An entry-level job is one that is typically intended or designated for recent graduates of a given discipline and that typically doesn’t require prior experience in the field or profession. Some on-site training may be necessary for these positions. Entry-level positions frequently don’t offer benefits and are part-time.
Typically, recent high school or college graduates take on entry-level positions. When compared to entry-level jobs for high school graduates, jobs for college graduates frequently pay more. These jobs are more likely to call for specialized training, education, or experience.
The majority of entry-level positions available to college graduates are permanent full-time jobs, though some of them also provide more in-depth graduate training programs. While entry-level positions historically did not require any prior experience, the Great Recession led to an oversupply of college graduates on the job market and led to the elimination of many entry-level positions.
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Table of Contents
What Is Meant By Entry Level?
Entry-level employment typically calls for little in the way of education, experience, or training. Every industry has entry-level positions available. Some of them might require advanced academic training, while others might call for specialized abilities, information, or methods. Some employers offer on-the-job training to entry-level staff members as a way for them to learn crucial business skills.
Both full-time and part-time positions at entry-level levels are available. Students in their final year of high school or college may decide to work a part-time, entry-level job to gain experience.
Entry-level job applicants are frequently recent high school or college grads. To start developing new industry skills, some professionals who change careers may look for entry-level positions in the new industry. A higher salary is typically offered by jobs geared toward college grads, but these positions are more likely to call for a specialized set of knowledge and abilities. The majority of them are full-time, permanent jobs.
Identify Entry-level Jobs
The majority of entry-level positions are designated as such in job descriptions and have titles that start with anything from associate to assistant. When searching through listings, you’ll likely come across the following types of entry-level jobs:
“degree Not Required” Entry-level Jobs
These are positions for which no college degree and little to no prior experience is necessary. Hospitality, retail, and some administrative positions are typical occupations in this category. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree may frequently be passed over since these jobs don’t require a college education because employers may think they are overqualified.
True Entry-level Jobs
Entry-level jobs are still regarded as such by many employers. To be taken into consideration for these positions, you’ll need to have an undergraduate degree and possibly have completed one or more internships. These are the most typical entry-level positions, and you can find them in industries like finance, consulting, marketing, and healthcare.
“Professional Experience Required” Entry-level Jobs
Although less frequent, you’re still likely to find these entry-level positions during your job search. Although they may be labeled “entry-level,” they would be better defined as entry- to mid-level jobs, since they expect you to have 1-3 years of full-time, professional experience. These positions are frequently available at smaller businesses with limited resources that are still working to recruit top talent.
By giving you an accurate sense of the jobs you’re qualified for and those where you’re likely to earn the highest salary with your qualifications, reading between the lines can help you save time during your job search. See more about What Is An Account Executive?
What Qualifies An “Entry-level” Job?
Due to the fact that you will probably need to complete some on-the-job training in order to succeed, entry-level jobs are typically ones that you can perform without any formal training or experience. Full- or part-time employment is possible for entry-level positions. This might be some people’s first job ever.
But you might start your career with an entry-level position that develops into a significant role. Although you can still anticipate some training, your employer will probably expect you to have some familiarity with the work as well as the necessary credentials, particularly in fields like cybersecurity or data analysis.
Do Entry-level Jobs Call For Training And Education?
An analysis from LinkedIn found that a growing number of entry-level positions require experience. In order to be considered for entry-level positions, candidates needed to have at least three years of experience as of 2021. This is especially true for many corporate careers, including product management, information security, web development, and user experience design. As well as a bachelor’s degree in a related field, it is typical to see requirements for 1 to 3 years of experience.
Nevertheless, it’s important to note that more employers now waive degree requirements. Indeed, according to a LinkedIn report, between 2019 and 2020, there were almost 40% more job postings that didn’t require a degree.
Don’t worry if you lack a degree. Look for lists of the most recent employers to remove educational requirements. If any interest you, look at their “Career” page for roles that sound like a potential or interesting fit.
High-paying Entry-level Roles
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median hourly wage for all US occupations was $20.17 in May 2020. That comes to $41,953 annually when calculated for full-time employment. Several industries offer entry-level jobs that pay more than the average, but many of these jobs call for a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
| Job title | Degree required | Salary |
| Health education specialist | Bachelor’s | $48,140 |
| Event planner | Bachelor’s | $51,560 |
| Paralegal | Associate | $52,920 |
| Graphic designer | Bachelor’s | $53,380 |
| Human resource specialist | Bachelor’s | $63,490 |
| Writes | Bachelor’s | $67,120 |
| Dental hygienist | Associate | $74,070 |
| Budget analyst | Bachelor’s | $79,970 |
| Radiation therapist | Associate | $80,570 |
| Computer programmer | Bachelor’s | $89,190 |
| Computer systems analyst | Bachelor’s | $93,730 |
While the BLS claims that no experience is necessary for the roles described above, you might find that job listings indicate a different preference. Postings frequently act as the company’s wish list. According to a 2018 survey, candidates who could satisfy at least 50% of a job posting’s requirements had an equal chance of getting an interview as candidates who could satisfy 90% of a job posting’s requirements. Even though you shouldn’t apply for positions where all the requirements aren’t met, it’s a good idea to highlight the skills you do have that could be useful in the position.
