Looking for your first job can be confusing. It’s hard to know what to search for, and even if you do find a job that looks interesting, it’s hard to tell if you have the required experience to actually land the job. Here on One Day, One Job, we write about entry level jobs for new college gradates. If you’re a college student or a new college grad, then you’re in the right place. We’re going to take a look at the intricacies of what “entry level” really means, and help you figure out how to determine what companies really mean when they list experience requirements on a job posting. If you’re a teen who is still in high school, you’ll be better off looking at MyFirstPaycheck.com – Jobs for Teens for advice and job opportunities.
What Does “Entry Level” Mean?
The only word that is commonly used to to identify jobs that are suited for new college graduates is “entry level.” Many companies use the term, but there are just as many that don’t. Here’s the definition from Wikipedia:
An entry-level job is a job that generally requires little skill and knowledge, and is generally of a low pay. These jobs may require physical strength or some on-site training. Many entry-level jobs are part-time, and do not include employee benefits. Recent graduates from high school or college usually take entry-level positions.
Entry-level jobs which are targeted at college graduates often offer a higher salary. These positions are more likely to require specific skills and knowledge. Most entry-level jobs offered to college graduates are full-time permanent positions.
As you can see, there are really two definitions. For this reason searching for “entry level jobs” often won’t yield the results that you’re looking for. You’ll come across too many jobs that you’re overqualified for because you have a college degree, and you’ll also miss out on all the jobs from companies who don’t call their jobs “entry level.” You can try searching job boards that only list entry level jobs for new college grads, but those also offer limited options. The only way to consistently find great career opportunities at companies that are willing to hire new college graduates is to learn how to read between the lines in a job description.
Does Anyone Really Have No Experience?
Now that we’ve gotten to the bottom of what “entry level” actually means, we need to discuss how you can figure out which jobs to apply to as a new college grad with “no experience.” If you find an awesome job that says that it’s specifically suited to new college grads who have no work experience, then you’re all set. If you find a company with a college recruiting section on their website, then you’re also in good shape. That is, unless you come across a company that lists “entry level jobs,” but then includes job descriptions that say that they require “3 years of experience.” Before you rip your hair out in frustration, you should realize that every single company has a different interpretation of what a year of experience actually is.
One company that we worked with said that internships, volunteer work, coursework, membership in college organizations, and almost anything else that might help you hone your professional skills can be considered experience. That means that this company would actually list a job as being entry level and requiring 3 years of experience, but they would consider applicants who had never had a full-time job before. This is probably the broadest interpretation that we’ve seen, but you should make note of it.
There are also companies that say that they want someone who has 1-3 years of work experience. They mean what they’re saying. They want someone who has spent time in a full-time job. That doesn’t mean that they won’t hire you, though. Companies are often overzealous in the experience requirements that they list. They have an unrealistic perception of who the ideal candidate is. These are the types of jobs that many new college grads don’t have the confidence to apply for. That’s the wrong attitude. Many of these jobs are within the reach of new college grads who are able to sell themselves. The key is being confident enough to apply and framing your non-work experience in terms that make you sound like you’ll transition into the new job with ease. We’ve seen it work time after time.
How Do You Identify These Jobs?
Reading between the lines is tough. The most simple advice that we can offer is to apply for any job that you think that you can do. If the job description sounds interesting and doesn’t seem to be beyond your capabilities, go for it. As long as the experience requirements on the job posting are within the range of 1-3 years, you should at least get a look. Whether you’re scanning job boards, searching Google for jobs, or targeting specific employers, you need to realize that there is almost no consistency between companies when they list experience requirements. When you’re job searching, you need to look carefully at job descriptions and company websites to get an idea of their culture. See what kind of experience their current employees have through LinkedIn, and use that information to get a better sense of what companies are actually looking for.
If this is overwhelming for you, then don’t worry about it. Every day we profile of a new employer who is hiring new college graduates. You can look at our archive of the best entry level jobs, see what kind of jobs are available to people with your college major, or subscribe to get our jobs in your e-mail every day for free. We’re pros at reading between the lines, so you can trust us to find the entry level jobs that you will probably never find on your own.
is the funniest, most in-your-face career guide on the market.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Willy,
Great post. I tell students all the time that “entry-level” is being redefined in most industries. For the most part, graduating with a college degree and “no experience” is simply not enough these days.
However, you make an important point about how “internships, volunteer work, coursework, membership in college organizations, and almost anything else that might help you hone your professional skills can be considered experience.” I would agree that most organizations will consider these types of experience when evaluating you as a potential hire. If nothing else, they might increase your starting salary (which is never a bad thing).
