An entry-level job is one you can be hired into without prior experience in that occupation and learn while you do it. To find one, look for roles that say they train, sort each posting’s requirements into firm rules and wishes, and apply where you can back most of the list with evidence from school, part-time work, volunteering or projects.
The label itself is unreliable. Some postings marked entry level ask for years of experience, and many that never use the words will hire and train a beginner. Read the requirements, not the label.
Key takeaways
- Entry level describes where you start, not a job title. Look for roles where the experience asked for is none, or can be met with school, internships or part-time work.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates every occupation on typical entry-level education, related work experience and on-the-job training. Use those ratings to find work that really starts from zero.
- Separate firm requirements, such as a license or work authorization, from preferences. Apply when you meet the firm ones and can show evidence for most of the rest.
- Evidence beats adjectives. Turn coursework, part-time jobs and volunteering into specific lines: what you did, how much, with what result.
- Real training is visible in the posting: a named program, a set length, a mentor, a paid certification. Ask about it in the interview.
01
What counts as an entry-level job
There is no official list, but there is an official way to describe how people enter an occupation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics assigns each occupation three ratings:
- Typical entry-level education: the education most workers need to enter the occupation, from no formal credential up to a doctoral or professional degree.
- Work experience in a related occupation: whether employers commonly expect it. The categories are five years or more, less than five years, and none.
- Typical on-the-job training: what it takes to become competent once hired.
An occupation rated “none” for related work experience is one that people normally enter without it. The training rating then tells you how long the learning usually lasts.
| BLS training category | Typical length |
|---|---|
| Short-term on-the-job training | One month or less |
| Moderate-term on-the-job training | More than one month and up to 12 months |
| Long-term on-the-job training | More than 12 months |
The remaining categories are apprenticeship, internship or residency, and none.
You can put this to work in the Occupation Finder of the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which filters occupations by entry-level education and by on-the-job training, alongside pay and projected growth. Choose the education you have, then compare what is left.
02
How to read entry-level requirements honestly
Sort every line of a posting into one of three groups before you decide.
- Firm requirements. Anything set by law, safety or the nature of the job: a license, a required certification, work authorization, a minimum age, a driver’s license for a driving job, a degree for a regulated profession. If you lack one, do not apply yet.
- Core skills. The three to five things the job is built on. They usually appear first and are repeated in the description of duties.
- Wishes. Lines marked preferred, plus, or nice to have, and long lists of tools.
Apply when you meet every firm requirement and can show evidence for most of the core skills. You do not need the wishes.
| What the posting says | How to read it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Bachelor’s degree required” | Firm, unless it adds “or equivalent experience” | Apply if you have the degree or the posting accepts equivalents |
| “1 to 2 years of customer service experience” | A core skill. Employers differ on how it must have been gained | Count part-time, seasonal and volunteer roles that involved customers, with dates |
| “Proficient in Excel” | A skill you may be tested on | Name what you can do, such as lookups and pivot tables |
| “Preferred: experience with our CRM software” | A wish | Apply, and mention any similar tool you have learned |
| “Valid driver’s license” or “able to lift 50 pounds” | Firm | Apply only if it is true |
| “Entry level” in the title, “3 to 5 years” in the text | Mislabeled | Believe the text |
Never stretch the truth on a form. If an application asks for years of experience, give the real number and let the resume explain what your school, internship and part-time work add up to.
03
Where to find entry-level jobs
- Job sites. Use the experience-level filter where there is one, and search the words employers use for starting roles: junior, associate, assistant, coordinator, trainee, apprentice, “no experience,” “will train.”
- Early-career pages. Many larger employers keep a separate section for students and recent graduates. Look for “early careers,” “graduate program” or “rotational program” on the careers page.
- Your school. Career centers run job boards, career fairs and employer visits aimed at people with little experience. Many still serve alumni.
- Apprenticeships. A registered apprenticeship gives you paid work experience with a mentor, classroom instruction, wage increases as you progress and a nationally recognized credential. Apprenticeship.gov has a job finder.
- Federal jobs. The Recent Graduates Program, part of the federal Pathways Programs, offers developmental roles in agencies to people who finished a qualifying program within the previous two years. Veterans who could not apply because of their service have up to six years.
