Freshers Facing Experience Demands: How Can We Get Our Foot in the Door?

Actually, nowadays, everyone is demanding experienced people. So, how should we, as freshers, start?

You are partially correct; however, there are many companies that hire freshers. It is often the case that freshers mainly apply to big companies. Nevertheless, there are numerous SME companies that recruit freshers, provide them with training, require a bond, and subsequently employ them within the organization.

Advice for Freshers

My advice to all freshers is to never lose hope or let yourself down. Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial as it can greatly impact your performance during interviews.

Thank you.

Hi Mahr,

I am facing the same problem. Thanks for motivating, but nowadays even small companies hire experienced people as they can't afford training, etc. However, never lose hope, as hope is the rope that swings throughout your life.

Dear all, we are just discussing a point out of context. The question is, how to get started as a fresher?

Starting as a Fresher

To start with, a fresher in any Engineering or Management stream should use their project work as a tool. Research companies working on projects, assignments, or products similar to yours. Write about aspects related to the project.

Practical Training for Commerce Students

Other streams like Commerce will require some practical training exposure. Join a company as a part-time or short-term employee to gain knowledge. Be specific in your approach here as well.

Opportunities in Sales and Marketing

Sales and Marketing is a field that attracts freshers at the entry level. Sales, though the least appreciated job for any fresher, will help you learn many things.

Setting Realistic Career Goals

Do not expect high-paying jobs immediately. Set a career goal and start working towards it. A job in a small company with ample learning opportunities is better than a small job in a big company.

The Importance of Hard Work

Remember, becoming successful takes time and effort. Just like a doctor studies for 5 years and practices for more to succeed, you need to put in hard work to be appreciated.

If anyone needs further help, you can reach me at [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons].

Regards,
Vasudev

I completely agree with Vasudev. Look! The world is full of opportunities. We just have to grab them. A fresher is fresh in their education and ideas; however, they are yet to develop a domain-specific skill. That's the reason they don't get a kick start in companies that expect results right from the day of hiring.

The Critical Points of Starting as a Fresher

1. Have confidence. Never lose it.
2. Do not forget your learning from academics and the projects you have done during your college time.
3. Do not expect a huge salary if you are not from a premier institute.
4. Remember that a good number of candidates at your stage are competing.
5. Keep approaching companies.
6. Register your profile on all the blue-chip companies' websites. You will make a space for yourself in their database.
7. Always have a learning attitude in job interviews (as you are yet to develop your domain).
8. Keep in mind that the company that is going to hire you has an objective. If you prove that you are going to meet the same objective, then you are on board.

I bet these points are worth trying for long-run success.

Regards,
Priyadarshee Pradhan
Human Resource

There are many companies that hire freshers because they are more cost-effective compared to experienced candidates and can be easily trained to meet the company's requirements. Colleges provide campus placements for freshers, and overall recruitment data shows that freshers are recruited more often than experienced candidates. Experienced individuals are generally required for high-level positions. Therefore, as freshers join any company for career prospects, either for 6 months or 1 year, they eventually leave the company to apply for higher positions with 1 year of experience. This might be a challenging task, but the results are rewarding. Most companies have experienced and older employees (aged 35-45 years) in high designations.

To embark on a journey to the top, it always starts from the first step. Never lose hope. I, too, am in this category.

Best regards

Hey there, there is no problem starting as a fresher. Every experienced person was a fresher when they started, so do not lose your confidence.

Approaching Job Opportunities as a Fresher

All you need is one job, my friend. Approach all companies (Large/Medium/Small) through company portals, job portals, freshers portals, forums, direct approach, newspapers, friends, network, etc. Target to approach 200 to 300 companies. I'm sure you'll get it. Just go and grab, leave the mindset of a fresher. Share with them the passion you have for the opportunity, your learnings, and what value you can add. After all, you need only one job. Just go get it. (Try smart/hard, but getting the first job will be a solid experience unless you get through campus).

Cheerz,
KK

Well said, Priyadarshee! One of the most important factors is how effective the CV of the fresher candidate is. Furthermore, if power words are used in the CV, does the candidate properly understand the essence of what he/she has conveyed in the CV? Mere boasting in a CV can easily be detected by experienced interviewers. When the candidate faces the interview, he/she must justify their stance with full confidence and impress the interviewer regarding their capabilities and career plans associated with the company's progress through their efforts.

