You get a job with no experience by giving employers a different kind of evidence. Instead of years in the role, show that you can already do the core tasks: a project, a volunteer piece, a freelance job or a scored work sample. Then use routes designed for newcomers and apply with a CV that leads with skills.
This guide is for two groups: people changing careers after a layoff, who have plenty of experience but none in the new field, and people looking for their first job. The steps are the same; the starting point differs.
What does "no experience" really mean?
Almost nobody has zero experience. Usually it means you lack paid experience in that specific job title. You may still have:
- skills from a previous career that transfer
- volunteering, caring or community work
- study, coursework or personal projects
- side work, freelancing or helping a family business
Start by listing all of it. Our page on transferable skills shows how to describe them.
How to get a job with no experience: 9 routes
| Route | Best for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A portfolio project | Digital, analytical, creative and writing roles | Something concrete to show |
| 2. A job simulation | Any role with defined tasks, tech or non-tech | A scored result and a clear view of gaps |
| 3. Volunteering | Admin, events, marketing, care, operations | References and real tasks |
| 4. Small freelance jobs | Writing, design, bookkeeping, social media | Paid work and testimonials |
| 5. Apprenticeships | Trades, IT, business, health and more | Paid work plus training |
| 6. Trainee and entry-level roles | Graduates and career changers | A structured start |
| 7. Temp and contract work | Anyone needing income soon | A foot in the door |
| 8. Moving within an employer | People already employed somewhere | A trusted internal move |
| 9. Short courses and bootcamps | Skills-led fields | Training and sometimes an interview |
1. Build a project that mirrors the job
Pick a task the role does every week and do it. A would-be data analyst analyses a public dataset and writes up three findings. A would-be marketer plans a month of posts for a local charity. A would-be technical writer documents a piece of open-source software. Keep it small, finished and relevant.
2. Practise on a job simulation
A simulation lets you try the actual work of a role and come away with something to show. You can practise on a job simulation for roles such as customer service representative, IT support specialist or executive assistant. You get a scored report showing where you lost marks, so you know what to work on, and a skills profile you can share. Read more about what a job simulation is.
3. Volunteer with purpose
Choose volunteering that produces the same tasks as your target role. Ask for a specific responsibility ("I'll run your newsletter for three months") rather than general help. That gives you a result to describe and a referee who saw you do it.
4. Take small freelance jobs
A one-off logo, a set of product descriptions, a month of bookkeeping for a sole trader. Even unpaid favours for friends' businesses count if you can describe the result honestly.
5. Apply for an apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are paid and combine work with training.
- US: Registered Apprenticeship, overseen by the Department of Labor, pairs paid on-the-job work with classroom training and a nationally recognised credential. Search openings with the Apprenticeship Job Finder.
- England: you can apply if you're 16 or over and not in full or part-time education. You work, get paid and train for a qualification. Search on gov.uk's Find an apprenticeship service.
- Elsewhere: check your national apprenticeship or skills agency.
6. Target trainee and genuinely entry-level roles
Search for "trainee", "junior", "associate", "assistant" and "graduate" alongside your target role. Read the requirements: many adverts list a wish list, and if you meet the core tasks, apply.
7. Use temp and contract work as a way in
Temp and contract roles can be quicker to land, and doing one well can lead to more work or a permanent offer. See how to get a job fast for how to work with agencies.
8. Move sideways inside an organisation
If you're employed anywhere, ask about internal moves. Employers already trust you, and you can learn the new role's tasks by helping out first.
9. Take a short, targeted course
Choose courses that end with something you can show, not just a certificate. In England, Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 and over that offer participants a job interview on completion. In the US, around 2,300 American Job Centers offer job-search and re-employment services; find one through CareerOneStop. Our guide to skills to learn helps you pick what's worth your time.
No experience yet? Show you can do the work
Practise a simulation of the real tasks in the role you want, find your gaps and build a skills profile to share with employers. Free to start, no card.
How do I write a CV or résumé with no experience?
Use a skills-first layout:
- Profile (2 to 3 lines): the role you want and your strongest evidence.
- Relevant skills and projects: each with a result. "Built a budget tracker in Excel for a community group, now used monthly by five volunteers."
- Experience: all work, including unrelated jobs, with the transferable parts highlighted.
- Education and training: recent courses first.
Sample profile for a career changer (example only):
Former retail supervisor moving into IT support. Resolved customer and till-system issues daily for six years, completed an IT support simulation and a foundation course, and set up the shop's new stock-checking tablets.
Sample profile for a first job (example only):
Recent college leaver looking for an administrative assistant role. Organised a 120-person charity event as a volunteer, managing the booking spreadsheet and supplier emails, and comfortable with standard office software.
How do I get past "experience required" in job adverts?
- Apply if you meet most core tasks. Treat "years of experience" as a guide, not a rule.
- Address it directly in your cover letter with evidence: "While I haven't held the title, I've done the core tasks in [project], and here's the result."
- Contact the hiring manager with a short note and a link to your work.
Sample outreach message (example only):
Hi Sam, I saw the junior operations coordinator role. I'm moving from hospitality, where I scheduled a team of 25 and handled supplier issues. I put together a short process map of how I'd handle your order backlog (link). Would you be open to a 15-minute chat?
How do I answer interview questions with no experience?
Use examples from projects, volunteering, study or other jobs, in the STAR format (situation, task, action, result). When asked about experience you lack, say so plainly and describe how you'd approach it and how you've learned similar things before. Our guide to mock interviews helps you practise.
If you're coming back after a layoff, be ready for questions about why you left and any time out. See how to explain being laid off in an interview and employment gap.
Mistakes that keep people stuck
- Applying to hundreds of jobs with the same CV.
- Collecting certificates without building anything.
- Leaving out unpaid or unrelated experience.
- Waiting until you feel "ready".
- Only applying through job boards and never contacting people.
FAQs
What jobs can I get with no experience?
Roles that hire on demonstrated ability or train on the job: many customer service, retail, hospitality, warehouse, admin, sales development and apprenticeship roles. Requirements vary by employer and country.
How do I get experience if every job needs experience?
Create it yourself through projects, volunteering, freelance work and simulations, or join a route designed to give it, such as an apprenticeship or trainee scheme.
Can I change careers with no experience in the new field?
Yes. Your past experience still counts when you translate it. Our career change guide walks through the steps, and what career is right for me helps if you're unsure where to aim.
I've just been laid off. Where should I start?
Sort income, benefits and health cover first with our what to do when you get laid off checklist, then come back to building proof.