Landing your first job with no experience

Every single person with years of experience started with none. That's not much comfort when you're staring at a job advert asking for experience you don't have yet, but it is genuinely true, and employers hiring for entry-level roles know it too. The trick isn't pretending you have experience you don't. It's showing what you do have in the right way.

Look for entry-level roles specifically

Entry-level positions exist precisely because employers expect to train people into them. They typically don't require years of prior work history, and often come with proper on-the-job learning. Searching specifically for "entry-level" or "junior" versions of roles you're interested in will surface far more realistic options than general listings for the same job title.

You have more relevant experience than it feels like

Part-time work, volunteering, school or college projects, coursework, even caring responsibilities. All of it builds genuinely transferable skills: communication, reliability, problem-solving, working under pressure, working with other people. Employers hiring for entry-level roles are often looking for evidence of these qualities just as much as a specific job title on your CV, sometimes more.

Think concretely about what you actually did in these situations, not just that you did them. "Organised the rota for six volunteers at a weekend event" says more than "volunteered at an event."

Tailor your CV and cover letter, even with limited experience

Read the job description carefully and reflect the specific skills and language it uses, wherever they genuinely apply to you. A CV that clearly speaks to a particular role, even a short one, generally does better than a longer CV that reads as generic.

Networking matters more than it feels like it should

Many opportunities come through people rather than job boards alone. A recommendation or introduction can carry real weight. This doesn't have to mean formal networking events. It can be as simple as telling people you know that you're job hunting and what kind of role you're after, asking someone already working in a field you're interested in about their own path into it, or connecting with people on LinkedIn and genuinely engaging rather than only reaching out when you need something.

Prepare properly for interviews, even for entry-level roles

Practise saying your answers out loud, not just thinking them through in your head. It's a different skill, and it shows. Be ready to talk about specific examples from whatever experience you do have, even if it's not paid work. Enthusiasm and a genuine willingness to learn go a long way at this stage, since employers hiring junior roles are often weighing potential as much as existing skill.

If you're not getting interviews, ask for feedback

If you've applied for a number of roles and aren't hearing back, it's reasonable to politely ask an employer for feedback on your application once a decision's been made. Not everyone will respond, but when they do, it's genuinely useful for adjusting your approach next time.

Getting your first job can take longer than it feels like it should, and that's not a reflection of your ability. It's simply a harder starting position than applying with years of experience behind you. Focus on what you can genuinely show, apply consistently, and be patient with the process.