Again, very useful post.
Heather Huhman
Entry Level Careers Examiner
Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-828-Entry-Level-Careers-Examiner
What a great post! I work as a recruiter in Boston for Hollister Staffing (www.hollisterstaff.com) and deal with mostly college grads. In my experience, they all seem to have a hard time determining what they are qualified for and what they aren’t. I agree with you that today having a college degree and no experience isn’t enough, and find that grads who had internships, got involved on campus, etc have an easier time finding a job than those that did not. This is all great advice, thank you for sharing it!
I’ve actually applied for the same job I interned for and when I did intern they said that I am an excellent worker, but they didn’t have a position open. But I applied for the job when the position opened, had my application forwarded to a manager the same day, got called in for an interview the next day, had probably my best interview ever, waited the whole two weeks for a call, finally called 3 days after thr two week period and found out they hired someone else. This is coming from the guy that I did the job that takes normally a month or two to catch onto in a week and said I am the perfect candidate, passed with a 3.9 GPA after 4 years of college while working a full-time job and taking care of a home, but no prior experience in this field. NO EXPERIENCE = NO JOB It’s all about who you know in the company. Sad but true….
I don’t think its fair that people have to be experinced in almost everything just to find a job. What about students right out of school that needs a job to pay a few bills or so. believe it or not, majority of the time the ones with no experience would be a better worker for the job position then the ones who are experienced.
I find the term entry level to mean that the hiring company doesn’t want to pay much and that the hiring company is OK with the fact that they will have to bring you up to speed.
Entering into a new industry, be that after graduating or changing professions usually entails changing job tasks and responsibilities.
–
Gustafson
http://theviewfromhome.com/thejobhunt – my job search notes
Very nice post willy, this has woke me up alot. I am currently searching for a job in the boston area since my contract is almost up for my current job and it seems like I will be unemployed again with only 7 months of networking experience. I have an associates degree now and still have a very hard time landing a job because of experience as usual so, im looking into taking some certifications for extra help. Any suggestions on this would be helpful.
I totally agree that it is unfair that people with no experience cannot find jobs very easily as imyself am a 16 year old just left school and it is so hard to find a job because of having no experience and age restrictions are increasing on every thing which also has a great impact.
I agree with some people. What about us college graduates that have the degree but no experience in the field because there were no open internships available for that major in the local area? Does that mean we’re going to be homeless? Even people with graduate degrees have a hard time getting employed into entry level jobs. I read on this woman who had two master’s degrees and she couldn’t get a callback for a manager’s training position at a McDonald’s despite the fact that only a high school diploma is required. I swear, it seems like it’s required for you to have a Ph.D. from Yale to even get a callback for an entry level position.
I just graduated from college and I now carry a License as a Psychiatric Technician. I have not found a job since August because every single job keeps telling me I need 1 yr of experience. I have searched everywhere for places that will hire without experience and I have found NONE. I have invested 1 year of my life to go to school for this profession 5 days a week 8 hours a day in school and now I am in the process of becoming a Sheriff because I really need a job. I just think its very sad that I had to switch my whole career because NOBODY will hire me without a year of experience……. Where do I get this year of experience if nobody will hire me without any experience??? Its discouraging
After 13 years at the same job and 4 promotions I am now overqualified for most positions I apply for. 20% unemployment in Usa will maybe be the downfall of the economy. Good luck grads!
I am a 21 year old who went from school to Prison and now that I want to do the right thing I can’t get a job! I never actually got to have a job. I do have my GED but it seems to me like that doesnt even matter any more because I have no work experience.
It seems that prison-to-work people have an easier time getting jobs than college-to-work ones who got their Bachelor’s degree after going to college straight out of college-prep high school, no taking time off, no having babies out of wedlock, no criminal record, no drugs, no none of that. There are more welfare-to-work programs in the states than there are college-to-work ones. Entry level means an employer would rather hire someone with their GED and a felony record and a few out of wedlock children because the welfare-to-work programs give the employers money to participate in that. In my experience, I lost a job somewhere (for mistaken identity and my personal credit problems in their background and credit check) at which the welfare-to-work person was getting all the promotions and to this day is probably still there…well, guess what. The welfare-to-work girl doesn’t have “bad credit” from drowning in student loan debt from COLLEGE. That’s one main reason why employers would rather hire them than college graduates… sometimes I think school-to-prison is more acceptable by society as to what people SHOULD be doing, and that’s what makes those people a “better fit” in most companies. They’ve done “what they’re supposed to be doing” with their lives and so welcome, welcome. People like me are “unnatural” and a ‘freak’ and a misfit of society and no employer wants to hire that. (these days, not even in San Francisco…)
I may have to get my Master’s in Biotechnology or Bioagricultural Engineering just to get an entry level job washing petri dishes and labelling specimen jars at some lab somewhere in some remote part of the country where no one lives…and that’s IFFF I can get “work references” all the while no one will hire me.
