The Best Companies for College Grads and Entry Level Jobs

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

So what exactly is an entry level job? According to Wikipedia (and this is an excerpt) – “An entry-level job is a job that is normally designed or designated for recent graduates of a given discipline, and doesn’t ask for prior experience in the field or profession. These may require some on-site training.“. Now I’m not sure that is a perfect definition, because not all entry level jobs are for college grads. There are many entry level jobs for people who have not attended college or are college students. So how about this one from BusinessDictionary.com- “Bottom-level employment in a firm which usually requires ordinary-level of education, training, and experience qualifications. It gives a recruit the benefit of a gainful occupation, opportunity to learn and gain experience, and serves as a stepping-stone for higher-level jobs.“. Still doesn’t sound like the best definition but it is a better definition than the first one. Today’s post is about finding the best companies for entry level jobs (however they are defined). Continue Reading

The Shadow Knows…

Do you have an interest in entering a particular field but aren’t completely sure you could spend your whole career doing that job? Are you wanting to experience a career first hand but don’t have the time for an internship opportunity? Do you want to know more about a particular field of work before setting your major or applying for an entry level job? If so, there is a way to find out all you need to know.
The way to get the answers you need is by requesting a job shadowing experience. This unique opportunity gives you the chance to follow a professional through their daily work routine and see just what is involved in a particular job. While not every company will offer job shadowing opportunities, there are many who will be very happy to give you the chance to tag along with one of their employees for a day.
So how do you find the opportunity? Check your local employment offices, educational facilities or even make cold calls to companies you have found interesting. Correspond with the individual or company you wish to shadow by telephone, letter or email. Then when you are offered the chance for a job shadow opportunity, show up ready to learn. A little research before the day arrives can also help you to feel more comfortable in the work environment.
If you are offered a job shadow opportunity, make full use of it by asking lots of questions and networking with as many people as possible throughout your visit. If, at the end of the day, you decide the career field isn’t for you, send a polite thank you letter for the experience. If you find that it is something you could pursue further, make sure to mention the experience when applying for entry level employment opportunities within that company and incorporate the things you learned during the experience into your letter and interviews.
By making full use of job shadowing opportunities, you can find an entry level job that truly suits you and build your network in the process.

Following Up On Prospective Job Offers Via Telephone

Telephones have become a part of our daily lives. Many of us carry one on our belt or in a pocket. Nearly everyone has one or more phones in their home. Yet, even with their widespread usage, the telephone is often overlooked for some of its more valuable uses like following up interests when applying for entry level jobs.
Because our past experiences may have taught us that a plethora of phone messages can be a bit irritating, we try to make a good impression with employers offering entry level jobs by not calling to follow up on any interests they might have in our application. Unfortunately, not calling at all can be worse than calling too much. When you take the time to call, you are showing a self motivated attitude and an interest in the entry level job they have to offer. If you are polite and let the secretary know that you will call back again, the prospective employer won’t be irritated by a list of phone messages but will see just how much you want the entry level position you applied for.
Before you call, know what you want to say. Take the time to consider the phone call carefully and even rehearse the call before you call the prospective employer. This serves two purposes; you will be more relaxed and conversational on the live call and you can effectively reply to anything that you might be asked on the call.
As a final point, breathe once in a while. If you have ever attempted to hold a conversation with a teen-aged girl, you know just how annoying nonstop babble can be when there is no room for you to join in the conversation. It is just as annoying in the real world. By taking the time to pause and catch your breath, you open the door for the other half of the conversation to speak. You never know what valuable information you may learn by this method.
In conclusion, following up on entry level job prospects via telephone can be a very good way to insure your chances for employment in entry level job positions.

