Finding a job without experience can be challenging. With the constant expansion of the number of employable people and the lack of business growth, many employers look for people with previous experience.
These people will often get first preference over anyone with little to no experience, no matter their qualifications.
This creates a difficult cycle where you cannot get experience because you are not being hired, and you cannot be hired because you do not have experience.
How To Find A Job Without Experience
There are always ways to gain experience before applying for jobs. This way, when you apply for jobs, you will have experience as well as any qualifications you may have. This will greatly increase your chances of being hired. Things to gain experience include:
- Volunteering
- Job Shadowing/Internship
- Networking
- Create a Good CV
Volunteering
Volunteering is an excellent way to gain experience, and also allows you to put hours of community service on your CV.
There are many large charities or non-profit organisations that you could volunteer for, as well as community options that you can find by asking around your area.
Job Shadowing/Internship
Job Shadowing allows you to apply to work in a company as something like a trainee. You will “shadow” an employee, and learn skills from them that are relevant to the position.
Some companies also offer internships. This is a great learning experience for working in the field relevant to the company. Internships can often lead to a permanent job offer, but if it does not, you have experience that you can add to your CV to apply for other jobs.
Both of these options are often not paid work, though some may pay a stipend.
Networking
Networking can help you find the right people. Knowing the right people can be helpful for finding where there are job opportunities. Talk to your friends and reach out to local businesses. They may know of vacancies you could apply for.
Create A Good CV
Creating a good CV is an important part of getting a job. Your CV is the stepping-stone between applying for the job and getting an interview. Having a good CV can be the foundation of a decision to interview you for the position.
There are many articles on how to create a good CV, as well as many tips on how to prepare for an interview. Start with a good CV to help you gain interview opportunities.
How To Find A Job Without Matric
There are many ways to begin your career even if you do not have your Matric, such as:
- Study accredited ICB courses
- Study CIMA courses
- Study short courses
- Attend career expos
- Sign up on job sites
- Gain transferable skills
Study Accredited ICB Courses
ICB courses are accredited by ICB (the Institute for Certified Bookkeepers) and QCTO (the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations). This means they are recognised by potential employers as formal qualifications.
ICB courses are recognised worldwide, and are highly regarded in South Africa. This is because ICB courses teach scarce skills, which are in high demand in South Africa. This means that learning these skills will give you more employment opportunities and better job security.
ICB courses you can study without Matric are:
- Business Management
- Financial Accounting
- Office Administration
The ICB Business Management course requires that you have successfully completed Grade 11. This course has three levels, beginning at Matric Equivalent level and going up to the Diploma level.
The ICB Financial Management course requires you to have successfully completed Grade 10. This course has four levels, beginning at Grade 11 equivalent level and going up to the Diploma level.
The ICB Office Administration course requires you to have your Matric or a Matric Equivalent qualification to apply. This course has three levels, beginning at the Higher Certificate and going up to the Diploma level.
Both the Business Management Programme and the Financial Accounting Programme have a Matric Equivalent level. This means that you can study for these and then use them to apply for the Office Administration course if you do not have your Matric.
The first level of the Business Management course is a Matric Equivalent, and the second level of the Financial Accounting course is also a Matric Equivalent.
Where Can I Study ICB Courses?
There are many places where you can study ICB courses. Some reputable distance learning colleges that offer these ICB courses are:
- Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
- Matric College
- Skills Academy
- Ember Academy
- Learning Group
Study CIMA Courses
Once you have completed the ICB Financial Accounting course, you can take your studies even further by doing a CIMA course. You can also study CIMA courses without Matric. CIMA courses go up to the Degree level.
You can study CIMA courses at:
- Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
- Skills Academy
- Ember Academy
Study Short Courses
There are also many short courses offered at four of the above colleges. These short courses are skills-based courses that are open-access.
Open access means that the only entry requirements are that you can understand, read and write in English, and that you are over the age of 16.
Short Courses At Skills Academy
- Accounting, Bookkeeping And Finance
- Beauty
- Computer Courses
- Educare And Childcare
- Forensics And Policing
- Human Resource Management
- Insurance Courses
- Interior Decorating and Design, and Digital Photography
- Management Courses
- Marketing
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Project Management
- Tourism
- Wedding And Events Planning
Short Courses At Matric College
- Beauty Therapy courses
- Educare & Child Care courses
- Event & Wedding Planning courses
- Tourism & Guest House courses
Short Courses At Ember Academy
- Beauty Therapist Programmes
- Child Daycare Programme
- Child Psychology Programme
- Crèche Management Programme
- Digital Photography Programme
- Event Management Programme
- Facial Skincare Programme
- Guest House Management Programme
- Human Resource Management Programme
- Make-up Application Programme
- Nail Care Programme
- Operational Health and Safety Programme
- Personal Assistant Programme
- Project Management Programme
- Receptionist Courses
- Supply Chain Management Programme
- Tourism Management Programme
- Tourism Marketing Programme
- Wedding Planner Programme
Short Courses At Learning Group
- Beauty Therapy
- Creative Writing
- Digital Photography
- Interior Decorating and Design
- Wedding Planning
Attend Career Expos
A career expo, or career fair, is an event where companies and colleges have small stands with information on their courses and internships. Here, you can network with potential employers and find out about companies you might like to work with.
