How Can I Get An Entry-Level Job When All The Postings Ask For Experience?

iStockphoto.com | BrianAJackson

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.

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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.

How Should I Dress for A Job Interview?

iStockphoto.com | Diamond Dogs

Before the recent COVID-19 driven work changes, professional dress codes were fluid. For many years, even companies with stodgy traditional dress codes had "Casual Friday," which, somehow, was still more formal than other companies' daily requirements. It's all fashion and fun until management issues special memos reminding employees of the well-known long-term benefits of wearing shoes (yep, seen them). Job seekers believed it was apropos to match their dress for interviews with the company's dress culture – it wasn't.

After lock-downs, quarantines, work-from-home, masks, Zoom, and many other factors, the professional dress code has gone from fluid to fuzzy. And, yes, in some cases, fuzzy means slippers. Yes, fuzzy slippers are hilarious, but they are not professional (however, people interviewing for fuzzy-slipper-designer positions should be fine).  

Your job interview attire should be professional, formal, and job-appropriate. Your default position should be your "Sunday's best." You can always dress down, but you can't dress up.

Here are some sartorial tips to consider when dressing for a job interview:

1.    You can't go wrong with a suit. For almost every interview, a suit and tie (if applicable) are the best options. Being overdressed won't hurt you. If you're a creative type interviewing at a creative company, you can go with a more hip, edgy, flamboyant suit, but still a suit. If your interview is with a more traditional and conservative company, go with a Brooks Brothers/Ann Taylor style suit. In the end, you can't go wrong with a suit. Let's call a professional suit the Standard Rule. The beautiful thing about a suit is that if you get to the interview, and you are told you’re overdressed, you can probably take your jacket off without penalty.

2.    The Standard Rule applies to companies with casual dress codes. You've heard Company X has a casual dress code – i.e., "People wear jeans." You want to dress down for the interview to fit in with the company culture, but chances are that's a mistake; I’ve personally witnessed interviewers dressed in Levi’s and a tee shirt ding a candidate for not dressing professionally enough. That said, there’s always exceptions (and people being judgmental) – if you show up in a suit and tie, maybe they'll think you're an undercover narcotics officer and beat you up in the parking lot. The person who sets up the interview will know the most appropriate attire; ask them for clarification on what you should plan to wear. 

3.    Ask the person who sets up the interview for clarification. Still aren’t clear? You’re not alone – career professionals toss terms like "casual," "dressy," and "professional" around a lot, but they mean different things to different people and companies. Whether a recruiter, hiring manager, or somebody's assistant, the person who sets up the interview should know the internal expectations of job candidates' dress; ask them and do what they say. 

4.    The Standard Rule may apply for positions with casual dress codes. What if the position is a warehouse job, manual labor, or involves working outdoors? Dressing up can rarely hurt you, but use your best judgment. A suit and tie, if applicable, may not be the best option for the roles mentioned above. However, consider dressing up for the interview.

5.    The Standard Rule applies if you're pounding the pavement. Let’s say you’re applying for jobs at the mall; this often involves dropping off resumes in person. You're in front of someone for a brief time, and you make a crucial first impression on whoever accepts your resume. Dress to impress! In many real-world cases, looking sharp and professional is sometimes the difference between your resume going into the circular file (that's the trashcan) or the hiring manager's inbox.

6.    The Standard Rule applies for remote interviews (e.g., Zoom). In case you haven't heard the news, you can't go wrong with a suit. Treat a Zoom, or any other remote video interview, like an in-person interview. You're not going to show up for an in-person interview in fuzzy slippers, and the same standards for remote interviews should apply. You make an instant impression on video. It's easy for your Zoom interview to start on a positive note – dress in job interview-appropriate attire right down to the shoes nobody can see. Look professional, or you’ll convey a "don't care" attitude that's an unnecessary hurdle.

7.    BONUS TIP: Keep an extra jacket/blazer and tie (if applicable) in the car. If you start casual and arrive at the interview to see other candidates dressier than you, you can make a quick retreat and dress up before your interview begins.

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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.

