A dreaded word every student and recent graduate finds him/herself face to face with when looking for job opportunities. It's as if it weren't difficult enough to tackle the hoard of exams, assignments and what seems like decades of sitting for lecture after lecture. What comes next? You're a fresh graduate on a wild goose chase, with little to no guidance at all. Is it time to panic? Not just yet.

The following is a short tip sheet on getting experience if you are just starting out, be it as a graduate or in a new field of work.

**See also: Graduate Jobs in Malta


1. KEEP CALM?

Sounds tacky, but most people panic when first attempting to enter the working world. The solution is to calm down and think positive.


2. SECOND THINGS, FIRST

Be prepared and think systematically. Have you got a CV? If yes, when is the last time that you updated it? Anyone reviewing your CV will make a judgement call in a span of 10 seconds, so keep it relatively short, flowing and easy to read. Next up, take care of any other profile which might be indirectly acting as part of your CV. Your online presence, such as a LinkedIn page, matters just as much in making a good first impression.


3. BE A PRO

-active person. Don't wait for jobs to crop up. Speak to professionals for advice, such as a top recruitment agency or maybe even a professor of yours who might have contacts in the field. Look online, check out career fairs – and be smart in asking where you will be gaining experience. You can make up for your lack of experience by showing interest and eagerness to learn and better yourself.


4. VOLUNTEER

Animal shelters might not be your ideal work place, but they will surely never turn down a helping hand. Volunteering in itself is a very rewarding experience, and you can also get valid work experience which indirectly highlights your character traits positively.


5. COFFEE IS JUST THE START

Look around and ask for internship opportunities. Similar to volunteer work, as an intern you might start at an unpaid or entry level wage – but what happens after will be entirely your making. An internship adds a variety of valuable work experience to your CV, as well as contacts for future opportunities. It even allows for advancement opportunities if you can make yourself get noticed.


6. EDUCATE YOURSELF

Experience is not the only favourable factor when applying for a job. Education is a rock-solid foundation, in some industries even more so than others – and if an internship or entry-level job is just not enough to start with, you might want to seek out experience in the form of a Masters or Postgraduate Degree.

You may also be interested in: