How do I get a job with no experience?

Most people do 2 weeks of work experience some time in high school, didnt you?

*errors

But seriously, we're generally pretty chilled about grammar/spelling here on TSR. Just don't start a thread on it, or you'll see all the grammar Nazis' pent up frustrations pouring out.

You need to focus on the skills the employer is looking for, not the environment, and give them evidence that you have those skills, albeit transferable from other situations.

You shouldn't be mentioning your availability in an application.

OK, your problems are highlighted in bold, basically.

1) Try not to apply for things online because you are totally anonymous. Go into shops and ask if they have vacancies. Also, retail isn't the only place to get a part time job.

2) As you point out you have no experience. The way to remedy this is to get some experience. There is no point in whining about your friends having had experience because of family. That's not going to make an employer look at you and go "oh, it's not their fault they don't have experience! Let's employ them!" Get real. Life is unfair. Go down to a local charity shop and work there for a few weeks in the holidays, or on weekends.

3) I don't know what kind of "sophisticated terminology" you're using in your applications but it could well be putting them off. To work in retail you basically need a friendly smile, a bit of confidence and your head screwed on right. You don't need a first class degree.

Finally, if you don't hear back from places, call them up and politely ask whether they received your application and have had chance to consider it yet. If they say they decided not to give you an interview, ask them why not and try to improve for next time.

...not that his friends have better opportunities than him.

I agree what everyone is saying about the charity shop experience which is something I have been strongly considering but I fear that in this day and age, once I've worked there, when I put that I've worked in a charity shop on my cv/applications, they'll think "oh, it's only a charity shop so it doesn't count" etc.

Calm down guys!

Maybe some people may not like me for saying it but you're kinda right. I think it's misleading to say voluntary work in a charity shop will significantly contribute to your efforts in getting a job...especially if that's what everyone else is doing. It gives you maybe a bit more of a chance but tbh the effect is minimal on your CV. I'm not saying that to be negative but looking at it realistically, as it is unskilled work you're looking for, there are so many more people who do have the relevant experience and even having that doesn't always get you the job let alone anything else.

Also regarding voluntary work, just because it is free work doesn't mean companies will take you on otherwise everyone would easily be able to get internships - why wouldn't they want a pair of free hands right?? Wrong. Like someone said, it is not always as easy as all of that so its better not to go in with expectations that 'you should be able to do this' and 'you should get that' or this will lead to feelings of disappointment and you will also start to look to yourself to blame for 'not being good enough' which is the road to despair lol.

You're not failing through a lack of effort and even though it feels like you've applied to a thousand jobs, be persistent and eventually that will pay off for you. The key is not to get discouraged and not to feel entitled, no matter how much experience you have because life doesn't work like that. Most of the time you can rejected from a job for no reason at all - be prepared for it, move on and keep trying because it will not necessarily get easier.

Here's the thing. If you walk around saying to people "Please can I work for you for free", it's not going to take long for someone to snap you up. Even if you have no experience. Even in an economic crisis. Sorry but you will not change my mind... there is really no excuse.

I tried to looking for a job soon as I turned 16
I handed at least 35 CVs in a month to a bunch of shops in my city, my grades are good but I have no retail experience so I got a bombardment of rejection letters saying "you need retail experience to apply"
But I found a solution
Hollister, they don't look at retail experience and they pay well plus you choose your hours, and everyone gets an interview I've been working there for a year noww I have retail experience

I'm currently in my first year at college (I'm 17) and I'm looking for a part time job. I've applied (mostly online) for at least 30 jobs and I haven't even had an interview. I have never worked anywhere before so I don't have any experience. I've applied at Next, for example, loads of times and I keep getting emails saying I failed the online questionnaire even though it seems fairly logical :s I've also had emails off places saying I was unsuccessful because I don't have the relevant experience but how am I suppose to get experience if I don't get a job in the first place! Lots of people at my college have jobs and haven't worked anywhere previously and I've applied for the same places!

Some people I know who have jobs have had experience in retail but only in like there Uncle's shop or when there Mum is the manager or something I don't think its fair because I don't there are no retail businesses in my family etc. so I'm bound to not have experience. I always try to go the extra mile in applications and use sophisticate terminology and stuff - is this putting them off? Its really frustrating because I have good qualifications and I'm polite and friendly yet I've not had an interview. Could it be that I can only really work weekends and maybe two weekday evenings?

-Thanks

The pays not that great and people have to be reasonably good looking to work there unless they wanna be overnighters