In the job market, many positions that are labeled as ‘entry-level’ require extensive work experience, putting those without connections or the means to work unpaid internships at a disadvantage. To gain insight into the prevalence of experience requirements in entry-level job listings, StandOut CV analyzed 17,815 job adverts for 43 common entry-level positions across various industries using LinkedIn’s filtering system. The study revealed that, on average, 37% of entry-level jobs requested prior experience. Of those listings that specified experience requirements, the average amount of experience requested was 2.5 years. The positions that mentioned prior experience most frequently were IT technicians (62.8%) and junior software engineers (60%). However, there were also positions such as teaching assistants (1.6%), social workers (3.8%), and licensed practical nurses (3.96%) that were more likely to be truly entry-level and not require prior experience.
In addition to IT technicians and junior software engineers, baristas, administrative assistants, executive assistants, and product managers were among the entry-level jobs that often required significant prior experience. Waiters and waitresses were expected to have had five years of relevant experience on average for entry-level positions advertised on LinkedIn. When the amount of experience required was specified in entry-level job postings, waiters and administrative assistants were requested to have had five years of experience, the highest in the study.
Conversely, certain positions had a high likelihood of being truly entry-level, such as teaching assistants, social workers, and licensed practical nurses, with very few requiring prior experience. While teaching assistants may have lower starting salaries, these jobs can be very rewarding in terms of job satisfaction.
Overall, it is important for those seeking entry-level positions to research the specific requirements of each job in order to determine which ones are actually attainable without extensive prior experience. By being selective and focusing on roles which are truly entry-level, candidates can maximize their chances of finding a position that fits their qualifications.
