No experience, no problem!

Getting your first job or moving into a new industry can be difficult. Many jobseekers face the same puzzle: employers want candidates with experience, but how can you gain that experience without being given the opportunity? 

We spoke with Elizha Corpus, an HR Consultant specializing in Learning & Development, to discuss how you can build a compelling resumé and pitch yourself effectively, even if you are a fresh graduate or a career shifter with no direct experience in the field. 

Demonstrating Character: Sipag and Tiyaga 

In a competitive market, employers often look for attitude—specifically sipag (diligence) and tiyaga (perseverance). Even without a formal office job, you can prove these traits by highlighting your consistency and reliability in other areas of life. 

Show, Don’t Just Tell. Instead of simply stating you are "hardworking," provide specific instances from college organizations, barangay volunteering, or church outreach. Corpus suggests using concrete examples: 

• Instead of: "Active member of a student organization." 
• Use: “Planned and executed a week-long series of events attended by over 100 students for our college anniversary week.” 
• Instead of: "Helped with parish donations." 
• Use: “Coordinated 30 volunteers to collect and pack donations, resulting in 150 bags ready for deployment.” 

Quantifying Your Effort 

“You can quantify your attitude by showing results. For example, if you led a student group, mention how you 'developed an incentive program that increased member attendance from 60% to 90%.’” says Corpus. This proves you have the initiative to solve problems and deliver outcomes. 

Highlighting your transferable skills 

When you lack direct experience, your "transferable skills"—abilities gained in one context that are useful in another—become your greatest assets. Corpus recommends focusing on these three core areas: 

• Problem-Solving: Whether you manage a small family business or handle a tight budget for a school event, you’ve used these skills. Highlight scenarios where you got through hurdles to achieve a goal. 
• Collaboration: Any time you work with a team to accomplish a task, proves your ability to navigate diverse perspectives and influence others toward a common objective. 
• Communication: This isn't just about public speaking; it’s about listening and adapting. Mentioning how you calmed an irate customer at a part-time job or explained complex instructions to a team demonstrates that you can articulate ideas clearly. 

The Career Switch: Re-framing Your Summary 

If you are moving from one industry to another, for example, from Hospitality to Tech, your Summary Statement (or Objective) is the most critical part of your resumé. It must immediately link your past to the company’s future. 

Ms. Corpus suggests a concise statement that highlights your mindset, “Customer-oriented professional with 3 years in Hospitality, now transitioning to Tech. Experienced in client communication and process improvement—skills that provide a strong foundation for technical support or customer success roles.” 

This tells the recruiter that you aren't "starting from zero"; you are bringing a fresh perspective and a proven set of tools to a new environment. 

Networking: The Professional Approach 

The most effective way to get noticed is to reach out directly, but how you do it matters. Email is generally the most professional and least intrusive method. Avoid cold-calling recruiters, as unrecognized numbers are often ignored. 

The Elevator Pitch: Keep your initial message short and respectful. Introduce yourself, state the role you applied for, and highlight one clear value you bring—such as curiosity or initiative. 

Example Message: 

“Good day! I recently applied for the [Position Title] role and wanted to express my interest in joining your team. My background in [Field] and experience in [specific skill] align well with your requirements. I’d be happy to provide additional information and hope to discuss how I can contribute to your team’s goals.” 

Professional, warm, and respectful language goes a long way. By focusing on your achievements in other areas and presenting a clear value proposition, you can convince any hiring manager that your "lack of experience" is actually an opportunity for them to bring in a dedicated, high-potential professional. 

No experience? No worries! A Jobstreet profile lets opportunity come to you. Complete your profile today.