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It seems that every job opening you come across requires that you have experience. Experience? What experience? You spent the last seventeen or so years of your life in school. How were you supposed to get work experience? It's truly frustrating.
Before you lose your mind or your motivation, let's take a step back and look at your situation. Yes, it's true that many employers won't hire you unless you have experience. It's also true that you may not have any full-time work experience in your field. Remember, though, it only takes one employer to give you your first full-time job and the opportunity to get that much-needed experience. You only have to impress one employer. Don't forget that there are some employers out there who don't care if you have experience. As long as you're willing to learn, they will hire you. Also keep in mind that not having worked full-time in your field doesn't mean you don't have any experience.
First of all, did you do any internships? If you did, you have hands-on experience in your field. That puts you at an advantage over your competitors who may have not done internships. Internships, in addition to providing work experience, also give you the opportunity to make connections in your field. You should contact your internship mentors or supervisors to find out if they can offer you any help with your job search.
Have you had any part-time jobs? If you worked part-time, even in jobs unrelated to the field you are now trying to enter, you do have some experience. Even if you consider the work you did uninspiring or simple, it is likely you had some responsibilities. After all, your employers weren't paying you to sit around and look pretty. They were actually paying you because they needed you to do something. Think about what you did at work. Make a list of all your duties at each job you had. Did you help customers, answer phones, supervise children, or even clear dishes from tables? All of this counts as work experience.
Your participation in extracurricular activities while you were in school can help you score points with potential employers, too. The experience you gained from being involved in campus clubs and organizations can set you apart from your competitors. Everyone who has a college degree attended classes. Not everyone went beyond that and really got involved in campus life. Potential employers look favorably upon new graduates who took on an active role in college activities by, for example, writing for a school newspaper, coordinating fundraisers, or organizing blood drives. If you held leadership positions, this puts you at an even greater advantage. Add this information to your list.
