No Experience? No Problem!

Are you a new graduate with little or no work experience? Sometimes it can be tough to get a job without experience, and how do you get more experience if you can't get a job?

Well, your chances are better than you think. Even if your work experience is a little weak, you've probably got life experience that will help you. After all, it's not really your job history that employers are interested in -- it's your talents, abilities, knowledge, work ethic and attitude. It's likely that you've developed and fine-tuned these traits through your school work, volunteer activities, and interactions with people throughout your entire life.

The key is to identify your best attributes from your life experience and promote these to potential employers in the right way.

Make a detailed list of all your talents, skills, knowledge and personal qualities. Think about all you've done in your life and what you've gained from it. For example, if you earned extra money by babysitting or mowing lawns, you gained experience in promoting your services, obtaining customers, negotiating payment, and accomplishing the required tasks while demonstrating self-motivation, punctuality, responsibility and customer service! If you've participated in a sport, you've shown commitment, discipline and teamwork! And don't forget to list what you've learned in school: computer skills, software applications, math, science, communication, etc.

Once your list is complete, you'll see that you really do have experience and can offer potential employers the talents, abilities, knowledge, work ethic and attitude they need in their ideal candidate! All you have to do is convince them of that. You can do it... you've convinced people of things all your life! Your parents, siblings, friends, teachers -- think of all the times you were able to convince them to see things your way. It's one of your talents, so use it during your job search and you'll be gaining work experience in no time!

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://mywebtimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php%3Fid%3D370902cid=1274028095ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNEtWWrgxXW6LA-OjCt2W7nyXl9_BgRecession-proof your bcareer/b - bEmployment/b expert offers job b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMyWebTimes.com,nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobrNov 23, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b understandable to be concerned about bemployment/b, there are steps workers can take to help them be more indispensable and “recession-proof” their bcareer/b. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/12/01/49FE-it-job-survival-new-employment_1.htmlcid=1276679426ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNEqydt_DgoNsD1v4bzlO9cMQQCJMgIT survivor: 8 signs it#39;s time for new bemployment/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInfoWorld,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;When decisions that used to take a few days now take one or two weeks, that#39;s a strong sign things are going bad,quot; says Simon Stapleton, a tech bcareers/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.weehawkenreporter.com/pages/home_top_section/push%3Farticle--B-Scared-about-your-job-prospects-B-BR-%2520%26link%3Dpush::target_page%26id%3D732662--B-Scared-about-your-job-prospects-B-BR-%26instance%3Dup_to_the_minute%2520lead_story_left_columncid=1276957067ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNEAT6f57HIf1z7r-xcqLkvDy_mJWgScared about your job prospects?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWeehawken Reporter,nbsp;NJnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1They say you will “learn how to save your job, conduct a successful job search, or change bcareers/b! Ethan Chazin, professional bcareer/b coach and bemployment/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Research-Markets-Personnel-Economics-Practice/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BAB786A5C-4D9B-4ED1-8D38-F41F8BF753C6%257Dcid=1276881571ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNHM8ufdMjOuinU2cp-fbEqc9KKokwResearch and Markets: Personnel Economics in Practice, 2nd Edition b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bCareer/b-Based Incentives. 12. Employee Stock Options amp; Executive Pay. Applications. 13. Benefits. 14. Entrepreneurship amp; Intrapreneurship. 15. The bEmployment/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.kbtx.com/state/headlines/35410259.htmlcid=0ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNEaw12Ra-sDYWNrIrAqt9z5fIHYZATexasTexas Motor Transportation Association Launches New b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKBTX,nbsp;TXnbsp;-/font nobr35 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b will function as a clearinghouse where professionals can post a resume, search job availabilities and learn about possible bcareers/b. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.jobjournal.com/thisweek.asp%3Fartid%3D2523cid=0ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNE-abkHXZK7kCwfXUtUaqGOUizvIgNonprofit bCareer/b Paths/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCalifornia Job Journal,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Commongood bCareers/b Today’s nonprofit sector is growing faster than ever. In fact, Independent Sector.org reports that nonprofit bemployment/b has doubled to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.javajournalonline.com/articles/art_careeroverhaul_122008.phpcid=0ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNF2g2Wu8GrIGJBWT9JUpg_dh9u0iwbCareer/b Overhaul or a simple tune-up/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fJava Journal,nbsp;Missourinbsp;-/font nobrDec 1, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Galan: Do you have bemployment/b assistance services after graduation such as resume building and job placement? Peterman: Yes, we offer these services. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/Work/article/148404cid=1276317808ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNFgQmeCEEn09lLA_PhdNh2Jj36ufgSecond bCareer/b options for laid-off workers/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMetro Canada - Toronto,nbsp;Canadanbsp;-/font nobrNov 30, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1For more information on how to apply to Second bCareer/b visit an bEmployment/b Ontario assessment centre, or call 1-800-387-5656 or visit the website: b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html%3Fid%3Da0b76fac-1990-4d66-86a7-4462ac8a1c1fcid=1275549878ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNEzcvJl-ZQcG7e2Eie1SHqTvKY-BwLiberals, NDP rush to fill positions in ministers#39; offices/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCanada.com,nbsp;Canadanbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1But some well-qualified potential employees could prove to be uninterested because the Federal Accountability Act would narrow their bcareer/b prospects after b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D1624:tackling-career-issues-3%26catid%3D89:learning%26Itemid%3D276cid=0ei=Qsw1ScilJJ3CwAG75_jFBAusg=AFQjCNG6-2aPAWtD7LzcHScco1xSi3ASaATackling bcareer/b issues (3)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusinessDay,nbsp;Nigerianbsp;-/font nobr23 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Whilst a few conventional opportunities might recede for those who choose entrepreneurship, it’s likely that any experience of self-bemployment/b will be of b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
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