Find Entry-level Jobs
With no education or experience: Thanks to the robust nature of internet search algorithms, you can conduct a search for phrases like “jobs no experience” or “jobs without degree” and come across a number of job search sites that display relevant listings. Despite the fact that these listings might not be specific to your area, they can give you useful information about the books you might want to look up there or the kinds of work you might want to consider.
With regard to education and experience: If you have an associate or bachelor’s degree in a particular field and want to work in that sector, it’s a good idea to look into relevant entry-level positions. Common entry-level job titles include designations like “assistant,” “coordinator,” and “specialist,” though these can vary by industry and company. Use job search websites to look for comparable positions in your area or run more general searches to learn more about career options for your specific degree.
Find The Best Entry-level Job For You
Understanding your goals for an entry-level position is crucial, whether they are to gain experience, contacts, develop your skills, or earn a certain minimum wage. You don’t have to keep just one of these examples in mind; these are merely a few. Make a list of your priorities and rank them from most to least important so you can evaluate job postings for entry-level positions according to your standards. The entry-level position that best serves your goals is the one you want.
Here are a few reasons why people choose entry-level positions and why emphasizing these aspects may be beneficial.
Potential for growth: Professionals advise remaining in an entry-level position for at least a year in order to gain the necessary experience before moving on. However, some businesses spend money on internal promotion and talent development. Your entry-level job could become a more long-lasting opportunity if you are able to land a position at a company with that kind of culture.
Skills improvement: The work you do can help you improve your technical, transferable, and even workplace skills. Finding a job that requires you to use new tools, processes, or tasks can help you build the skills you’ll need to keep moving up the corporate ladder.
Networking: The people you meet at your workplace or through the work you do there can be a valuable resource as you pursue advancement. Take advantage of employee groups that are designed to promote connections within a company and think about networking opportunities you might have in your entry-level position.
Tips For Excelling In An Entry-level Job
You will start out working in an entry-level position even if you have high aspirations for your career. While many entry-level jobs have a low salary, you can enjoy a number of different benefits, including:
Accept Learning Opportunities
You should use your entry-level position as an opportunity to learn since you are new to your field. This is a beneficial opportunity because it gives you the chance to network with and learn from mid- and upper-level experts who have extensive experience. You’ll gain a better comprehension of the dos and don’ts in your company and industry by watching these professionals in action. You can get information and skills from them that will help you in your career by asking them questions.
It can be advantageous to establish contacts with other professionals in your field while working in an entry-level position. By networking, you can find out more about how people in similar roles perform their jobs at various companies or how successful your team members are in their current positions. You can develop relationships through networking that will support your professional success.
Explore All Career Paths
You’ll have the time to look into additional career opportunities in your field as an entry-level worker. To make an educated choice, it’s important to learn more about all facets of your field because many entry-level positions lead to various career paths. To learn more about a variety of roles and responsibilities, ask to shadow employees in other departments within your company. You will acquire a unique skill set that is pertinent to the career path you choose once you start down it.
As you investigate various professions, a mentor can act as a guide. In a mentorship, a seasoned expert in your field can provide guidance and assist you in developing relationships with influential people in your industry. You can move from an entry-level position to a higher role by using the guidance of a successful mentor. Mentors can be coworkers at your current organization, former managers from a part-time position, or former instructors or teachers.
Take Initiative
You have the chance to make a good impression on your coworkers or managers right away as an entry-level employee. Your manager might be more likely to think of you when a promotion opportunity arises if you take the initiative and exhibit a positive attitude.
Ask clarification-seeking questions and make notes so you can recall responses later to demonstrate your commitment to your job and the company. If you finish your work and demonstrate that you are a valuable team member, your manager or coworkers may grant you additional responsibilities. In order to succeed in your current position and advance in your career, find out from your supervisor if there are any areas in which you can make improvements.
Conclusion
You’re probably looking for an entry-level position when you first enter the workforce. You’ll get the training and experience you need to advance in your field, and it’s typically a stepping stone to the workplace.
Although internships and college activities can give you an advantage when applying, entry-level jobs frequently do not require work experience. To learn more about the opportunities available to you, make use of the resources on campus and career fairs.
Thank you for reading.
