The art of turning nothing into something ✨

Applying to jobs is already a stressful process. But it only gets worse when you reach the dreaded "x years of experience" requirement, even on junior roles.

When you're just starting out in your career, or shifting to a new one, the experience hurdle is a major one and it might even convince you not to apply to a job. But instead of toggling over to the next job, we want you to consider the following: how can you convince employers that you have what it takes without the years of experience stamp of approval?

Luckily for you, there are lots of ways to gain experience and show you're up for the task without having to list your number of years. This edition, we'll be exploring all the different kinds of experience replacements and how to find the experiences that will really bring you to the next level.

So let' get into it. 👇

Experience replacements ✅

Just because you don't have the years of experience, doesn't mean that you don't have the experience! Often when job descriptions state the number of years experience, the employer just wants to know: can you do the job? 

So here are a few items you can point to instead of the number of years of experience.

1. Continuous learning: Highlight your learning experiences and how you've practiced what you've learnt. You can use examples from online learning, university, or a bootcamp for example.

2. Achievements: Think about mentioning some key achievements in the field to which you're applying. Even if you've not worked in the field, you may have some relevant achievements which can show your suitability for the job.

3. Work samples or portfolios: Consider putting together a portfolio of sample work for potential employers, all related to the field to which you're applying. This might mean creating imaginary projects and carrying out some of the work or planning to showcase your ability.

4. Skills: Where possible, point to the transferable skills you already have that match the job description. Give examples of when you've used these skills.

5. References: If relevant, include references from former supervisors/managers, colleagues, or instructors who can verify your skills and abilities.

6. Passion projects and professional groups: Make sure to bring up relevant passion projects or membership to professional groups that highlight your interest in the field.

Resources to boost your experience level ⚡️

Want to nail your first impressions and lasting impression? Here are some resources that will point you in the right direction Check it out. 👇

• ▶️ Jason Chen, shares how to highlight your ability rather than your experience in this TEDTalk.

• 📃 Internships are great ways to build work experience, but before you commit, you should make sure that you're getting the most out of your experience! Here are some quick tips.

• 📚 If you're still left wondering what kind of work experience you should pursue and need a little inspiration, this book is for you. It'll help you understand your core values and what you want to do with those.

• ⚙️Tired of waiting around for experiences to pop up? Here are some fun ideas for personal projects that can help build your experience level.

• 🖌 Ready to get started on a portfolio? Here are some basic tips and then some UX/UI-focused tips to help you get started.

• 💻 If you're a developer looking for a project to build some experience, why not try out GitHub's Open Source Friday?

New in the Open Study Hub 🆕

This month, we have a few new pieces of content— just for you!— from the Open Study Hub. You can check 'em out here 👇

• Ready to network? These are the top tech groups in Jordan, Iraq, Türkiye, and beyond

• The remote work toolkit (event recording)

Jobs from the world beyond 🌍

Looking for a bit of traditional experience? Or ready to test out your non-traditional "experience" pitch? Here are a few open roles our Careers Team has found this month, just for you guys.👇

• UI/UX Designer at Nivogo (Turkey)
  
• Django Application Developer at International Rescue Committee (Lebanon)
  
• Frontend Developer at Neo Mena Technologies (Lebanon)
  
• Product Designer at Codeway Studios (Turkey)
  
• Junior Digital Designer at Hogarth (Turkey)
  
• Technical Lead at Normod (Turkey)
  
• Web Frontend Engineer at Commencis (Turkey)
  
• Frontend Developer at Vodafone (Turkey)
  
• Senior UI/UX Designer at Al-Sharaa Dental Solutions (Iraq)
  
• Senior Developer Android at XAM Consulting (Palestine)

Go out there and snag that experience! 💪

Remember, we're all beginners at some point and while, yes, work experience is the holy grail of landing your first job, there are also so many ways of showing your experience and building it. 

Embrace every opportunity, no matter how small, and never underestimate the power of learning by doing. Take on those passion projects, contribute to open-source communities, and network like there's no tomorrow. Your journey to becoming a tech mastermind starts with a single step, and you've got a whole community cheering you on! 

See you in the next edition of News:LTR.

The Re:Coded Team