How to Know If an Entry-Level Job Is Bullshit
Similar to millennials who graduated from college during the Great Recession, the 2021 class faces a bleak job outlook ( however, it is still markedly improved over last year’s COVID-hit market). At least that’s how they feel, according to a new poll by educational technology publishing company Cengage.
Among respondents looking for their first job, about half admitted that they shy away from applying for an entry-level job because they believe they do not have the required qualifications. The fact that any newcomer to the workforce will feel that their skills are not worthy of entry-level jobs speaks volumes of the gap between them and the expectations set by companies, in addition to the misunderstanding of recent graduates regarding their own learning abilities.
The survey itself also highlights a misunderstanding shared by both groups: we rarely, if ever, clearly define what a real entry-level job entails.
What is an entry-level job?
If something is truly entry-level, it requires the worker to apply basic skills and show an appetite for learning the ropes of their field. A true entry-level job is for recent graduates and should not require anything other than the basic skills required of someone at the bottom of the company’s hierarchy.
Why is it so hard to get it?
An entry-level job is usually just in title. In most cases, companies hide more complex jobs under the guise of “entry-level” to attract more experienced and, in theory, more capable candidates. It’s a way of paying people less to do more, and it’s a behind-the-scenes tactic to keep in mind.
Moreover, the labor market is becoming more and more competitive – at least until it was wiped out by the pandemic. Each year, more graduates become job seekers, exacerbating the problem of newcomers competing for the same positions. As the job site Indeed points out, the problem starts in college and continues from there:
The size of the classes is constantly increasing. Tuition fees have also risen, but that may not convince many high school graduates to go to college. Because of this significant increase, the main reason graduates find it difficult to find work is sheer competition.
This is the sad reality of today’s job market, but luckily you will understand it when you come across a true entry-level position.
Good companies contribute to professional development
A true entry-level job will provide some path to higher position, and the introductory nature of the job will be evident in the job listing. Rather than leading an experienced employee, you are expected to help more than to lead, and perhaps be given more responsibility when you prove that you are good at a job.
But more importantly, you will know that you are truly in an entry-level position when you have a manager who is interested in mentoring, or at least admits that you intend to climb the corporate ladder someday. Good mentoring is rare these days, but a good company will at least provide some semblance of careers for its greener employees.
Don’t be discouraged by the “lack of skills”
Unless you went to vocational school or studied something suitable for a specific field, such as computer programming or marine biology, you don’t have to worry about not having the perfect resume. The reason you don’t have certain skills is because you’ve never worked full time before, and that’s no reason to despair.
No degree is devoid of real-world value , even though it is believed that only majors with immediate career prospects make sense. Truth be told, if given a chance to develop your skills, you will find out that you have taken on a real entry-level position, and therefore you should never shy away from applying.