You can also find out about what courses are offered by colleges that you may be able to study without Matric. You can find out what career options you will have once you have completed these college courses, and you can find companies at the fair that work in the same fields.
This way you can start to see where you want to take your career, how to do it, as well as networking to increase the number of contacts you have within the companies. This will help you have a better chance of being employed.
Sign Up On Job Sites
There are many websites where you can upload your CV, and search for available jobs that fit your qualifications. Some of these are:
Gain Transferable Skills
Transferable skills, also known as soft skills, are skills that you learn from your jobs or in life that you can use in other areas of work. These include things such as:
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Organisational skills
- Time-management skills
- Problem-solving skills
These are all skills that are very useful, but are not measurable the way academic skills can be measured. Skills like these are useful in all areas of life, and that can help you get a job without Matric.
Jobs That Will Allow You To Use Your Soft Skills
There are many jobs that will require these soft skills, which will help you get these jobs using these skills. These jobs include:
- Au pair
- Photographer
- Event planner
- Customer service representative
- Personal assistant
- Salesperson
- Networking marketer
You will be able to use your skills in these fields of work, and having these soft skills will improve your chances of being employed in fields such as these.
Get Your Matric
You can also study to get your Matric. There are three options available to get your Matric:
Matric Rewrite
You can do a Matric Rewrite if you are under the age of 21. A Matric Rewrite is available if you would like to improve your marks in four subjects or fewer. You can qualify for a Matric Rewrite if you meet the following requirements:
- You are under the age of 21
- You have passed your Home Language
- You have failed five or fewer other subjects and would like to pass four of them
You may rewrite a maximum of four subjects. There is no limit to the number of times you can rewrite your Matric as long as you are still under the age of 21. You can still pass Matric if you have failed one subject. You may not change any of your subjects for a Matric Rewrite.
However, if you have failed more than five subjects, this means you have failed either your Home Language subject or Life Orientation. This means you will have to re-enrol for your Matric year or wait until you are over the age of 21 to do a Matric Upgrade instead.
To apply for a Matric Rewrite, you will need:
- A copy of your Statement of Results
- A certified copy of your ID
Matric Upgrade
This option is available to anyone over the age of 21. You may upgrade up to four subjects. You may change any four subjects. You must be over the age of 21 to do a Matric Upgrade because you will write the Adult Matric exams.
To apply for a Matric Upgrade, you will need:
- A copy of your Statement of Results
- A certified copy of your ID
Adult Matric
Adult Matric is an option available to those over the age of 21 who did not get to complete their high school education. Once you have successfully completed your Adult Matric, you will receive your Senior Certificate (Amended). This works exactly the same way as a school Matric.
To apply for Adult Matric, you will need:
- A copy of your Grade 9 report/certificate or equivalent
- A certified copy of your ID
Where Can I Study For My Matric?
There are many reputable distance learning colleges that offer Matric programmes, such as:
- Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
- Matric College
- Skills Academy
You can also contact Skills Academy if you have any questions about Matric or Matric courses. You can contact them in two ways:
- Call us on 0800 39 00 27
- Fill in our contact form for a callback
Can You Do Matric In 3 Months?
No, you cannot complete your Matric in three months. Any Matric course will take a minimum of one year to complete, but can take much longer depending on how you decide to take your subjects.
You must write six subjects to complete a Matric out of school. Some students will do all six in one year, others will do three subjects per year for two years, and some take two subjects per year for three years. This means it can take up to three years to complete your Matric.
Can You Work For The Government Without Matric?
No, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to work for the government without a Matric Certificate. However, there are many educational opportunities available to help you get your Matric.
Can I Be Successful Without Matric?
Yes, you can be successful without Matric. By studying an accredited ICB course, you can take your qualifications up to the Diploma level. Or, you can study a skills-based course, and you can gain the basic skills necessary to begin your career without your Matric.
What Have We Learned?
- It is possible to get experience to get a job
- You can find jobs without experience
- It is possible to get jobs without Matric
- You can learn transferable skills that will increase your chances of being hired
- There are ways to get your Matric if you would like to
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: June 29, 2022