Popular How To Get An Interview With Limited Work Experience Ariella CoombsJenna ArcandJuly 16, 2024 Bigstock

Picture this: You come across a job posting and think, "Wow, that's my dream job!" You instantly get excited about this opportunity and start crafting your resume and cover letter. However, when you work on your resume, you realize that you have very little relevant work experience to show off.

This could be because you're a recent college graduate, or maybe you had to take time away from work to deal with some personal things.

If you're in this situation, don't worry—your job search is far from over. You can use the following tips to land a job interview, even if you don't have a lot of work experience.

Narrow Down Where You Want To Work

Pick 10 companies in your area (or ones that aren't located near you that allow remote work) that intrigue you. This is called your interview bucket list, and it's something every job seeker should have.

Narrowing down which companies you'd love to work for helps you focus your efforts and tailor your message in your disruptive cover letters which will help you stand out to potential employers.

Not sure where to look for these companies? You can check out Glassdoor to find reviews from current and past employees and get a sense of what companies are located in your area.

Find Out Why You Want To Work For Those Companies

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Once you've narrowed down which companies you'd like to work for, you need to figure out why you want to work for them.

Think about what connection you have to these companies. What do you respect or admire about them? Maybe you're passionate about the products or services they provide. Maybe you feel connected to their mission. Whatever your reasons, you should genuinely want to work for these companies and help them reach their goals.

Knowing why you want to work for these companies will help you in future conversations with their teams. It will also help you stand out as a great candidate during the hiring process.

Set Up Informational Interviews With People At These Companies

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Networking is the best way to land opportunities at your target companies.

Before you apply for any positions in your job search, connect with at least one current employee at each company on your interview bucket list. After they accept your LinkedIn connection request, start a conversation with them, and then continue to add value to everyone in your professional network consistently through sharing articles, offering to make introductions, etc.

Building a network within your top companies gives you the chance to share your story, learn more about the companies, and gain trust with current employees. And who knows? One of your connections might even refer you to an open position down the line!

Setting up an informational interview could really help you get your foot in the door, despite your lack of experience. You'd be able to show your passion for the company, which could make hiring managers more likely to take a chance on you.

Make Sure Your Resume Highlights Your Skills

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There are other things you need to highlight on your resume besides your work history. For example, you can (and should!) emphasize your key skill sets.

Even if you have little to no relevant work experience, there's a good chance you've developed valuable, relevant, and in-demand skills through the jobs, internships, and volunteer experience you've had throughout your life.

If you emphasize those skills and make them stand out on your resume, your job application will be more likely to get past the ATS and into the hands of the recruiter or hiring manager.

It's not impossible to land a job with limited work experience. You just need to have the right job search strategy. By building a network within your target organizations and including key things on your resume, you'll navigate the job search more effectively and meet key players who can help you get your foot in the door.

Need more help with your job search?

Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

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job interview Partner Boost 11 Ways To Enjoy Summer When You’re Working A Full-Time Job Ariella CoombsJenna ArcandJune 13, 2024 Bigstock

There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.

When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!

Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.

1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs

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Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.

2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car​

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Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.

3. Plan An Office Outing

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Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!

4. Organize Group Walks

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Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.

5. Eat Lunch At The Park

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When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.

6. Organize Office Sports

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Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.

7. Join A Professional Group

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During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.

8. Have An Office BBQ

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Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.

9. Wake Up Early

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Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!

10. Strategically Use Your Time Off

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Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.

11. Bike To Work

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If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!

There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!

Need more help with your career?

Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

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