Imagine you’re in a job interview and everything is going well, but all of a sudden, the hiring manager asks:
“Tell me about your experience in this role.”
Your heart skips a beat because you don’t have any, and you’re immediately stuck between either telling the truth that you don’t have relevant experience or cooking up a lie.
If you’re a recent graduate or changing careers, this situation might feel familiar, but here’s the thing: You don’t need years of experience to leave a good impression. What you need is the right way to communicate your potential, transferable skills, and willingness to grow.
Here’s how to do that:
1. Be Honest, But Focus on What You Bring to the Table
Don’t just say:
“I don’t have any experience.”
Instead, say something like:
“While I may not have direct experience in this role yet, I’ve developed key skills through [school, past jobs, volunteering, or self-learning] that will help me contribute to this role.”
Then go on to mention the relevant skills you have and how they can be beneficial to the role you’re interviewing for. This helps shift the focus from what you lack to what you offer.
2. Share What You’re Doing to Learn
Show that you’re taking initiative to learn, even without a job yet.
You could say:
“Since deciding to move into this field, I’ve been learning [tool, skill, or topic] through [course or platform] and applying it to personal projects.”
3. Talk About Relevant Projects or Life Experience
If you’ve done anything that relates to the role, even outside of a formal job, mention it.
Examples:
- University group work
- Volunteering
- Freelance or side projects
- Online communities you’ve been active in
- Your last job, even if it was in a different field
Example:
“While I haven’t worked professionally in tech yet, I recently completed a personal website project where I taught myself the basics of HTML, CSS, and GitHub.”
4. Highlight Soft Skills and Strengths
You might not have job experience, but you do have qualities that matter to employers. Speak confidently about them.
You could try saying:
“I’m a fast learner and enjoy figuring things out.” “I work well in teams and always look for ways to help.” “I’m highly organized and love solving problems.”
Ensure to match your strengths to the job description whenever possible
5. End With Great Questions
Asking smart questions shows confidence, curiosity, and professionalism.
Ask things like:
- “What qualities can help someone succeed in this position?”
- “What would you like the person in this role to achieve in their first few months?”
- “Are there tools or platforms I could explore to prepare better?”
Final Thoughts
Not having experience doesn’t mean you don’t belong.
What matters is how you:
- Communicate your potential
- Show what you’re doing to grow
- Highlight transferable skills
- Express a strong desire to learn and add value
You’ve got more to offer than you think, so own it, prep well, and walk into your next interview with confidence.