Great Substitutes for Work Experience

Graduates and career changers are struggling with this concept: how do I gain work experience when I don't have any?  Colleges tell us that degrees open doors, and you're still waiting for the doors to open.

• New grads and people who just switched careers can benefit from internships.  Internships are paid or non-paid opportunities to learn their profession in a company related to the industry.  Internships are mainly for college students, but anyone who switch careers can find internships too. 
• Volunteering in your profession is a great way to build experience on the resume.  Volunteers don't get paid but they gain hands on experience that will become valuable in the financial industry  The trick is finding one that represents your cause as there are many to choose from.  Even if you don't volunteer in your profession if the position you chose can be twisted to your advantage (use it to fit your financial job) then do it.
• Staffing agencies can assist in finding you work.  They match your experience to jobs who are looking for employers.  You never know; companies may hire you permanently.  However, many staffing agencies require prior and steady work experience because many of their jobs require it.  It's going to take trial and error with staffing agencies because of this.  
• Side jobs can count as work experience if you know how to write it in your favor.  If you do something (cut lawns, fix computers, freelance, babysit, etc) and get paid for it, it shows that you are a self-employed entrepeneur.  If you use the skills you learned instead of focusing on the job, it can work out.
• Never underestimate what you learned in school.  Working on the school's newspaper, participating in fundraisers, and placing ads around the school are great examples of work experience.  Use that as work experience.  Use science lab and research papers as possible work experience on the resume too.  It shows that you did more than read books and take tests in class.

No matter how you choose to get experience be sure to network.  Making connections are the key to finding work and future work.  Strike conversations at coffee shops, at work, at school, at previous jobs and more.  Connect using social media as well.  Try to invest in LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and/or Google Plus for work.  Contact us for more information on networking.

It's a double edged sword.  Jobs want work experience.  You need work experience to obtain employment, but no one will hire you because you have no work experience.  These suggestions are the loopholes.  Take advantage of these opportunities and use it to find a job or gain your first job.