How To Describe Your Horrifyingly Terrible Dumpster Fire Of A Job In An Interview

iStockphoto.com | Baloncici

Jobs – and the relationships we have with our employers – can go south for any number of reasons. These may include bad management, an unsustainable business model, erratic schedule or no work-life balance, non-inclusive culture, payroll issues, no room for personal and professional growth, does not promote from within, or operates in an immoral or illegal way. It is normal and healthy to move on from toxic work environments and find a better match.

Then comes the hard part. Opportunities to trash your company to others, say on a job interview, will be plenty, and the temptation to vent your frustrations will be like a Siren's song. When you’re in an interview for what could be a much better opportunity, how do you describe your awful job without coming off as a disgruntled employee, even if it is a raging dumpster fire?

Stay positive. You know your job is awful, and terrible, and miserable. You know you're overworked, underpaid, and can do a better job than half the executives. You know your talents are going to waste, and your company doesn't deserve your brilliance. But when a potential employer gives you a chance to vent, bite your tongue and resist the urge to air your grievances. You will come across as a disgruntled employee with a bad attitude. If you trash your current employer in an interview, you can be sure this new employer will be worried about you doing the same to them. Avoid it with the simple directive to stay positive.

Understand the dynamics in the room. If you already have a job and are seeking a new one, the people interviewing you intuitively know that you have reasons for looking for moving on from your current position. They don't know the reason, and it may be a line of questioning during the interview. Don't take the bait if an interviewer goads you in the direction of going negative on your current employer. It could be a simple as "I hear it's a nightmare over there. What's been your experience?" The question may be curiosity or it may be a test. Take the high road – put on your public relations hat and consider following the tips below.

Reframe negatives as challenges. If you are skilled at reframing negatives as challenges, you will sail through your interview, and it will help you land the job. How a person approaches unsavory situations says a lot about their character. Complaining about something without improving it, or attempting to improve it, is just complaining. Take this real-world interview question: "Describe a situation in your current job where you disagreed with management and how you resolved it." Tough one, right? How you decide to answer this type of question is just as important as what you answer. There is a lot of room here to go negative. Instead, you could reframe the "disagreement" as a different approach, and describe the outcome as a "partnership" instead of a "resolution." Ideally, you tie the event to a demonstrable and positive business result (such as acquiring twenty new clients in the first quarter, exceeding projections).

Flip the script. You get to choose whether to situations at your job as either a crisis or an opportunity. Consider these examples: 

·      "Lack of infrastructure and systems" could be an "opportunity to build systems."

·      "Weak management" could be an "opportunity to carve out your job role."

·      "Ignorant fools who don't know what they're doing" could be an "opportunity to introduce industry best practices."

·      "Don't pay us on time" could be an "opportunity to improve resource management."

·      "Sexist, racist, toxic, bullies" could be an "opportunity to develop interpersonal relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders."

If flipping the script sounds like the kind of doublespeak you'd read in a George Orwell novel, it kind of is, but it works. You’ll demonstrate a positive, solutions-oriented outlook.

Show demonstrable results. Same as any resume or job interview, show a measurable impact. If you work at a great company that sets its employees up for success, your track record of boosting sales, let's say, may not have the wallop you think. However, if you work somewhere that has a poor reputation, your achievements may stand out. Document your achievements and collect as many metrics as possible.

Prep your references. Your professional references have more freedom than you do to discuss work environments and challenges, especially in a job interview. If a potential employer contacts your references, a more candid conversation about your current employer and your role there may result. However, there is still a script. It may be inappropriate for you to surface the extra challenges of a bad job in a job interview, but it's okay territory for a professional reference - to a point. It can benefit how you are perceived, but if your reference goes on a negative rant, your talents and qualifications will get lost. Before interviewing, it's in your best interests to talk to your references and align your approach.

Don't burn bridges. So, let’s say you get the new position with a better company, and your old thankless, exploitative, toxic job is over. It was terrible, and it may take a year or two before you look back at the experience and understand how it helped you in some way. As you're on your way out the door, don't contribute to the bad work environment. If you do accept a new job, give proper professional notice. Do your best work until the moment they hand you your final paycheck. And foster collaborative relationships with your coworkers so that everyone will remember the positive aspects of working together.

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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.