It’s a catch-22. You need experience to get a job—but if you don’t have a job, how will you get it?  Staff at URI’s Center for Career and Experiential Education suggest these indirect routes:

Internships  Learn about an industry from the inside while making contacts. If you’re a college student, you may earn credit; if you’re not, many companies may still be interested in you. In many cases you can turn it into a full-time job.

Project work  Often overlooked, project work offers flexibility and variety. Some companies advertise project-work positions, but many are part of the hidden job market, filled via company inquiries and referrals. Seek them out on freelancing websites, by networking, and by reaching out to companies and organizations directly. Like internships, they can turn into a full-time job if you perform well and fit company culture.

Volunteering  Nonprofit organizations have diverse needs. Contact them directly and offer to help them with your specialized skills, from web design to marketing. When you feature your volunteer experience on your resume, make sure you illustrate what you did and how you helped the organization achieve its goals.