| One year while watching the NFL playoffs, an Old | | | | job. But how do you get a job with no experience? Or |
| Spice commercial came on which featured a | | | | how do you get experience with no job? It's an |
| confident, dapper, middle-aged man. He was sitting on | | | | age-old question, which is often posed by people who |
| a chair in front of a lit fireplace with his legs crossed, | | | | are of a young age. |
| striking a rather debonair pose while looking directly into | | | | This dilemma is addressed in the portion of the |
| the camera. He then delivered these lines while walking | | | | commercial where he states "...but if you don't already |
| to a separate room with an unlit fireplace, where he | | | | have any of it to begin with, you can't get any of it to |
| was once again seated: | | | | get started which means you really have no idea how |
| "If you have it, you don't need it...if you need it, you don't | | | | to get it in the first place...do you?" |
| have it...if you have it, you need more it...if you have | | | | It's not an impossible quandary. I will tell you precisely |
| more of it, you don't need less of it...you need it, to get | | | | how to get the experience you lack: Volunteer. |
| it...and you certainly need it to get more of it...but if you | | | | There's not a person, organization, or company that |
| don't already have any of it to begin with, you can't get | | | | can't benefit from the use of free labor. All you have |
| any of it to get started which means you really have | | | | to do is find them and offer your assistance in |
| no idea how to get it in the first place...do you? You | | | | exchange for the valuable experience you lack. |
| can share it, sure, you can even stockpile it if you | | | | Whether you are a college student in your twenties, or |
| like....but you can't fake it...wanting it, needing it, wishing | | | | a middle-aged executive transitioning into a new |
| for it...the point is if you've never had any of it...people | | | | career, experience can always be obtained by |
| just seem to know..." | | | | working for free. There are even agencies which help |
| He then stopped, as if giving the viewer time to ponder. | | | | match the skills and interests of volunteers with |
| The fireplace behind him ignited and the word | | | | companies who are in need of them. |
| "Experience" faded onto the screen. It then faded out | | | | While the quest to obtain experience should be a |
| with the familiar whistling melody which characterizes | | | | priority for those you who don't have it, those who are |
| Old Spice commercials. | | | | both ambitious and smart should surround themselves |
| The advertising was brilliant. The statements were | | | | with people who have more experience than they do. |
| true. | | | | But remember, when it comes to experience..."You can |
| Experience is the bridge between academic and | | | | share it, sure, you can even stockpile it if you like....but |
| professional status. It should be obtained by any | | | | you can't fake it...wanting it, needing it, wishing for it...the |
| means necessary. In fact, experience trumps | | | | point is if you've never had any of it...people just seem |
| academics in most professions (medical, science, and | | | | to know..." |
| legal being some of the rare exceptions). Even in | | | | Law firms have a good grasp on this concept. The |
| cases where the quality or volume of education is | | | | junior members of a firm are typically partnered with |
| emphasized, experience becomes a right of passage | | | | senior members for guidance and direction while |
| to credibility. | | | | gaining valuable "hands-on" experience. The same can |
| Learning and doing are perceived as two different | | | | be true for independent contractors. Partnering with |
| things. People often say get a "good" attorney. What | | | | others who have more experience than you (via joint |
| they really mean is get an attorney who is well versed | | | | ventures) is an excellent way to win client confidence |
| (i.e. educated) and has experience. Premium value is | | | | when the issue of experience (or lack there of) comes |
| placed on the importance of education and years | | | | up. |
| spent actually applying that education. Without the | | | | Perhaps the most important purpose of experience is |
| experience, the well-versed attorney is just a student | | | | that it is our most effective teacher. The bridge |
| of the law - not a law practitioner. | | | | between theory and practicality is experience. |
| Experience is only obtained in the field of play. Ask any | | | | Experience is both a qualifier and a disqualifier. It's also |
| coach and they will tell you. No matter how long or | | | | a means of measuring intelligence. Psychologists all |
| intense teams practice their respective sport, it can | | | | over the world agree that a person's ability to learn |
| never match the real life dynamics or psychological | | | | from the experience of their mistakes, is an indication |
| aspects of being in real game, just as a soldier can't | | | | of their intelligence level (or lack thereof). |
| truly fathom the gruesome nature of war with only | | | | There's a potential drawback to having an abundance |
| combat training. | | | | of experience: arrogance and complacency. When we |
| Employers now demand experience, because | | | | stop seeking and exploring new opportunities to gain |
| experience demands utilization for compensation. In | | | | fresh experiences, we stunt our growth and limit our |
| other words, the less time employers spend training | | | | knowledge. We should always try to increase |
| you, the more time you spend utilizing your experience | | | | experience; it leads to greater proficiency and |
| to make them more money. They desire experience in | | | | intuitiveness, which can make you formidable...until you |
| their job candidates, and candidates need experience | | | | are up against someone with more of it. |
| (or more of it) to get desirable jobs. | | | | So remember, experience is everything. If you don't |
| As the commercial states: "If you need it, you don't | | | | have it, your goal should be to get it. And if you do |
| have it." | | | | have it? Refer back to the commercial: "....you need |
| For many college students, experience comes in the | | | | more of it...if you have more of it, you don't need less |
| form of internships. Others get experience while on the | | | | of it... |