4 Ways to Compensate for Lacking Experience for a Job

There are currently a record 7.8 million open jobs, and only 6 million workers looking to fill them. This means companies are having a harder time finding experienced employees to fill their jobs. If you find that your experience doesn’t measure up to the requirements of a certain role, you may still qualify for the job in other ways. Many employers have needed to compromise on experience and hire people with other valuable skills instead.

Tech Skills & Certifications

A great way to bolster your qualifications when you may be lacking experience is to add certifications and tech skills to your resume. Many of these skills are industry specific and could help you get ahead in your chosen field. Certifications for certain software and other technologies can even be achieved online. You can access online training websites with programs designed by real experts, such as Lynda.com and Skillshare. Be sure to use a reputable company who will give you a certificate at the end of your training. Taking the time to improve and add to your professional skill set will help you to fill in your resume with certified skills. This will make you a more attractive candidate, even if your hands-on experience is somewhat lacking for a position.

Association with Professional Groups

Getting involved with professional groups and associations can also help you look better on paper. There are associations for almost every industry imaginable, and many have very active local chapters. For example, an HR professional might become a member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) in order to expand upon their industry knowledge and broaden their professional network. Networking can be extremely helpful for finding job opportunities. You never know which acquaintances could become valuable for you in the future. Many groups have their own job boards. Getting involved with a professional association will also make you look serious about your industry regardless of whether or not your experience falls short.

Consulting an Interview Coach or Resume Writer

A lack of experience can sometimes be obvious on a resume or during an interview. However, there are professionals who can work with you to improve these skills and increase your chances of getting hired. A resume writer will know exactly how to organize your resume and will know which phrases to include or avoid in order to maximize your chances of success. An interview coach can help you practice your skills by staging mock interviews and pointing out exactly which areas can be improved upon. The more comfortable you are going into an interview, the higher your chances are of getting hired. You can also read our article on how to handle interview stress. These skills are invaluable in the long run, and they can also help to make up for a lack of experience.

Positive & Resourceful Attitude

At certain times, capability can outweigh experience. It’s important to project a positive can-do attitude, especially when you may not have the experience on your resume to fall back on. Speaking negatively during interviews about a difficult job search or a lack of opportunity can be extremely harmful to your candidacy. Always answer interview questions with a positive attitude, and try to assure your interviewer that you are willing to learn whatever aspects of the job your experience may be lacking. It’s a good idea to know exactly which skills you will need to learn for a specific job, so it’s important to do this research before an interview. In our experience, many people who have researched a company’s industry-specific software have a higher chance of getting hired. A readiness to learn is important to drive home, especially if you are short on experience specific to the job you are interviewing for.

It’s a great time to look for a job, even if you may be a little light on experience. By improving upon other marketable skills, you could still be an extremely desirable candidate for the right employer. Taking these steps can help increase your value as an employee both now and long-term.

Bradley Staffing Group is a full-service staffing firm based in Wayne, PA. We are committed to matching A-level talent with best-in-class businesses. Our knowledgeable and well-trained staff brings a combined 70+ years of staffing experience to our clients and candidates alike. http://bradleystaffinggroup.com/contact-us/