Don’t have enough work experience to discuss during an interview?

Are you finding it hard to come up with relevant examples when asked questions during an interview because you don’t have enough work experience?  As a recent graduate or someone newly entering the work force, this can sometimes be one of the most challenging and intimidating parts of an interview.  What if they ask, “tell me about a time when …” and you just simply don’t have enough experience or background to adequately answer the question?

Don’t forget that there are other aspects of your life from which you can draw relevant experience.  Volunteering in your community or in your field, internships that you may have had, and any school activities, are all experiences that you can utilize when providing relevant answers to questions during an interview.

If you’ve never volunteered before, now is a good time to consider what you can do.  You might even explore ways to volunteer within your chosen field, i.e. working in a hospital.  This will give you valuable experience as well as provide networking opportunities.   If this is not possible, you could consider performing volunteer tasks that are transferable skills, such as fundraising, serving on a committee, etc.

There are a number of ways to gain experience, so when the interviewer says to you, “tell me about a time when …”, make sure you think about these other avenues in your life, have them in your back pocket and be prepared to talk about them.  As you are preparing for an interview, if you’re not sure what other areas you should draw on, don’t be afraid to talk to people with interview experience, or seek the assistance of a certified Career Coach to work through this very important process.

Remember, the key is being prepared.  The more relevant experience you have identified, the better equipped you will be at answering the questions.

Do you know someone who is faced with this challenge?  Feel free to share this post by using the share links at the top of this page.  Also, if you’d like more interview tips, feel free to check out the career coaching resource page.