I’m competing like hell for an UNPAID internship with a government agency whose work is in my field. This is pathetic.
It’s very discouraging to know despite all our hard work at school trying to better ourselves, employers cease to recognize our talent. It’s bull in my opinion. Now I have to consider re-enlisting into the Military. That is something I really didn’t want to do as Military life does indeed suck very much. At least there I don’t have to know someone to put food in my stomach and a roof over my head. I’m tired of seeing people who don’t qualify at all getting jobs because they knew someone. Does honest hard work even count at all today? Good luck to everyone.
I’m 27 and have a BS in Computer Science but no experience and no relevant work history (I last worked at a 7-11 in 2002). I graduated from College May 2007 so I’m not a recent grad either.
I’m having no luck finding work and am probably totally screwed
Where are entry level IT jobs? Jobs that offer training?
I’m at my wits end here…
I need help looking for a job in Davis, Ca or surrounding area. No experience.
Thanks.
For me, to find a job is to play a game. Like every other games, rules exist. Me? Even with almost 2 years experience in real jobs, I still fail most of the interviews just because I don’t want to play that game. Honestly, I hate being interviewed.
1. you have to understand the game and
2. you have to want to play it
good luck,
So I graduated with three bachelor degrees from my university; Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Japanese. I was one of those kids who got really good grades in HS, and was able to go straight into one of the better universities in my state. I worked my butt off to get those three degrees; spending practically 20hrs a week in lab, doing massive amounts of HARD coursework, and pretty much having no social life. I didn’t take summers off, so I could graduate on time. I did graduate on time. But tell me why its been six months already, and I still don’t have a job. I’ve looked in biotech/research, but I’m competing against MA/Ph.D holders, so I’m screwed. I don’t want go to through more schooling, because I’m already in a HUGE debt thanks to student loans. But lucky for me, I have a BA in Japanese. The plan now is to move to Japan and work for a government agency through the JET program. Thank goodness.
I graduated with a degree in finance in May of 06. I am still waiting tables because I am under qualified for degreed jobs due to lack of experience, yet I am over qualified for bank teller jobs because I have a degree. I really thought earning that degree would open doors, not close them.
I am about to graduate with my BS in CJ in July of 2010. I have already started job searching and find that to become a paralegal, i don’t even NEED a degree.. but that might be all I qualify for… I spent time at home raising my children. I have an 18 year old daughter, 3 in between, and a 2 year old. I of course don’t have any ‘reputable’ work experience, nor is it long enough, except the tenacity to have stayed at home and collect a ‘not so good check’ LOL. It is pitiful, you can’t get anywhere these days without a college education, well now it seems you can’t get anywhere WITH one!
This is the fault of the public education system. Classes such as english, art, and history should come with a disclaimer making sure participants know that there are no jobs in those fields unless you are really good and have the money to invest in graduate education. High school vocational centers should train students in answering phones, customer service, typing, managing databases, and other things that employers look for these days. The government should only provide financial aid to students majoring in a field that is in demand and will virtually guarantee a job. This is sad but true, as I majored in history myself. I came into college as a physical therapy hopeful, but I was really bad at math and science, so I had to change over to something I was good at. I can’t help it because I don’t have a mathematical brain. I can’t do anything about it. Things are getting to the point where it would make more sense to turn away those who aren’t good at math and science than to give them money to obtain degrees that lead nowhere. Just turn everyone into number computing machines, cyborgs. Well maybe not that far, but I feel so stupid for wasting all of that money. High school teachers and counselors told me to go to college so I did. I did all that I could with what I had, and now I don’t know what to do.
I am glad to see so many people actually feel the same way. I got a dipolma and I am the top student in college…but still no one in my field would like to hire someone with no experience. The company require experience for almost everything..2 yr customer service experience, 2 yr admin, proficient in this and that. and yet they prefer bilingual..I can speak Eng and Chinese, but they said sorry, Custmoer Service require perfect English.
The least the older generations could do, having alternately voted away and squandered our futures, would be to provide free euthanasia centers for us.
