That word 'experience'

For anyone looking for a job the word 'experience' I am sure inflicts a negative pile of emotions - from anger and frustration to self-doubt and exhaustion.

There are far and few between roles advertised these days that do not feature this horrific word 'experience' and in fact it seems to inflict outrage on those with it just as much as it does on those without it.

I remember the days when I was in my final weeks at University and like most applying left, right and central to try and land that 'dream job' or at least a job that sparked some interest and meant that my time spent studying and revising for exams wasn't just a complete waste.

Yet, still surfing graduate website after graduate website, graduate scheme after graduate scheme - they all wanted some sort of experience. I didn't get it and to be honest I still don't - how are you suppose to get this experience? How are you suppose to study for these essential exams, which, government and Universities inflict on us AND gain the experience you need to land these first jobs.

Are they not called first jobs for a reason?! It is so rare to find a graduate job advertisement that doesn't require some sort of experience or lengthy application process which keeps you chained to your computer screen for days pondering how to criticise some aspect of the company. When you are most likely sat there thinking - why would I find something to criticise about the company I am applying to join.

Then on the other end of the spectrum you have parents, grandparents and mentors who get made redundant and all of a sudden they find themselves in a position where they have too much experience or are to far gone in their career life cycle to be a good candidate for a job they are most likely over-qualified to do.

It's all bullshit really. In my eyes - from someone who has spent countless minutes, hours, days, weeks and years applying for jobs - all it really comes down to is luck and being in the right place at the right time.

Who actually makes that decision on whether you have the right or enough experience - do they even have enough experience to be doing their role and making the decision as to whether you are the right candidate for the role.

I have just spent the last year doing a part-time NCTJ qualification course in the vague hope that having a decent course provider and qualification on my CV would put me above the rest and in a better position to get to where I want to be, however, sadly this just isn't the case. As I trail through even the most junior positions they all seem to want experience. I just don't get where I am suppose to have gained this experience?! Do you?