When tech giant Amazon announced last week that it was slashing as many as 14,000 corporate jobs worldwide, it joined a growing wave of employers announcing redundancies.
In the UK, the number of employees on a payroll fell by 115,000 in the year to August.
Employers in the UK are cutting jobs as they grapple with rising National Insurance costs and inflation. The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is also likely to lower white-collar roles.
Almost a quarter of private sector employers plan to make redundancies in the next three months, according the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
And job losses could get even worse after the Budget. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to load extra costs on to firms by increasing minimum wages and extending the national living wage to those aged between 18 and 21.
But finding new employment can be a difficult and lengthy process, and job seekers can quickly come unstuck. More than half of UK households don't have the minimum recommended emergency savings of at least three months' salary to fall back on.
However, there are some positions that experts say job hunters can bag – even if they have no experience. These roles could be enough to pay the bills while searching for something better – or could become a new career.
Jack Kennedy, senior economist at jobs website Indeed, says: 'While it's natural to feel uncertain if you do not have much experience, this doesn't need to be a barrier.
'More than seven in ten UK employers say limited experience is not an obstacle to entry-level roles, and 85 per cent value curiosity and a willingness to learn just as much as qualifications.'
What are your interests?
When looking for a job in a new sector, the key is to consider what skills and interests you've built up.
For example, if you've worked in the corporate world, especially in sales and client-facing positions, and know what it takes to look the part, you might be ideal for personal shopper roles.
Personal shopper jobs typically pay about £30,000 a year.
Harrods wants candidates with a track record of achieving sales targets, as well as someone who is 'emotionally intelligent', passionate about delivering a high-quality service and can demonstrate that they have previously built relationships with clients.
Kennedy says: 'You don't need formal experience to start, but good communication and customer service skills are important.
'Many personal shoppers work in retail or for private clients, combining fashion knowledge with a tailored customer experience.'
Similarly, the content creation skills you have developed using social media may be enough to bag you a social media manager role, which pays an average of £32,250.
Knowledge of social media practices, online trends and communications skills are essential for these roles, but you need not necessarily have professional experience in these areas.
Landscape gardening jobs pay from £26,000 to £38,000, depending on experience. Hard landscapers need to be physically fit and able to move heavy loads.
You may find you already have enough knowledge of soft landscaping (turfing, planting, etc from tending your own garden).
Use your driving licence
The number of jobs in the transportation industry and logistics is increasing, according to professional network website LinkedIn.
Driver roles come with an average base salary of £25,552, but some pay considerably more.
Indeed said that while having a driving licence is essential, 'other professional experience is not required, but customer service skills translate well'.
If you have a standard driving licence you will be able to drive a van. If you are driving an HGV – a vehicle over 3.5 tons – you must have an HGV licence.
Company-employed driver roles in which you make deliveries have a starting salary of about £30,000.
Other haulage roles can pay handsomely. London-based firm HMM Europe has a logistics co-ordinator role offering up to £100,000 and doesn't require any job-specific experience.
Transferable skills
If you are organised, detail-oriented and enjoy working as part of a team, you may qualify for an administrative office role, even if you have no experience.
These jobs pay an average salary of just over £21,000, Indeed says, while executive assistant jobs have an average salary of £37,100.
One executive assistant position currently being offered by Signature Staff pays up to £70,000 a year and candidates must have strong attention to detail, independence and professionalism.
If you have technical knowledge in fields such as science or data, you could consider tutoring young people in your area of expertise. Full time, these roles pay an average salary of £26,200, according to Indeed. While a degree is often required, you don't need prior experience to start tutoring.
'The role offers flexible hours and can be done in person or online, making it a great option for those looking for more control over their working schedule,' adds Kennedy.
One training provider, the Skills Centre, needs a construction apprenticeship tutor, offering £40,000 − £50,000. Candidates need in-depth construction knowledge.
Hospitality can often be the most obvious choice when looking for work, and it is easy to see why.
The sector has a high turnover so consistently needs a supply of new workers, and offers opportunities that are often flexible, can be part or full-time and many pay on a weekly basis, which can be useful for someone who needs to earn money quickly.
LinkedIn says there are opportunities in both the food service sector in both events and restaurants and cafes, as well as in the accommodation side of the industry.
Charlotte Davies, a career expert at LinkedIn, says: 'We are seeing an increase in hiring in the accommodation and food services sector.
'These types of roles may require some experience, but generally employers are looking for great people skills.
'If you don't have relevant hospitality experience, be sure to showcase your communication, problem-solving and relationship-building skills. These attributes are in demand from employers across all sectors, so having the chance to build on these skills with a temporary role could even help to set you up for your next permanent job.'
One co-working space, Bodybox London, used by beauty professionals, is currently hiring for a branch operations manager, paying £36,000 per year. The position, based in central London, calls for candidates who have worked in operations management, client relations and with billing systems, but does not require prior hospitality management experience.
Learn on the job
You can apply for some entry-level emergency services jobs with no experience, because full on the job training is provided.
These include an ambulance care assistant or emergency medical dispatcher/call handler.
The Met Police has rolling applications open for police constables, with the position paying a starting salary of £42,210, which includes an extra allowance because the position is based in London.
The Police Constable Entry Programme requires no experience, asking only for two A-levels or a Level 3 qualification, and minimum fitness requirements.
Another alternative is becoming a prison custody officer.
Estate agencies also offer on-the-job training. These roles require communication and negotiation skills, and offer an average base salary of £36,500.
Sales roles often require no previous experience or particular qualifications, but employers look for candidates who are personable, confident and good communicators. The average salary for sales jobs stands at £30,700.
However, some will pay far more. A field sales executive position advertised by recruiter Better pays up to £50,000 a year, with commission-based earnings rising to as much as £120,000.
Candidates must be good communicators, able to give presentations, be self-motivated and have some experience working in the business-to-business sales sector.
If you have computer coding skills, especially using Python, JavaScript and Java, you may find your niche as a web developer – even if you have not worked in a similar role before.
These pay an average of £33,171 a year, but some positions offer much more.
One junior front-end developer role at Byte9 calls for experience with HTML, CSS and JavaScript and coding standards, but doesn't require previous experience as a web developer.
