The Sarcasm of Entry-Level Jobs

by Ramona Roberts

One thing college did right was having us think we can take on the world after graduation. The way getting that degree was deemed such an honor and prestigious accomplishment, I just knew it was straight to the top from there. Don’t get me wrong, graduating from college is something everyone should be proud of, I just had the wrong idea of what that degree could and could not do.

I’ll admit when I first started applying for jobs, I had to humble back. I was considering 4 years of college equivalent to 4 years of experience for any position related to my degree. Once I realized it was a little too soon for me to be “Director of Communications” and “Senior Editor,” I discovered my supposable place; entry-level jobs.

For whatever reason, they didn’t really break this down to us in school but based on my own research and what my colleagues and mentors explained, entry-level jobs were made for me at that time; fresh out of school, internship experience, and eager and bushy-eyed looking for my foot in the door. Not having experience outside of internships was normal and welcomed...so they told me, and so I believed. Wow, I was so young and trusting back then.

I quickly learned that somebody was confused about what entry-level meant, and it wasn’t me...or maybe it was. When 0-2 years of experience still ended up not being enough experience for an experience requirement of 0-2 years, I was baffled. How naive of me to think entry-level would actually mean entry-level. The confusion and irony is draining.

The kicker is when I learned of entry-level positions that required 6+ years of experience. This is when I really felt led astray! How. How is this entry-level? I mean at least they’re being honest about the experience level they want, but at this point, they’re asking for mid to associate level of experience. Unless you’re counting my summer camp jobs after high school, college, and all my internships and activities, you know this is not truly entry-level.

So if you haven’t caught it yet, the sarcasm is that entry-level jobs nine times out of ten require more than entry-level experience. So to the HR departments of the world, please make clear the requirements you want when it comes to the level of experience. Consider that internships are VALID professional experiences. It shows someone’s dedication and willingness to sacrifice towards their goal because more than likely it was an unpaid or underpaid position. Reflect back to when you were starting off in the workforce and building your career. The games must stop. Entry-level positions need to accept entry-level experience, period.