I graduated in 2008 with a questionably worthless B.A. in International Affairs. It is almost impossible to obtain an entry-level federal position straight out of university. I enjoy policy research, but many of the think tanks will not hire without adequate experience. I graduated from a reputable state college, but it’s gotten to the point where I have to avoid loan debt collectors because I can’t find employment anywhere.
I’d like to volunteer as well as work, but the truth is volunteering won’t help keep the lights on. People complain about my generation feeling too “entitled.” Excuse me, but perhaps I should feel a little entilted to at least a 30k entry level postion after siphoning off more than 70k to my education. Waitressing itsn’t going to keep the collectors from harassing me!
I completely understand everyone here. I feel as though, I’ve wasted four years for absolutely zilch. Jeff had it right. Let’s just start teaching kindergartners how to use excel, outlook, and do accounting. Why teach them all of that silly stuff, like history, policy, or civics?
None of that stuff matters anyway…./sarcasm
I graduated with a bachelor degree in information technology Septermber 2009. I have no experience in the field but I have 8 years of working experience ovall and I’m 24. I have A+ and Network + certifications and still no luck finding a job. All these people want experience and act like they were born with knowledge in whatever they are working in. I just don’t know why they think like that. They tell me that they have been in the field for 10 – 15 years and are experts and stuff like that. First of let me say that 15 years ago if you knew what a monitor or a motherboard was in a computer you were a genius. 15 years ago, 1995 we had Windows 95 and I’m not sure if dial up internet existed yet or email. They ask me about today’s applications that THEY are using (each industry uses different applications for their needs, for example if I work for insurance industry I’ll be using some type of claims application. If i’m working for a Google i’m dealing with totally different applications). My point is that these applications are learned and NOBODY was borned with knowledge how to use these applications or troubleshoot them. On some interviews the people who interviewed me had less knowledge then me on overall information technology. Today’s job market really sucks and I just might going to have to find a temp data entry job or whatever.
I would like President Obama to read this. I voted for him! I am a single mother who just spent the last four years of my life getting my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona. I can not find a job. Every job wants experience. There for NO Experience= No Job. I apply for these jobs anyways just to get letters back saying that I am not qualified. I am now drowning in school loan debt, where the interest just keeps growing. I can’t even declare bankruptcy, but the thing is that I WANT A JOB! Maybe it was the degree that i got, Media Art. Ok, so now what? I’m just am thrown into the cracks where no one will notice. There should be help for college graduates who can not get work. Maybe I could get a degree change paid for by the government or some kind of help getting a job. I mean I already owe 30.000 dollars which will at least double by the time I am done paying it. This is crazy. This is not freedom! This is oppression at the fullest degree. There has to be something done about this. In other countries you get schooling for free. These colleges should be held responsible for getting these graduates jobs. Maybe then they wouldn’t give these gigantic loans out so leisurely. Please help!
The reason these employers can require such extreme amounts of qualifications is simply because there are people who can meet them. There are so many people unemployed right now that people with years of experience are taking jobs that would have been given to recent college grads in time past. The college solves every problem answer that has been shoved down our throat is obsolete, we are stuck pumping out far more college grads than our economy wants or needs. 70k+ spent on an education, bills piling up, ruined credit, is this really the best solution? Is this what high school students should be working towards, would any of you have gone to college knowing the truth? Well since most of you already have your best option is to take that crappy job at minimum wage, but look at it from a different point of view, advancement. The only way you will go straight from school to well off is to invent something, or know someone, for the rest of us we have to think long term. Take that minimum wage job that despite having nothing to do with your degree works in close proximity to your desired field, for example for a person with a degree in the biotechnology field you would be well suited to take a grunt job at a waste treatment plant and move up after you move to a job that is somewhat near your field stay there for three years, and voila you have plenty of experienced in the practical application of your field (this was just a rough example i know next to nothing about biotechnology). Now that you have the experience required go find a 50k+ job out there. Of course most people who try this will be completely financially ruined by the time they get a “good job”.
Very true. This is why I get jobs: because I look at the requirements and make sure I know I can do everything on the description, then I go for it regardless of what it says is required. And I haven’t failed an interview yet.
Just graduated from college in May of 2010, and I have a GPA of 4.0, I am and Honors Student, Summa Cum Laude in Medical Billing/Coding. And guess what? I totally emphathize with what all of you are going thru. Just got a text from a fellow classmate lamenting the same problem Im having , as the rest of you are goin thru. I echo all your sentiments, the same “No experience, no job” syndrome. If anyone knows of an any entry level medical billing/coding position in the San Diego area. please let me know. Were in this together.