PS Dhingra Vigilance & Transformation Management Consultant Dhingra Group of Management & Educational Consultants New Delhi

"I completely agree with Vasudev. Look! The world is full of opportunities. We just have to seize them. A fresher is fresh in their education and ideas; however, they are yet to develop domain-specific skills. That's why they may struggle to kick start in companies that expect immediate results upon hiring.

Critical Points to Consider When Starting as a Fresher

1. Have confidence. Never lose it.
2. Do not forget your learnings from academics and the projects you completed during your college years.
3. Do not expect a high salary if you are not from a prestigious institute.
4. Understand that there is tough competition among candidates at your stage.
5. Keep applying to companies.
6. Register your profile on all the blue-chip companies' websites. This will create a presence for you in their database.
7. Always maintain a learning attitude during job interviews (since you are still developing your domain expertise).
8. Remember that the company hiring you has specific objectives. If you can demonstrate that you will help achieve those objectives, you're in!

I believe these points are worth pursuing for long-term success.

Best regards,
Priyadarshee Pradhan
Human Resource

Thank you, Priyadarshni, Dhingra, and others. Here is my two cents' worth of observation. If queries here about summer projects, etc., are any indication, most students (especially those studying in second or third-tier institutions and through distance learning) seem not to do their homework! Internships or summer project work should be used as a base for seeking employment. Rather than repeating what is already available on the web, here are some links on how to use the requirement for project reports for networking purposes.

- [Internship Tips - Ask Questions, Making an Impression, Network, Learn - Intern Guide](http://www.jobmonkey.com/internships/making-most.html)
- [Networking for Interns](http://bloomberg.com) (*link updated to site home*) ([Search On Cite](https://www.citehr.com/results.php?q=Networking for Interns) | [Search On Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=Networking for Interns))

Both found at [Google Search](http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enGB332GB334& amp;amp;amp;q=internship+%2B+networking&am p;start=0&sa=N)

Another observation, based on teaching students for over 20 years, is that many students forget what has been taught, and when they go for interviews, they have no command of the subject they have studied. As a fresher, the only thing the interviewer can test you on is your subject knowledge. Hence, students should take an interest in the project that they do and should know what they have done inside out.

Have a nice day.

Regards,
Simhan
A retired academic in the UK

Hey, don't give up! A few years ago, I also started as an inexperienced worker. I found it hard at that time to find a good job. At every interview I attended, the interviewer would tell me, "Wow, but you don't have any experience!" Try internships or volunteer work at the university, make business connections, and open a profile on LinkedIn.

Starting Your Career Journey

Regardless of the field in which you want to develop your career—whether it's business, banking, HR, economics, logistics, sales, etc.—it's hard for everyone to start! Don't take it too personally; search and apply, and the results will come. I started a few years ago in a small company just to gain some experience, and 9 months later, I moved to another company.

Don't give up!

While we are involved in mid/senior-level recruitment, sometimes we come across "freshers." What I feel is there is a lack of clarity in what they would like to do and preparation accordingly. This lack of clarity leads to gaps in what they "can" do versus what they "want" to do. MBA, being one of the most "oversold" courses in the market, adds to clutter, hype, and expectations.

I feel most people aspire to work in large MNCs, have a "branded" job with a top salary. This aspiration is fine, but the competition for such roles is intense, and companies tend to hire the "best" from the "best" institutes. Appeals of "give us a chance to prove ourselves" are, frankly, superfluous since individuals have had opportunities to prove themselves since their early education.

Though this may sound discouraging, one should target opportunities where the competition level is similar. Such opportunities are always available, in my opinion and experience.

Once, many years ago, when I was starting out, due to various reasons, I chose to work in a temporary job earning about 750 pm, after resigning from my campus placement job with Asian Paints, while my batchmates were with top companies earning around 3000 pm (a significant sum in those days!). This decision was a deliberate choice with a clear objective, which my employer at the time was also aware of, and it suited both of us fine.

Just my thoughts,

Regards,
Hardeep

Building a Career in HR

First, you have to build a basic foundation in these HR activities. Groundwork is essential if you are planning a successful career in this field. HR requires a wealth of knowledge because HR activities vary across different industries, from manufacturing to service industries.

The first step is to learn the basics. Practical experience is crucial in HR, so it is important to be patient.

Hi accvasu1,

Your advice is really useful, but the kind of training provided by some of the corporate houses is not good. What should students do at that time?