Finding A Career In Athletics

The athletically inclined college student may be seeking ways to continue an association with their sport after completing their education. While a career in the field of athletic sports as a professional athlete may be short lived at best, there are careers in the athletic field that can be very rewarding and offer adequate amounts of job security. Finding these careers can be a little difficult as there is a great deal of competition for entry level jobs in this field but they are attainable.
One of the entry level jobs in the athletic field is that of the coach. Generally, athletic coaching jobs in the school system are given to on staff teachers with experience in the sport who are looking to supplement their income. In special cases, where none of the current staff has interest in the position or education in the sport being proposed, outside coaching staff may be hired for the position. For those seeking to become college sports coaches or even work with professional sporting events, these entry level jobs through the lower levels of academics are often a good opportunity for gaining experience and demonstrating your abilities in the coaching field. For these reasons, college students seeking to find entry level jobs and eventual careers in the athletic field should be advised to consider guiding their education towards teacher training and education related curriculums.
The entry level job of coaching has various requirements and job duties according to the area where you will be working and the level of the sport you are dealing with. All coaches, regardless of level, are responsible for the safety, training and instruction of their players. By teaching proper technique and correcting problem areas, the coach can minimize the risk of injuries to players while improving their abilities within the game.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in the athletic field, consider using the entry level job locator found at CollegeRecruiter.com to assist you in this effort.

Entry Level Jobs For Finance Students

The world of finance is a very big place and often the small fish in the pond has trouble getting a starting point offer. If you desire to be in business for yourself, have dedicated the time to earning a degree in the field of finance and are self-motivated, you can create your own entry level job opportunities.
One such entry level job is that of the personal financial consultant. This is a great opportunity for the college graduate who just needs to get their name into the financial circles. By offering advice on all things related to finance, such as college planning, taxes and investments, you can create your own home based business opportunity, gain valuable work experience and build a reputation based on your skills.
If you find that working for yourself is not your forte, other entry level jobs in the field of finance include banking positions and financial counseling services, among other things. Leads on finding entry level jobs or internship opportunities in these areas can be found at collegerecruiter.com along with a wide variety of tools, educational articles and blog postings to assist you in finding the entry level job that meets your needs and utilizes your education.
The world of finance is indeed a big pond but with the proper skills and the resources found at collegerecruiter.com, you don’t have to be a little fish any longer. CollegeRecruiter.com is here to help level the playing field so you can swim with the big fish and find your successful career in an entry level job in the field of finance.

Entry Level Job Openings In The Entertainment Field

For the individual interested in making their start in an entry level job of the entertainment sector, there are a few college courses that may assist you in your career. With the push towards animated films and video gaming, computer science related courses are becoming associated with the entertainment field as well as with their more traditional roles.
If you are interested in finding entry level entertainment jobs, positions are available for animators, editors and sound effect personnel as well as a variety of other technologically demanding jobs. For these positions, degrees in the field of information technology, multimedia or animations are excellent starting points to work from in finding an entry level job.
Other entry level entertainment positions include different skill sets such as the planning and implementation of advertising campaigns for the industry or the location of talent. These various career opportunities can be prepared for by seeking out college courses that relate to the necessary job skills and requirements for the individual position.
To gain additional work experience and further your network of industry contacts, consider devoting some time to an internship in the field. The use of internships to augment work experience and education is widespread in the field of entertainment and the skills you learn during your internship period may prove extremely valuable to your long-term career goals.
If you are seeking an entry level entertainment job or an internship opportunity in this field, consult the entry level job and internship pages at collegerecruiter.com to find opening in your area of expertise.

Entry Level Construction Jobs And Union Labor

For the college student seeking to recoup their educational expenses quickly, entering the field of construction can be the fast track to highly paid entry level jobs. One of the best ways to enter this field and locate these high paid entry level jobs is by joining one of the various trade unions as an apprentice.
Joining a union is usually a simple task of filling out the applicant information and paying the dues required for membership. Even though these dues can seem a bit high at the time of the application, you should be able to recoup this money in short order within one or two assignments. Entry level jobs vary according to the individual trade and the length of the job as well as the pay scale are equally variable but most union jobs will pay very handsomely and offer some very nice perks, such as a retirement fund or discounted health insurance.
Entry level jobs can be found in any union but many people just starting in the construction field have found the laborers union to be a perfect fit for their needs because the tasks required of the entry level employee are usually not very complex and are basically easy to learn. Other unions, such as the boilermakers, electrical workers or pipe fitters, may require some knowledge or special skills before the worker is ready to be sent out on entry level jobs. The pay scale for these union employees is typically a bit higher but if you do not plan to establish a long-term career in these industries, then the less formal unions may be more suited to your present needs. Almost all unions will require a certain amount of travel and this can often encompass 90% of their available work so if you are wanting to be home with your family every night, this isn’t the option for you. For the newly graduated college student who doesn’t yet have the constraints of family life, the union offers nearly unparalleled opportunities for travel and profit.
In fewer words, the various unions offer a closely bound network of fellow workers and the ability to locate entry level jobs quickly that the individual may have trouble finding on their own. The union brotherhood and camaraderie, as well as the training supplied make entry level construction jobs as a union laborer a wise choice for the unencumbered individual seeking to pay down college debts quickly.

