Job search tips for entry-level roles

Hi again!

Last week, we outlined the steps you can expect to move through during your job search. Now, we’re going to focus our attention on applying for entry-level jobs. Typically, exploring entry-level roles can make sense if you are looking for your first job, are early in your career, or you’re considering a career change.

The primary defining characteristic of an entry-level role is that people in them have minimal prior experience working in that capacity. That definition is quite vague because different fields may qualify ‘entry level’ differently. Let’s break it down:

• Minimal prior experience is usually less than two years of experience.
• Prior experience can include education, internships, or even other entry-level positions.
• Working in that capacity can mean in that role, field, or at that career level.

For example, entry-level marketing jobs typically only require a marketing education or skill-set, while entry-level finance jobs may require professional certifications. Cloud computing jobs, on the other hand, are generally mid-career or advanced positions, so entry-level cloud computing jobs typically require past work experience in IT or a related field. (At the end of this issue, we’ll offer more resources for finding entry-level roles in specific industries.)

Tips for finding an entry-level job

Keep your larger goals in mind. Be strategic about the types of entry-level jobs you look for by applying for positions that align with your long-term professional goals. If your priority is to work in a specific industry, search for industry-aligned roles; if your priority is to earn a high salary, search for high-paying roles across various industries. Being clear about where you want to end up in the long term can help you organize your must-haves, nice-to-haves, and don’t-needs in the short term.

To explore what a successful career might look like for you, check out the University of Pennsylvania’s Achieving Personal and Professional Success Specialization.

Seek career guidance. Having career guidance can make many aspects of your job search easier, from filling out applications to deciding on the best career path for you. What kind of guidance do you need? Here are some options:?

• Finding a mentor to learn from someone with experience in your field
• Working with a career counselor or career coach
• Networking with a professional development group

Highlight your transferable skills. Transferable skills, like critical thinking and teamwork, can be valuable in the workplace, so including them on your resume can help you stand out from other applicants. Think about the skills you’ve demonstrated through past projects, volunteer work, internships, and even hobbies. For more tips, read our guide for writing a resume with no experience.

To explore a range of in-demand transferable skills, try the University of California, Irvine’s Career Success Specialization.

Keep learning. Earning a credential in your desired field can help communicate your knowledge, skills, and capabilities to potential employers. You can pursue several types of learning opportunities, like individual courses, bootcamps, or apprenticeships.

When seeking entry-level roles, we often recommend earning a Professional Certificate. These programs are designed by industry leaders like Google, Microsoft, and IBM, and cover skills and tools required for entry-level roles. Visit Career Academy to explore options in business, marketing, software engineering, IT, and data analytics.

Industry-specific entry-level resources

As promised, here are guides detailing entry-level roles in various industries and job types, each with tips for securing a starter role:

• Accounting
• Analyst jobs
• Computer science
• Data analysis
• Finance
• Graphic design
• Help desk jobs
• Human resources
• Information technology
• Management
• Marketing
• Office jobs
• Programming
• Remote roles
• Sales
• Software engineering
• Tech

Let us know in the comments if there are any other industries you’d like to explore. Otherwise, we’ll be back next week with tips for changing careers. Talk to you then!

Have a career question you’d like us to answer next? Share it below. And, as always, we welcome YOUR advice and experience in the comments.