- Internships. If you are still studying, an internship is one of the most direct routes to a first job. See how to get an internship.
04
How to spot roles with real training
“Entry level” implies that the employer will teach you. Check whether the posting backs that up.
| Signs of real training | Signs you will be on your own |
|---|---|
| A named training program with a length | “Hit the ground running” |
| “No experience required” next to “paid training” | Pay that depends entirely on commission |
| A mentor, trainer or buddy is mentioned | No mention of who you report to or learn from |
| The employer pays for a license or certification | You are asked to pay for training or materials |
| A stated path, such as a review after six months | Vague talk of “unlimited growth” |
The last line on the right deserves emphasis: if you are asked to pay before you start, walk away.
Ask about training directly. It is a reasonable question from someone starting out.
What does the first month look like for someone new in this role? Who would I learn from day to day? How long does it usually take a new hire to work independently? Is there formal training or a certification, and who pays for it? What have people who started in this role moved on to?
More questions, and answers to the ones you will be asked, are in entry-level interview questions.
05
How to turn school, part-time and volunteer work into evidence
Take each core requirement and find the closest thing you have done. Then write it as an action, a scale and a result.
| What you did | What it shows | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| A group capstone project | Teamwork, analysis, presenting | Led a four-person team that analyzed [data] and presented recommendations to [audience] |
| A weekend job at a grocery store | Reliability, customer service, handling cash | Served about [number] customers a shift and balanced the register for [period] |
| Volunteer tutoring | Explaining, patience, planning | Tutored [number] students a week in math; [result, such as grades or attendance] |
| Treasurer of a student club | Budgeting and record keeping | Managed a budget of [amount] for a [number]-member club and reported spending monthly |
| An online course with a project | A specific tool | Built [project] in [tool]; link in portfolio |
For a wider checklist, the National Association of Colleges and Employers defines eight career readiness competencies that prepare college graduates for the workplace: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology. Find one true example for each and you have the raw material for a resume and for most interview answers.
Where the examples go on the page is covered in resume with no experience and, for new graduates, in recent graduate resume. If the experience comes from a different field, transferable skills shows how to map it. And if you have nothing yet that fits, how to get a job with no experience explains how to create evidence in a few weeks.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does entry level mean in a job posting?
It should mean that the employer will hire someone without prior experience in the occupation and train them. In practice the label is applied loosely, and some entry-level postings ask for a year or more of experience. Judge each role by its listed requirements, not by the words in its title.
Can I apply for an entry-level job that asks for one to two years of experience?
Yes, if you meet the firm requirements and can show relevant experience from internships, part-time work, volunteering or substantial projects. Employers differ on what they count, so describe exactly what you did and for how long. Give the true number wherever a form asks for years of experience.
Do entry-level jobs require a degree?
Some do and many do not. The Bureau of Labor Statistics assigns every occupation a typical entry-level education, ranging from no formal credential to a doctoral or professional degree. Its Occupation Finder lets you filter occupations by the education you have and by how much on-the-job training they involve.
How do I find entry-level jobs that provide training?
Search for “will train,” “paid training,” “trainee” and “apprentice,” and look for postings that name a training program, its length and who teaches it. Registered apprenticeships combine paid work with instruction and a recognized credential. In an interview, ask what the first month looks like and who you would learn from.
Is an apprenticeship an entry-level job?
Yes. A registered apprenticeship is a paid job from the first day, combined with a mentor, classroom instruction and wage increases as your skills grow, and it ends with a nationally recognized credential. In the United States you can search for openings on Apprenticeship.gov.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Measures of Education and Training: the three ratings BLS assigns to each occupation and the length of each training category.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupation Finder, Occupational Outlook Handbook: filtering occupations by entry-level education, on-the-job training, pay and projected growth.
- Apprenticeship.gov: Career Seekers: what a registered apprenticeship provides and how to find one.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Students and Recent Graduates: eligibility for the federal Recent Graduates Program.
- National Association of Colleges and Employers: What is career readiness?: the eight career readiness competencies.
Published by Jobbie and last updated on October 6, 2026. This guide is general information for job seekers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.