Do You Need A Second Job?

Many people with large amounts of debt to pay have resorted to working a second job, sometimes called moonlighting, but before you decide to live the lifestyle of the night owl, there are a few options and facts that you may want to consider.
In the year 1995, it was estimated that 6.3% of all employed individuals held more than one job. The most common reason for taking on a secondary entry level job was the need to earn more money than the primary occupation was providing. Other reasons included special benefit packages or non financial motivations.
The dangers of working second jobs include decreased job performance and increases in on the job injuries as people are not getting the rest needed to adequately and safely perform their job functions but the lure of saving for the future or paying off a specific debt can often prove motivation enough to overlook these problems.
While it is plain that finding a secondary entry level job can mean more money coming into a household, it is a good idea to weigh this against the negative effects that you may foresee and the other options for increasing your current earning potential. One of these options to a secondary job is that of overtime on the primary position. Due to national labor laws, overtime pay is significantly higher than base pay so that, if your present entry level job offers the opportunity for the extra hours, the pay received will be much higher than that earned on a secondary entry level job. Additional earning can also be generated on a primary job by continuing your education. In fields where education equals pay, a weekend workshop that supplies you with the proper credentials can equate to a much larger profit over time. A third option for those needing the extra money or benefit packages of a secondary entry level job is asking your primary employer for them. Many employers would much rather create a benefit package or pay increase than have their employees loyalty going to a different company or experiencing the decrease in efficiency that often accompanies moonlighting.
Taking these options and your reasons for needing a secondary job into consideration allows you to make an informed decision about whether you really need a secondary entry level job.

Career Prospects In Audiology

Are you a college student interested in a well paid entry level job that can lead into a productive career? Do you have a great deal of patience and empathy for those who are experiencing disabilities? Can you communicate effectively with others, both by listening and making yourself clearly understood? If so, then the field of audiology may provide an entry level job to suit your needs.
Expected to make a major up turn in hiring as the current group forming the middle aged generation continues to age over the next ten years, the entry level job market in audiology will find itself very understaffed. This will result in decreased competition and increased salary for available entry level employment opportunities for today’s college students. If you want to be part of this growing trend of the future and reap some of the benefits for yourself, action is required today.
At present, entry level jobs for audiologists require a completed masters degree in the field of audiology as well as licensing requirements in most states. Additional work experience or internships are also considered prerequisite in many areas. On a national level, the ability to pass the Praxis Series of the Educational Testing Service is required of any audiologist seeking certification in the field. The earning potential of entry level jobs in audiology is far ranging as illustrated by a report from the U.S. Department Of Labor in 2002 that estimated the annual salary of these workers to be in the range of $32,000 to $73,000 with the average audiologist earning $52,000 in that year.

Becoming An On Air Personality

Were you the kid who always dreamed of hearing your voice on the radio? Did you carry a tape recorder around so you could interview everyone from the guy waiting for the bus to your grandmother? Did you watch the sports channel with the sound turned off so you could provide the commentary for you and your friends?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then an entry level job found in the entertainment field may be a perfect fit for you. On the radio, they are known as disc jockeys. On television, they are known as reporters. in the sporting arena, they are called sports announcers. No matter what name they are called in their specific function, as a group, they are on air personalities. A class of workers we all feel a kindred spirit with even if we have never personally met because every morning their voices come through the speakers of our car stereo to join us on the way to work, every night their familiar faces stare back at us from the television screen and their voices come to us over the noise of the crowd to tell us who’s winning the Super Bowl or our local sporting events.
If you want to join this elite class of on air personalities by finding an entry level job in this industry, expect stiff competition for any available positions because the sheer number of applicants far exceeds the available job openings. To place the odds a little further into your favor, consider the use of an internship opportunity, even an unpaid one, as these often lead into further career opportunity in the form of entry level jobs. Additionally, college courses in the sciences of communications and computers, drama and public speaking can all be very beneficial to the college student seeking entry level opportunities in the entertainment field.