college
- Friends and Family
One tried-and-true method is cold calling companies. Sometimes internships are not posted online, but this means you have to do more legwork to find them. Come up with a list of businesses you would like to work for and call them on the phone.
If you get a hold of the company, ask for the internship coordinator or someone in a similar role. With this method, there’s really only two outcomes. You will either get an internship or you won’t. Getting a “no” might seem daunting, but it can be relieving. After trying once,you can quickly move to the next company on your list.
What to Do When you Find an Internship
Now that you found the internship you want, you need to get the proper materials together. You need a resume and a cover letter.
A resume is important even if you don’t have extensive work experience or even relevant experience. You do need a document that lists skills and experience if you do have it.
Some excellent resources for resume and cover letter creation include:
To give your application an edge, tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific requirements of the internship. Use the internship description as a guide to put the most relevant skills and experience up top. This is also essential when you apply for full-time jobs.
Many applicants miss out on opportunities by being slow. When you find an internship, apply quickly with the required materials. Don’t wait for any reason. If the intern coordinator asks for work materials, respond promptly. This can mean the difference between getting an interview or not.
From Your Internship to Your First Job
You finally have the internship you’ve worked for, but now what?
When starting your career, you might need multiple internships to bridge the gap between entry-level experience and the full-time job you desire. Work with your bosses to see what kind of skill sets you need to advance. Ask them what the timeframe is from an internship to a full-time position.
Typically, once you have the internship, you have access to valuable experience that can guide you to your next job. Seek out individuals who can help you along the way and take the time to build professional relationships. Above all, work hard and be persistent.
