Getting a job when you have no experience in the industry can be challenging. While manual labor and minimum wage jobs often don’t require experience, many employers can be hesitant about hiring someone for a more advanced position if they don’t have any experience.

When going for an interview, regardless of industry or position, it’s essential to be prepared for any questions that might come your way. Practicing your answers will prevent you from being caught off guard and help you display confidence throughout your interview.

One question you might get if you are new to the industry is, “Why should we hire you with no experience?”

Many candidates get rattled by this question.

Not every interviewer will ask it; if they don’t, don’t bring it up. However, you still have to be prepared to answer it if they ask.

The way you answer this question can make all the difference in making the best first impression and getting the job of your dreams. Here are some useful tips on answering and 11+ ways to answer the question of why someone should hire you without any experience.

Why Should We Hire You With No Experience? – Tips & Best Answers

1. Talk About Your Passion for the Job

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Most hiring managers would rather hire someone passionate about what they do, even if they have less or no experience, than someone with a lot of experience but no passion or motivation for the job.

Someone who is passionate about the job and wants to give it their all will provide the company a better chance of success than someone who’s just in it for the money.

Even if you don’t have any experience whatsoever, being motivated to give it your best is a big plus in the eyes of many hiring managers.

When asked why they should hire you, discuss what you will bring to the table. Hash out why you want the job and why you would be a good fit, despite your lack of experience.

It’s worth researching the company beforehand to learn more about its vision and goals. That way, you can discuss how your own goals align with the company’s vision and how you will give it your all to help the company achieve the future its CEO envisions for it.

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2. Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn and Grow

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In addition to your passion for the industry, your willingness to learn will also play a significant role in helping the interviewers make up their minds about you.

A lack of experience isn’t always a significant disadvantage when you have an open mind and want to learn new skills. Experience isn’t the only thing you can bring to the table, and it’s not the only thing a good hiring manager will look for.

Someone who wants to grow and help others grow is an asset to a company. While your lack of experience might involve a slight learning curve, your willingness to learn will help shorten that learning curve.

Willingness to learn often isn’t tangible, but there are ways to show you have a curious mind that tries to soak up as much information as possible. Sometimes, you can point to past job experiences.

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If you held no prior jobs whatsoever, you can talk about other life experiences, including studying new courses or even travel. Show how you have tried different things and gone out of your comfort zone in an attempt to have different learning experiences that shape who you are as an individual today.

Talk about what those experiences have taught you. Stress that you have an open mind and want to learn from the best at the firm.

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3. Show How You Have Developed New Skill Sets Quickly

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Another valuable talent is being able to develop new skills quickly. If you can learn on the job and soak in a lot of information in a short period, your lack of experience won’t matter as much.

Just saying that you develop new skills quickly isn’t enough. You have to prove it.

An excellent way to do that is by pointing to past job experiences. Perhaps you had worked in other positions or industries in which you also had no prior experience but did well.

Point to accomplishments at those jobs to demonstrate that you picked up new skills that helped that company grow. Talk about your learning curve overall and the ways in which you learned and practiced new skills.

For example, perhaps you used trial and error to quickly figure out how to get things done. Or, maybe, you learned from colleagues and higher-ups at the company.

Either way, someone who can figure out new skills and apply them will be productive and help a company move forward.

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4. Talk About Your Education

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Another thing that might help in your favor is your education. That does depend on the specific job in question, though.

For some positions, hands-on experience and practice are more important than education, which can be theoretical in nature.

However, for other jobs, a good degree can help. If you studied at a prestigious university, talk about that.

If you didn’t, talk about other courses you have taken and the type of extra training you have gone through to further develop your knowledge and skills.

Don’t be afraid to talk about self-education as well. While self-learning doesn’t come with the same prestige as getting a degree from a university, people can often learn a lot on their own, especially these days when there are unlimited resources on the internet.

Self-education also demonstrates that you enjoy learning new things and push yourself to expand your knowledge. It shows you not only have a curious mind but also prioritize knowledge and education to the point that you use your free time to learn.

5. Play Up Your Communication Skills

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Communication skills are another big thing that employers look for, so play that up as well. There are a few reasons why communication is so vital for a job.

Talk about how you get along with colleagues and coworkers and how you love to work with others as a team to get things done. Discuss ways in which you have collaborated with coworkers and colleagues in the past and how it has helped you learn and teach others.

