What is an Entry-Level Job? Practical Advice from Career Professionals

While it’s not expected that you bring years of industry knowledge to an entry-level role, there are some qualifications — and specific steps you can take to stand out as a strong candidate, too.

What Qualifies as an Entry-Level Job — and What Could Qualify You to Land One

Entry-level jobs are often geared toward recent high school and college graduates, or anyone new to a particular profession. They can be a great way to get a foot in the door of your chosen field.

According to Brooke Brigham, a career engagement partner at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), employers hiring for entry-level positions often look for candidates with transferable skills such as:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Emotional intelligence
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork

“A desire to work hard and learn — to be a sponge — is another," Brigham said. "Candidates should show that they have a desire to contribute in a positive way."

She also emphasized that, depending on the industry, some entry-level roles do require a level of baseline, role-specific knowledge. It’s important to research your field of choice and understand the minimum requirements of the job you’re interested in.

How Am I Supposed to Get Experience if Every Job Requires Experience?

If you find that entry-level roles in your chosen field tend to require prior experience, Brigham noted that you're not alone — and she has some advice.

“This is a question we receive all the time in Career Services at SNHU,” she said. “It’s a common challenge, and the key is to broaden how ‘experience’ is defined.”

Experience isn’t limited to having worked a similar job; you can also build valuable experience, Brigham said, during your college degree program.

Maybe you’re applying for a marketing position, and your capstone project involved building a brand from the ground up. Maybe you want to work for an environmental nonprofit and have written an extensive research paper on climate change. Maybe you’ve done volunteer work, experiential learning or an internship in your field of choice.

According to Brigham, these are all strong examples of what experience can look like.

“Even extracurriculars and sports build transferable skills,” she added, highlighting the benefits of leadership roles, in particular — like being captain of a team or president of a club.

Listing these experiences on your resume is a great place to start. But the key, Brigham said, is to help potential employers understand how completing a project, doing volunteer work or leading a group has helped you build your skill set. Career advisors can show you how.

“Our team can help you pull from those experiences and frame them to meet the qualifications of the job — and discuss them successfully in an interview. I recommend recreating job qualifications on your own resume along with strong action verbs, quantifiable bullet points and results,” Brigham said. “Do these things, and you have already set yourself apart.”

Read more about how to write an effective resume.

Industries Hiring Entry-Level Candidates

The specific industries hiring large numbers of entry-level candidates change regularly based on job market trends. But the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) names a few that stand out currently — and their growth could suggest a higher number of open entry-level roles.* These include:

• Green energy and sustainability
• Finance
• Healthcare and life sciences
• Technology

Advice for the Entry-Level Job Search

When searching for open positions, there are a few ways to narrow your search to entry-level roles specifically.

Use the Right Search Criteria

Just as it's important to use careful language when searching for academic sources or other information online, it's important to use careful language when searching for entry-level jobs, too.

For example, Rodney Royster, a cybersecurity instructor at SNHU with four decades of experience in tech, suggests those looking for entry-level cybersecurity roles include keywords like "associate," "junior" or "level I" in their searches. This will help narrow a potentially large number of open roles to a list that more closely matches your qualifications.

Don't Feel Limited to Large Job Boards

Consider where you're browsing open jobs. SNHU career advisor Chapreese Pennington-Willis points out that while helpful, job boards can also be overwhelming. If you’re interested in a specific company, you always have the option to narrow your focus and browse their website for open jobs.

And even if they don’t have any entry-level roles listed, you can reach out directly to their human resources department to show interest in learning more about what they do — and whether any roles might open up in the near future.

“Consider nonprofits, government agencies, small businesses — and even your favorite places to shop or dine. A company you know and love is a great start,” she said. “Use your genuine interest in the company to your advantage when applying or interviewing for internships and jobs.”

Build a Strong Network

“I recommend attending career events and panels,” Brigham said. “LinkedIn can also be a great starting point for connecting with those in a similar field. Networking is often how doors open. You never know who will pass your name along.”

And Pennington-Willis reminds entry-level candidates that while the job search can be challenging, it’s important to stay the course.

“Your career journey doesn’t have to be rushed; it’s about progress, not perfection,” she said. “With consistency, curiosity and confidence, you’ll position yourself for the right opportunity at the right time. And even if your first job isn’t your dream role, every opportunity gives you a chance to learn, grow and move closer to where you ultimately want to be.”

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Abigail (Abby) Syversen-Mark ’23G is a copywriter, contributing content writer and adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). A passionate storyteller, Abby hopes her writing will help prospective students and employees alike see just how transformative SNHU could be for them (as it’s been pretty transformative for her). You can connect with her on LinkedIn.