new jobs this week On EmploymentCrossing

554

jobs added today on EmploymentCrossing

17

job type count

On EmploymentCrossing

Healthcare Jobs(342,151)
Blue-collar Jobs(272,661)
Managerial Jobs(204,989)
Retail Jobs(174,607)
Sales Jobs(161,029)
Nursing Jobs(142,882)
Information Technology Jobs(128,503)

Finding an Entry-Level Job is Easy if You Plan for Success

0 Views
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.

It can be difficult getting that first entry level job and after four years of college the experience can be discouraging. However, there are some definite strategies you can use to improve your chances of not only landing a good job with career prospects, but of landing the job of your choice.

Research
You may have completed your college degree and wish to find an entry level position, but it is important to first decide on your desired career path. Where do you want to go in your career? It is important to take the time to research the options available to you and to think about how you would like to spend your working life. To this end, it is necessary to take the time to discover what career path, if any, is attached to a specific entry level job within a particular company.



Resume
Once you have defined the type of job you want and know why you want it, write your resume to specifically target the requirements of these jobs. Your cover letter can address the specific job requirements advertised.

Experience
Even entry level jobs are increasingly requiring some documented evidence of experience. Internships are a great way to gain this experience. During your summer vacations from college, if at all possible invest your time in an internship. Smaller organizations are often better than the larger ones because they generally provide broader experience. If you can’t afford an unpaid internship or even a paid one (the pay is low), look for a summer job with an organization that can give you some of the experience you are likely to need. Volunteering is also a great way to give you a winning edge when it comes to finding an entry level job. Summer camp counselors often gain some excellent skills while having fun.

Portfolio
If you are trying to get an entry level job as a writer, editor, journalist, public relations officer or some other position that involves literary skills, it is important to keep a portfolio of clippings, published writings, interviews you have conducted etc. If you are looking for work in an artistic or design field you will need a portfolio of designs you have drawn or created using software, drawings or artwork depending on the type of entry level job you are planning to apply for.


Applying for jobs
Now that you have done your research, written your resume, gained experience and have documentary evidence of both that experience and work you have completed successfully, you are ready to begin applying for jobs. The first step in this process is to identify the companies you would prefer to work for. Find out the name of their Human Resources Manager (or equivalent) and then write to them directly expressing interest in working for them. Once these letters have gone out, phone the larger employment agencies in your area and find out if they recruit for the industry you are interested in. Some agencies will interview applicants and keep their eyes out for them, others will just tell you to read the papers and call if there is a job advertised. Keep an eye on online job sites. Have your resume on the computer so it can be easily uploaded to apply for jobs.

Benefit of Temping
Searching and applying for appropriate jobs can be time consuming and if you are not working while you are doing it, can be frustrating. This can lead to people jumping at the first job opportunity even if it doesn’t fit their career goals. A better option is to register with an employment agency to do temporary or contract work for them. Full time job opportunities with companies you like working for often arise from temping. Not only is it a way to earn money and gain further experience while you are applying for jobs, it can actually lead to job offers.

Interview Skills
Many applicants who have followed these steps still fail to receive a job offer. The most common reason for this is they do not do well at interviews. It is unfortunate, but true, that before you can prove yourself on the job, you have to sell yourself at an interview. These skills have to be learned. You can find some excellent books on how to succeed in an interview. There are also professional careers counselors and psychologists who are skilled in helping their clients approach and succeed in interviews. Most people, however, have to learn the hard way; they have to go through a lot of interviews and get a lot of rejections. This is why seeing interviews as good practice even if you don’t get the job has a lot of merit in today’s job market.

Fitting In
It is a good idea to check out the company before you attend the interview. Get an idea of their culture and the workplace dress code. You don’t want to attend your interview in a three piece suit if their workplace is dressy casual.

Know the Organization
Do some research about the organization before the interview. What does it do? What are its significant achievements? What direction is it heading? You may or may not be asked directly whether you know these things, but you will certainly look better if you let the interviewer know that you have done your research into the company.

Interview the interviewer
Ask questions. You are also interviewing the company to see whether the job and organization are what you are looking for, so feel free to ask them anything you want to know.

Looking for work is not easy for most people and the process can be long, arduous and discouraging. However, you can improve your chances of finding the right job for you by simply planning ahead of time for success. If you follow the steps suggested in this article, you will have an excellent chance of not only getting a good job, but also of getting the right job. You will be in control of your own career path and that’s a very good place to be.
If this article has helped you in some way, will you say thanks by sharing it through a share, like, a link, or an email to someone you think would appreciate the reference.

Popular tags:

 findings  choices  prospects  internships  organizations  gains  college degrees  career counselors


I was very pleased with the EmploymentCrossing. I found a great position within a short amount of time … I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a better opportunity.
Jose M - Santa Cruz, CA
  • All we do is research jobs.
  • Our team of researchers, programmers, and analysts find you jobs from over 1,000 career pages and other sources
  • Our members get more interviews and jobs than people who use "public job boards"
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.
EmploymentCrossing - #1 Job Aggregation and Private Job-Opening Research Service — The Most Quality Jobs Anywhere
EmploymentCrossing is the first job consolidation service in the employment industry to seek to include every job that exists in the world.
Copyright © 2024 EmploymentCrossing - All rights reserved. 169