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You've graduated from college or graduate school, and you're looking for your first "real" job. Yet, in reading the online job postings, it seems like every entry-level position requires several years of experience. Employers want it both ways.
Brain surgeons don't work for $15 an hour, but you wouldn't know it from some job postings. Employers want somebody who can increase sales by 95% during their first week, but they want to pay you like you're a teenager mowing lawns for extra cash over the summer. They can't have it both ways. Unfortunately, you have to play that game.
Here are some tips that may help secure that entry-level position:
Get an internship. If you haven’t already had one, know that internships are a fantastic way to get actual work experience. An internship at a local radio station is better than running your student one. An internship helps recent graduates with all the previously mentioned tips. The work you do during an internship gives you professional-level experience that's great on a resume. Internships are your first opportunity to build a professional network, and one or two of those people may end up giving you a life-altering reference.
Read the job description carefully. Know that companies create payroll budgets based on job classifications, categories, or levels, and, commonly, the job level does not match the expected qualifications. There is no telling who wrote the job description or how much thought and effort went into it. Job descriptions are sometimes recycled or are cut and paste from the internet. Yet, the desired core skills are buried somewhere in the language. Try and decode what the employer truly needs. Is it Java programming? Is it sales experience? Is it the ability to design in CAD? The answer is there. Do your best to determine the core skill that an employer is really looking for.
Read between the lines. Be realistic in your approach; if a job positing lists a requirement of ten years of experience, don’t bother applying as a recent graduate – you won’t get the job. On the other hand, if the role requires 1-2 years of experience, you can thread that needle. For example, maybe the job asks for a programmer with C++ and 1-2 years of experience, employers may take a chance on a candidate they feel is the right candidate, with the right attitude and the right mix of skills. By all means apply for this one – you can get it.
Use your resume as a strategic communication tool. Revising your resume for each job is always recommended. Your resume allows you to control the narrative. Continuing the programming example, use your resume to spoon-feed your C++ experience to the recruiter and hiring manager, detailing any C++ courses, projects, or work you've done.
Talk up your transferrable skills. Some jobs require knowledge and experience with a specific tool. For example, many businesses rely on Customer Relationship Management tools (CRMs) such as Salesforce. Recent graduates may have some experience with CRMs from an internship, but perhaps not the specific CRM platform a company uses. However, interacting with customers management software has become a sought-after skill; when you're in the interview, explain how your experience relates to the company's goals. You may not know all the ins and outs of a specific application, but you have the necessary transferrable skills to use that application and tie it to the needs of the business.
Line up your references. References can help when you're first starting out. A solid professional reference vouching for your work ethic may be the difference between your first job and continuing to look for one. In 2021, the general view of young employees is that work is something they do when you force them to put down their phones. Professional references may dispel that notion. Consider managers from internships, or professors from related coursework.
Nobody wants to train you. Right or wrong, employers don't necessarily give you the tools to succeed. Once again, they want it both ways. They want someone who can take the reins and make an impact on day one like you've been doing the job for a decade, but they want to compensate you like you are the first person who history who doesn't have to pay rent and eat. Make it clear to the manager that you require little training, and you will be able to ramp up and add value on day one.
Build that LinkedIn profile. Create a robust presence on LinkedIn that details your college projects and internships. Recruiters use LinkedIn to search for candidates to fill their open jobs. By having a great profile, they might find you!
Don’t forget about the campus career center. Employers often contact the career center to fill entry-level positions that aren’t necessarily posted publicly. If you’ve graduated recently, make sure to register with them - it’s their job to try to get students placed into full-time roles. Gainfully employed graduates help their numbers, and tend to translate into donors down the road.
Philip Roufail contributed to this article.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
