Lots of jobs require experience to get hired. A lot of people think "How can I get experience when I can't get a job?"
There are in fact ways to get experience when you have never had a job. The options below all help you develop your job skills, work know-how, contacts, and confidence. And having any of them on your resume can help you get hired.
Stefan
![Image of young adult]()
“A jobs program helped me get an ID, and they helped me get a Social Security card and start my own bank account. They sent me to a job as an intern at a welding school for 8 weeks. Out of five of us that came, I was the only one who stayed with it. At my job I cut pipe, cut plate, they enrolled me in welding classes. I got four certificates. They helped me get back on my feet.”
See Stefan's story
Internships
An internship is a short-term job that may be paid or unpaid, that gives you experience in a real workplace. Internships can be at a company, a store, a school, a government office, or a nonprofit. To find one that's right for you, try the following:
- Visit an internship office at a high school, college, or employment program
- Use an online internship finder
- Contact the Human Resources office of a business or other workplace you're interested in
Job shadowing
Job shadowing gives you the experience of following a person in their job for a few hours, a day, or a few days. Ask someone you or your family knows if you can observe them. You can also request a contact through a professional association or school program. Read stories of job shadowing to learn more.
Volunteer work
Volunteering is unpaid work. You can gain skills like writing, child care, teaching, coaching, fundraising, mentoring, sales, phone answering, organizing materials, construction, arts, and more. Call, email or stop in at a nonprofit or school you’d like to volunteer for, and ask about opportunities. Many provide training.
Work in your neighborhood
Did you realize you develop valuable work skills when you do small jobs for friends, family, or neighbors? You might try mowing lawns, raking leaves, doing other yard work, babysitting, taking care of pets, or helping an elderly person with chores. To get paying jobs, ask neighbors and family friends if they need help. List your services at school, put up signs on area bulletin boards, or post on a neighborhood services website.
School and community activities
Participating in clubs, sports, theater, music, dance, religious organizations, and other community activities can be fun and develop your skills. Include these on your resume. Find activities through school districts, community education, local arts groups, religious organizations, and the public library.