Getting around the experience quota in job requirements?

royal1990

How can you realistically get around the practical job experience quota in IT related jobs?

More often than not (generally speaking) I see a whole manner of jobs now requiring "2+ years experience in an industry/agency or corp environment" for just 'Junior/Entry' level roles.

Now, I have been applying for entry-grad level roles within creative design and also junior dev roles (as I want to transition into app/web development). However, I don't have the solid commercial experience they want (I didn't do a placement year at uni).

I have a BA in a design related subject, a portfolio, and some freelance experience on an ad hoc basis (volunteering) on project by project basis. I have somewhat brief experience with HTML & CSS, and so I just tend to play that up in my applications, with regards applying to dev roles.
Albeit I'm a beginner by all accounts, I just studied one module in uni, but also picked a html book up as a youngster and learned bits.

I also got onto a MA in app related development to start end of the month (however, there are no industry placements) as it is by distance learning.

How can I go about working around this problem? Is volunteering the only solution, short of employers taking me on for a month or two?

Also, I work full time in an unrelated field, so financially unable to quit my current job to go work for X company for 6 month unpaid internship.

How can I get around this?

[I'm currently still learning Java, brushing up on HTML-CSS and attempting to start Javascript.]

Reply 1

virgil1

I work in support (large Unix systems) rather than design or development so can't comment for those areas but certainly in my area I can't see you getting much of a look in, probably Dev as well by the Dev guys I work with.

Have you considered an apprenticeship? Generally we only look for decent GCSEs and a good attitude in the company I work for.