How to get hired when lacking experience.

Question

I am asking this in response to listening to Stack Overflow's Podcast #55, Where Joel and Jeff discuss how much interview feedback is appropriate. They got into talking about what to do if you don't want to hire some one based on lack of experience. I remember one of them saying as an example that "You are smart but not ready" and they should apply again next year.

This immediately brought back memories of myself when I came fresh out of school. I remember applying at many places but kept getting similar responses. "You are smart but not ready".

Although I am past that stage now with some experience under me after getting my foot in the door at my first gig, for those fresh out for school (or little experience); If all companies refuse to hire because of lack of experience but are not willing to give a chance, How does one start?

I mean sure some will say apply for an entry level position. But those are far and few between. Most companies want some one who can just jump in and start, they don't want to spend a little time to get them going.

Also I have seen this situation: A programmer with some experience (but not enough) keeps getting rejected from higher level positions. As a result they apply for entry level positions, but they are told that they are over qualified.

What does everyone think of this, How does one build up the experience? Are companies being too selfish and something should be done about that? Or is the current hiring practices reasonable, and I am just whining? :-)

Answer 1

While definitely not the only approach, I've found that internships work wonderfully well! All the best hi-tech shops have good internship programs, and students who display superior skill and dedication are VERY likely to receive good job offers when they graduate.

On your specific question, I know of no company with a "skill gap", where somebody could be over-qualified for level N but not experiences enough for level N+1. Maybe you're comparing across different firms, with different thresholds among the various levels...?

Answer 2

If all companies refuse to hire because of lack of experience but are not willing to give a chance, How does one start?

By developing a portfolio of software. See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1422191/leveraging-hobby-experience-to-get-a-job/1422231#1422231

Answer 3

Spend at least some of your free time programming. I've done a lot of candidate interviews over the years, and I remain amazed at the low percentage of young programmers who do any kind of coding outside of school or work (if they have any work experience). Anyone who has done any kind of hobby programming gets an immediate boost in my estimation.

And yeah, you are kind of whining. But it's ok - this is how all programmers get started. :)

Answer 4

Here is what I did back when I was younger and didn't have the oodles of experience I now have:

• Recruiters - There may be firms around that will take someone with little experience and try to place them in companies wanting someone junior but don't want 1,001 resumes to sift through. I remember working with one firm in Toronto, Ontario after I graduated from Waterloo and went back home to Chatham.

• University resources - My school had Career Services where one can find companies looking for new grads that can be useful, particularly for getting past HR.

• Government programs - Sometimes there are programs from the government that can be used to help get that job. Career Edge would be an example from Canada.

Answer 5

There are some good ideas in the article You don’t need anyone’s permission to get work experience in software.