Remember, a huge part of good communication is not necessarily knowing how to talk to others but also knowing how to listen. Listening and understanding what others are saying makes you a good communicator; stress that you understand that.

You might say, for example, that you always ask questions to clarify things and make sure you haven’t misunderstood the person you’re listening to.

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You might also mention how you make sure to connect with colleagues on a personal level to create rapport and build strong relationships. Meeting up with coworkers after work or attending after-hours events can be one way to show that you value your relationships with the people you work with.

Communication with clients is essential as well if the job requires it. Knowing how to relate to customers and understand their concerns will help increase customer retention and improve your overall business reputation.

Fortunately, knowing how to communicate with customers is a skill that is easily transferable from one industry to another. It requires knowing how to listen to cues such as tone of voice and body language (depending on the medium of communication), and it’s a skill not everyone can develop.

Of course, there is also communication with management and higher-ups. Can you listen to directions, and are you able to follow orders and deliver above and beyond what’s asked of you?

Remember, a yes-man isn’t what most managers are looking for. They want a worker with a mind of their own, someone who can figure stuff out, come up with new ideas for the company, and contribute to the discussion in their own unique way.

At the same time, you also need to be able to follow the rules and comply with company policy.

You’ll need to get a feel for the level of independence the company is looking for. Some managers want a worker who is independent, but not too independent; others leave their employees to largely figure stuff out on their own.

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Of course, you can use the interview itself to demonstrate your communication skills. Listen to what the interviewer is saying and repeat it or ask questions to clarify.

Answer each question directly without hesitation. Give clear answers, and always back up your opinions with reasons and your statements with evidence.

Use real examples from previous jobs or even from interpersonal relationships, if you have no job experience, to show how your communication skills have helped you get things done.

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6. Show That You Are a Problem Solver

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Employers want to see that you have critical thinking skills and that you can solve problems that come your way. Every job position comes with obstacles and challenges that you must overcome.

Being a problem solver requires you to be quick on your feet, even when situations surprise you unexpectedly. If there is an emergency, how quickly can you find a solution?

Using the STAR method can be helpful in demonstrating your problem-solving skills:

• Situation: Describe the situation you were in.
• Task: Describe the task or difficulty you were facing.
• Action: Discuss which action you have taken to solve the problem.
• Results: Show the results you got as a result of that action.

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7. Discuss How No Experience Can Be an Advantage

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If asked why you should be hired with no experience, you might want to talk about the advantages of hiring someone with no experience over someone who does.

Someone with a lot of experience in the industry might very well be set in their ways. They may be unable to maintain an open mind and entertain new ways of doing things.

Similarly, they may have difficulty following orders if it clashes with what they are used to doing. That can hold the company back if they are trying to stand out, do things differently, and be unique.

You, on the other hand, are a blank slate. You can be molded a certain way, and you can bring new ideas and fresh talent that will help the company develop.

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8. Be Willing to Accept a Lower Salary

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Another advantage of hiring someone with no experience compared to someone who does have experience is that people with no experience often have to settle for a lower starting salary.

It might be tough to accept that at first, but remember, it’s just a stepping stone. As you gain more experience and prove yourself, you can either ask for a raise or find a higher-paying position.

A company that is dealing with budget cuts might be more than glad to hire someone who has no experience (considering they have other things going for them, like a willingness to learn) if they can pay a lower salary.

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9. Talk About Your Work Ethic

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Your work ethic can also balance the scale in your favor. Do you put in the work, or are you looking to do the bare minimum to be acceptable and keep your position, so you get your weekly paycheck?

A good work ethic is more than just coming on time every day, although that is undoubtedly part of it. Nobody wants a worker who shows up late consistently.

However, you also have to show that you enjoy working, take your work seriously, and have commitment and dedication. You should also show that productivity matters to you and that you make sure to minimize distractions that can prevent you from getting things done.

One thing worth mentioning is that a good work ethic doesn’t necessarily equate to being a workaholic. It’s essential to show that you understand the importance of taking time off and resting to avoid burnout.

An experienced manager will have seen the effects of burnout in previous employees and will appreciate your concern and effort to avoid it.