After reading this page, it felt like people have written down what I have gone through over the last year and a half. After my bachelors degree, I thought it would be great if I continued my studies and enrolled into a masters program. I graduated in engineering from a reputed college with a 3.7 GPA, secured the best student award for my graduating year and ….. ended up without a job. All because I had no relevant experience. All my grades, my effort and whatever I gained through my education seems a waste now that I can’t put it into use. My hopes get dimmer by the day as new grads turn up every 6 months. After all, who would want to hire a person who’s knowledge gathers dust with the passage of time.
Thankfully, I had a scholarship so I don’t have loans. A supportive family ensures I have a roof over my head and meals on the table. Otherwise I dread to imagine the condition I would be today.
I came across this board on a google search for any sort of job help. I read every last post and I couldn’t help but take the time to echo everyone’s statements. I’m 21, I’ve never held a job in my life, and now family and life situations have forced me to find a job for the past year now. I’ve been searching for what feels like ages now. NOTHING is turning up. I can’t even seem to get a job flipping burgers or serving donuts despite said establishments having NOW HIRING signs out front in clear view. I am not an idiot. I know how to use a cash register, I can handle money, I can serve food. So then what is wrong with me? Why can’t I be hired? It is really not fair anymore. What little money I have left is slowly disappearing and there is still no job in sight. I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to me. The last generation screwed up the economy and now we young people are paying the price. Not fair at all…
I have my BA from the university of texas with a 3.4 gpa. unfortunately everyone growing up lied to me when they said ” go to college so you can get a good job”. After searching for a good job for several months, I have been rejected by places such as target, best buy, kohls, ect. in an attempt to get a minimum wage job. i guess you need either a masters or no degree at all because the B.A. has done nothign but hurt me. so im starting to think its Obamas fault i cant get a job. when bush was in office (before my degree) i was able to get jobs with ease.
I graduated from college in 2005 1 year after I graduated I got a job as a Rec Therapist at a behavioral health facility. Prior to this I had always worked part time mostly after school programs. While I was working full time I decided to get a Master’s in Public Administration. I had 3.8 gpa I always had a job so I balance school and work fine but I do not have relevent experience shouldnt coursework count as experience. I graduated with my Master’s in 2008 got married in 2009 and decided to take some time off. Now that I am ready to go back to work I can not find a thing. I’m unble to pay my student loans and money is running out. Do I take my Master’s off of my resume? It sucks that I invested so much time and money into something that I cant even have on my resume.
Finally, people I can identify with! I have a BA in History and an MA in Criminal Justice. I can write and analyze on a quantitative and qualitative level. I can also read at a very high level and understand complex topics. I had high GPAs in both my programs, have a clean background, and good credit (apparently all employers want to see your credit now) and I still can’t find a job. I’ve been looking since 2007 and nothing. If I leave my MA on the resume I’m overqualified and if I take it off I get calls back only for them to hire someone with experience. What I wonder is why do they have to waste my time if they know they are looking for experience only. From what I’ve seen there are plenty of experience people out there who can’t do their job right. I’ve had interviews with people I knew within a company and still didn’t get the job based on some weird technicalities. It’s real frustrating now. I’m tired of playing their games and being totally PC in the interview and trying to put on a positive face after the 1 millionth interview. It’s ridiculous. Here, in this country, we are told to go to school, go to college, and get a good education and yet it doesn’t pan out for many of us. As others stated, yes I could go get a minimum wage job but it’s not going to pay my bills and I’ll be further in debt when I get a real job. That and they won’t hire me because I’m a college graduate. I applied for a min. wage position a year ago with a funeral home and the girl that interviewed me wanted to hire me but she had to go through the company that owned the funeral home to get the final answer. They hired someone else because they could pay them less. Another annoying thing is I HATE when people tell me they’ll call back and let me know whether or not I get the job and they never call back, they send a letter. CALL ME!!!!! If I don’t get it I’m not going to yell and throw a fit, I want to know how I can become a better interviewer. It’s like no one calls anymore and yet we live in a society of cell phone wielding maniacs. If I knew it was going to be this difficult I would have shoved college all together, nowadays it is not worth it. How can I have years of experience when I was in school!? Really, is it that hard to train someone, just shove a book in my face if the information is too much, that’s what college did for me anyway so why can’t the workforce do that too. Frankly I’m tired of playing the stupid interview game, most of the time they know who they want to hire anyway. Another annoying thing is having to take tests to get through to a job. A test, really!? Are we all back in college again? I’m ready to take off the PC gloves and just send a resume stating what I really think I am worth to a company and if it sounds arrogant, so what, it’s not like they were going to hire me anyway…lack of experience and all.