Or maybe you've recently returned to work and you're not sure where to begin. How many times have you clicked on a job online with a business or charity that you'd be thrilled to work for, only to find out that you need 'relevant experience' and had your hopes dashed instantly?

According to the Guardian's 2012 Graduate Employment info-graphic, an impressive 25.6% of graduates felt that one of the biggest challenges facing them when entering the job market was 'not having enough experience'.

If you've already been penning application after application and waiting for a response, if any, then congratulations – you're well ahead of a majority of graduates who maybe don't realise that recruiters and businesses don't come round knocking on bedroom doors only to be amazed and awed at your talents. If no one knocked on Springsteen's door back in the eighties, it's reasonable to believe they won't be paying you a visit to discuss your interest in charity work.

So what can be done we hear you say - Well, luckily a great deal.

With so many roles asking for experience, the question that always follows is either, 'I don't have any/enough' or 'How can I get experience if I can't get a job?' We have a few ways to combat these issues:

1. Internships Why not have a quick look around online and see if you can find an internship? They are often created for graduates and so they don't ask for the same level of expertise and experience that graduate roles tend to. If you've got an interest or passion for a particular sector, business or charity, then don't just search the term +'job', go to their own website and you might just find an opportunity listed there. If you've got a particular interest in charity internships then why not have a look at our website (http://www.brucetaitassociates.net/charity-career-start) and vacancies page for more information?

2. Volunteering If you have an interest in charities, or a sector like education and learning then why not think about volunteering? It may not be paid, but its certainly a great way to get valuable experience in the area you are looking for a permanent role in later on. Again, its often best to go directly to charity/education etc. website to look for these roles, or through a volunteering site such as Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS). With volunteering, not only do you get experience, but you also get to see if the sector you are interested in really is for you – and you might even get to meet some influential people along the way who might help you towards your later role applications.

3. Advice If you've been looking for a great role, internship of volunteering post but you can't find what you're looking for, or if you've written more applications than you've had hot dinners only to hear nothing then maybe its time for a change in strategy. Is there anyone you know with links to recruitment or the sector you are interested in? It might be time to arrange a quick coffee with them to see what advice they can give you. Why not have a look through our website for a few tips and tricks? (http://www.brucetaitassociates.net/)

4. Validity Remember that while getting experience is great, its important that the experience is valid to the sector you are hoping to get in to. Its all very well to be an amazing mixologist, but its unlikely that you're bottle flipping skills will land you that all important events fundraising interview in the future. Of course there are skills which can be very transferrable, such as business development, administration, event organisation and management, but just be sure that what you're looking for is relevant.

Maybe having read this you're thinking that a few tips on how to fill in applications, make a great CV and write that important covering letter would be helpful?

Have a look at our other upcoming articles for more tips and tricks, and don't forget that if you share them we'd appreciate a mention!