Nevertheless, it’s vital to first demonstrate how hard you work and subtly and lightly touch upon taking time off to recoup. Don’t focus too much on the resting part, or you may appear lazy.

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10. Describe Any Training or Courses You Plan on Taking

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If you don’t have any experience, it’s essential to compensate in other ways. One way to do that is to take extra courses, sign up for workshops, get training, attend events, and more.

Describe which courses you plan on taking and how you plan on implementing the knowledge you learn from them in your job. When you are willing to try new things, you will learn very quickly.

Besides, taking extra courses, especially if you are paying for them, shows that you are serious about the job and want to succeed. It demonstrates a drive for success and that you prioritize your work.

Depending on the job position, you may be able to find classes, training events, or workshops at a local community college. If you can’t, consider checking Meetup.com to see if there are any networking events in your area.

If you can’t find anything near you, don’t worry. There are plenty of courses you can take on the internet.

For some subjects, you can even find official online courses from places as prestigious as Harvard. Check the Harvard course catalog, where you will find hundreds of lessons on internet marketing, computer science, and many other topics.

These courses can be as little as a week long or go on for months. Some courses are free, while others can cost $1,000 or more.

Another great place to find free courses is MIT Open Learning.

I also recommend checking out edX, which has thousands of courses from Harvard, MIT, and other sources all in one place.

Udemy is another place where you can buy courses, but they tend to be shorter and less comprehensive than courses offered by Harvard. They also don’t carry the same weight in the eyes of employers, even if you get a certificate upon completion.

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11. Be Confident and Self-Assured

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One of the trickiest things about the question of why you should be hired with no experience is staying confident. Without experience to back up your value, it can be easy to get startled by this question and not know what to say.

However, staying confident and self-assured is critical. Real confidence comes from knowing your worth and believing in yourself and the value you’ll bring to the firm.

If you aren’t sure why someone should hire you, you can’t expect them to feel confident in hiring you, either.

Many interviewers aren’t just looking for your actual answer when they ask, “Why should we hire you with no experience?”

Instead, they are looking at your reaction. They want to see whether the question flusters you or whether you can maintain your cool.

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Quick Answers to “Why Should We Hire You With No Experience?”

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Here are some quick answers to why you should be hired without any experience in the industry. Read these answers out loud a few times.

That way, if you get asked the question, you can quickly reply with one of the answers you have practiced without any hesitation or lack of confidence.

• I’m a fresh start. I want to learn how to do things the [Company Name] way, and I’m not set in my ways like someone with years of experience. I don’t have an ego that might hold me back from asking questions like a veteran might.
• I have an excellent work ethic. I’m punctual, show up on time, and give my job my all. I minimize distractions and focus on the issue at hand.
• I’m creative. I’m a problem solver and a thinker. When faced with an obstacle or concern, I don’t stop until I find an acceptable solution.
• I have excellent communication skills. I enjoy working with others and collaborating with my coworkers.
• I’m continually improving, and I’m a fast learner. I take note of my mistakes and correct them. You can be sure that although I have no experience, I will gain a lot of skill quickly and become a valuable asset to your company.
• I’m great at following directions. I’m always willing to learn and get input from coworkers and higher-ups. I’m great at asking clarifying questions to ensure I’m doing things the right way and understand why we do things a certain way.
• I can work at a fair salary. While I’m open to a raise in the future, I know it will depend on my capabilities and how quickly I can learn. I won’t take anything for granted, and I know I will have to work for a raise or bonus.
• I am motivated and passionate. I’m not doing this for the money but rather to expand my knowledge and skill. I will give this job everything I have, and I will bring a level of dedication that will help this company grow and succeed.
• I have experience in other industries. The skills I have learned, such as creative thinking, communication, and problem-solving, will apply to this industry as well. I can be sure that I can do an excellent job because I have done so in other sectors I also had no prior experience in.
• Having me as an employee will help you as well. As a manager, it helps to see someone grow. You learn the most by teaching.
• I am dedicated to learning new skills and improving my talents. I am taking extra courses and paying for additional training to get better and bring you my best.

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Wrapping It Up

Going to any job interview can be intimidating, and it’s even more true when you don’t have any experience. After reading this article, though, you’ll have a good idea of how to answer that question.

Bookmark this article and read through it before each job interview to refresh your memory. Answering the question will get a lot easier as you attend more interviews and encounter this question more often.