How To Gain Experience When You Have None

“I'd really like to work [company/industry/..] but I don't really have enough experience, how do I get some? Where do I start?”

Can you relate to this question?

Truth is: we've all been there!

We've all started something from zero and then eventually started something that brought us to somehting else and finally that "oh hey look, I've got experience now!" realisation arrived.

Where to get that initial, even little, experience to use as kickstarter? Here are a couple of suggestions, tried in first person, 100% Lisa proof!

#1 DIG DEEP IN THE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS WORLD

The first thing I reply with when someone tells me "I have no experience" or "I do not have enough skills", is " you sure mate? are you REALLY sure?" My question is an incentive to open your eyes.

We're so often tricked to think that to access a certain industry we need to have had experience in that industry in order to gain those skills but that's not true at all.

Let me introduce you to the world of transferable skills: thouse skills you can acquire from any activity, hobby, passion of yours that are totally useful to have as well when applying to other skills.

Example
I studed in a music academy and took part to many singing competition back in high school. Singing and music in general is a big passion of mine and through it I managed to develop skills as well as improve aspects of my character such as:

• Self-confidence: when I started singing in public I couldn't even walk the first step to the stage that I was about to throw up. Couple of years, many sick feelings and a boost in motivation later, I succeeded in many of the competitions I took part.

  How I transfer this skill: self-confidence is an asset that you always kinda need at work, especially when you want to promote an idea or when you get wrong something but have the strength to get back on track anyways.
  

• Talking/Performing in front of a crowd: singing contests, auditions and recitals all helped me throughout the years to not being afraid to handle talking in front of people/a crowd I don't know.

  How I transfer this skill: job-wise making presentations and being able to talk thorugh them is a very important skill to have and quite tricky to get over. My previous experiences enabled me to handle presentations with little problems.
  

#2 WORK ON A PERSONAL PROJECT

If experience doesn't come to you, make it yourself! What's something you're pasionate about that interests you enought to start working (seriously) at it? (yeah, like if it was a job!)

What's somethig you could start a project, make research, maybe starting a website, blog or social channel on?

"Everyone does that" is not an excuse.

If you really believe that what you do could have benefits for the industry you want to apply to even if there are others doing it already, they are not you. You'll have your unique way to approach it and you'll arrive to YOUR conclusions.

Example
I've talked about how my blog has had a crucial element to get my first full-time job in this video - and yes, loads of people nowadays have a blog, and probably there are loads that talk about the same topics as I do, but look how much this blog has borught to me!

Besides the "being determinated to work with consistency on a personal project" aspect, I managed to gain transferable skills (told ya they're precious!), which I listed on the video, that were valued and acted as decisive aspect that made my future boss select me aong other candidates.

#3 TAKE ANY OPPORTUNITY AS AN EXPERIENCE

As mentioned earlier, many times is about looking at situaitons with different eyes. Even that thing you've always thought was boring doing or helping that person you can't really go along with, might hide great experiences in which there's space for your to learn something new.

Being prompt to help someone you know with their project for example, or taking part to a group about something that might help you know more...

At the same time, never uderestimate the power of "experiences" you can create yourself such as reading, watching Youtube videos, atending an event, anything can be a precious opportunity to get closer to your final goal of entering that industry/ being hired by that company!

How did you get started in the industry you're currently working? Would you have any other point to add to this list? I'd love to hear from you!