How to get your first weekend job

Securing your very first weekend job is an exciting milestone. But many roles require prior experience, so how do you secure a job without any?

In this guide we’ll offer some top tips for securing your first weekend job, including how to identify your skills, craft a compelling CV, and ace the interview process. So, if you’ve been wondering how can I get a weekend job with little to no experience? Let’s dive straight into it.

Identify your skills and interests

Identifying your skills should be your first port of call if you’ve been wondering how to get your first job with no work experience. This is because an understanding of your strengths will help you secure the role which is right for you.

Plus, while you might think you have no experience, you’ll probably be surprised by how many transferable skills you actually have. Simply grab a pen and paper then write a list of the things you’re particularly good at. This could be anything from subjects you excelled in at school, to extracurricular activities and hobbies. All of these can provide you with transferable skills, such as problem-solving, organisation and teamwork abilities.

Also make sure to think about your key strengths as well as your interests. For instance, are you an outgoing people person? If so, you might thrive in a customer service-based weekend role.

Craft a compelling CV and cover letter

Once you’ve done the above, it’s time to document these skills in a CV and cover letter.

Crafting a CV which reflects you and your skills is perhaps the most important aspect of securing your very first role. A CV is often responsible for first impressions, and it’s a huge determining factor on whether you’ll be progressed through to an interview stage!

There are different CV formats required for different roles and skill levels, but some common sections to include are:

1. Contact information: your name, phone number and email address should be clearly printed at the top of your CV.
2. Education history: next you should include your education history, documenting any qualifications and certificates you’ve obtained.
3. Work experience: in the next section you should outline any work experience you have. For instance perhaps you’ve recently completed some volunteering work?
4. Skills profile: If you’re yet to build up any work experience, don’t worry, simply include a segment outlining your key skills. These might include teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
5. Notable projects and interests: Similarly, you might want to include a section on any projects you’ve completed, or any interests which make you stand out (especially if they’ve helped you gain relevant skills).

Next, it’s time to write your cover letter. While cover letters aren’t always required, they provide employers with valuable insight into why you’d be a great fit for the role.

You’ll need to use an appropriate greeting, keep your letter short yet specific, and succinctly convey your skills. Then, close your letter by thanking the employer for considering your application.

Finally, make sure both documents are thoroughly proofread before submitting. A fresh pair of eyes might spot errors you’ve overlooked, so it’s a good idea to get a friend or family member to give them a once over.

Whether you drop by to hand deliver your CV, or you email it across, it’s important it reflects who you are as well as what you’ll bring to the table. Our guide on how to write a CV is filled with all the necessary information on this topic. So before writing yours, make sure to give it a read through.

Where should I search for jobs?

Now you know what you’ll need to apply, it’s time to think about exactly how to find a weekend job. There are various places you can search for roles, including:

1. Online

When it comes to searching for jobs, online sites are usually teeming with roles. You can check websites such as Indeed or Monster jobs for listings (these usually have plenty of part-time or weekend roles advertised).

A top tip for applying online is to tailor your application to each role. Simply take a look at the job description, then for each skill the employer is requiring, see how your own skills align. Include these skills in your CV, then the employer will immediately see why you’re a fantastic fit.

2. Walk-ins

If you’re looking for local employment, it can be worth having a stroll down your local high street to see whether anybody is hiring. Make sure to print out a few copies of your CV, then if they are, you can hand them in and express your interest. This shows potential employers that you’re both proactive and committed.

You could also ring around a few local companies to see whether they are hiring for weekend staff. If they say yes, ask whether you’d be able to pop down or send over your CV.

3. Networking

If you’re wondering how to get your first job quickly, networking is an effective tool to use. This involves building connections and sparking conversations with people who work in the industry. Then who knows, if a future job opportunity crops up, they might remember you!

Or, simply let your friends and family know that you’re looking for a weekend job, as they might be able to point you towards openings themselves.

How to ace the interview

So, by following the above tips you’ve managed to bag yourself an interview… Now it’s time to ace it! To do so, thorough preparation and an understanding of interview etiquette is key.When preparing, you’ll need to study the job description to identify skills the employer is looking for. Then, come up with some instances when you’ve displayed these skills. For instance, if teamwork skills are required, you could talk about a project you’ve been involved in where you worked effectively with others.

Another aspect of preparing is to practice answering some common interview questions. These might include:

• Why do you want this role/ why do you think you’d be a good fit?
• What is your availability like?
• Why would you like to work here?
• Can you tell us about your key skills?
• What do you enjoy doing outside of work/ what are your hobbies?

It’s a good idea to come up with a list of questions to ask the interviewer too. Having these to hand shows you’re genuinely interested, engaged, and that you understand the intricacies of the role. Some common examples include:

• What are the main responsibilities of the role? What is a typical day like working here?
• What is the best part/ trickiest part of the role?
• Can you tell me more about the team I would be working in?
• Are there opportunities to progress?
• Is there any other information I can provide you with?

Finally, make sure you arrive to the interview with plenty of time to spare. And remember, smile, stay calm, and be confident in your abilities!

What about after the interview?

Sending a follow up thank you note is a great way to leave a positive lasting impression. Plus, it highlights your continued interest in the position. You should keep this short and sweet, and send it within 24 hours of the interview. Simply thank the interviewer for their time and reiterate your interest in the role.

Hopefully our guide on how to get a weekend job has inspired you to get the ball rolling with applications! It can be daunting when you’re at the very beginning of your job hunt, but with these tips, we’re sure you’ll secure your first role in no time.

And remember, if you don’t secure the first job you interview for, don’t be disheartened, as this doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be a perfect fit elsewhere. Simply use the interview as experience to nail the next one!

Before you go, dive into a couple more of our guides on flexible working requests, and how to ask your boss for an advance.