Is finding a remote job possible with no experience?

Finding a remote job can be difficult at the best of times, never mind for job seekers with no experience. Included in this mini-guide are a few strategies you can implement and open new doors.

Before we get into the details, the reason this mini-guide was created is due to a thought-provoking question from one of our readers:

Is finding a remote job possible with no experience? I left university with a degree, but I cannot find any jobs that do not require any working experience. It’s starting to feel like an entry-level job working in an office is my only option.

You are employable

Companies want to find job seekers with experience as they do not want to spend months training a new employee.

Of course, everyone will undergo training initially, but if you have the skills a company needs, you are employable without work experience.

If you do not have any skills that can be used online, it’s time to look at what type of work you want to do for a living and learn the skills you need to be employable. We love Skillshare for this reason.

Pay an annual fee and get access to hundreds of courses.

In this guide, we will assume you have skills but lack experience. Here are a few strategies that you can implement when applying for remote jobs

Resume and cover letter

When you lack experience but have skills, the resume and cover letter are vital to get it right. Be transparent and tell the company you do not have the experience, but showcase the skills needed for the role.

Be creative. How you do this will depend on the role you are applying for. If you’re a front-end engineer, write code on Github that will improve functionality in the product you will potentially be working on.

If you are a copywriter, suggest improvements to their website copy to increase clicks and conversions to purchasing the product. Stand out amongst the candidates with experience by showcasing your skill set.

Post content on LinkedIn

Create engaging content on LinkedIn that highlights your skills.

This could be a video, images, or written content. Use 2-3 hashtags to get discovered. Post regularly and consistently so the algorithm shares your posts with more people.

Want to work as a marketer but have no experience? Want to be a copywriter? Share common mistakes that people make with sales copy on a website. Build an engaged audience who likes and shares your content on LinkedIn. The content will help you showcase your skills.

You can link to your LinkedIn profile on the cover letter and resume.

These are just a few suggestions to build experience.

Work experience

Assuming you know what role and industry you want to work in, this is an excellent strategy to get actual experience.

Think of a company based within walking distance of where you live. Reach out and ask if you can work there for free (or minimum wage) for 4-8 weeks. Tell them your skills and that you want to gain experience.

Also, think about charities you could volunteer for.

These organizations need people like you more than any other for-profit company. Give up some time to gain experience working within the type of role you are interested in.

If you can financially support yourself for 4-8 weeks, this experience will increase the chances of you landing a remote job.

Freelance

The first steps into employment could be due to spending 3-6 months as a freelancer. Gain experience by selling your skills to potential clients. Initially, they might have you work a few hours a week, but this could lead to paid employment.

Having experience freelancing for companies is better than having no experience at all. Package up your skills into service, and reach out to potential clients. Sell the service and showcase your skills by creating content on a website or LinkedIn.

Entry-level opportunities

Many of the remote job boards do have entry-level opportunities. Most of them will be administrative and less technical remote jobs, but these opportunities can offer more experience. Sites like Remote.co have a section dedicated to these roles.

Make a good impression with the company and find yourself in a more suited role within no time. Everyone has to start from somewhere and work up within a company. The main thing to remember is you do not need to work in an entry-level job in an office.

Hopefully, this mini-guide has answered the question; Is finding a remote job possible without experience? You can find practical advice on securing remote jobs in our free, weekly email.