There are a number of entry level jobs available to college students, and many of them can be found at your local grocery store. Many grocery stores offer positions for people who are just starting out in their career. These positions may not be paid well, but they are a great way to gain experience.
Grocery stores offer many different types of entry level jobs that you can apply for once you have graduated from college. Some examples include: cashier, stocker, bagger, and shelf-stacker. These jobs do not require any previous experience in order to be hired.
If you are looking for an entry level job after graduating from college, it is important that you apply as soon as possible so that the hiring manager will have enough time to review your application before making any decisions about who gets hired first.
Find Entry Level Jobs
- Build your resume with internships.
- Speak with recruiters at job fairs.
- Emphasize your skills on your resume.
- Customize your resume and cover letter for each position.
- Use career office services.
- Post your resume to job sites.
- Update your social profiles.
- Network.
1. Build your resume with internships
Internships and skill-based opportunities have taken the place of the entry-level job in today’s job market. Start building your resume with volunteer opportunities before you’re ready to apply for a job. The more experiences you’re exposed to, the faster you will grow your professional network and the more you will enhance your resume to impress potential employers. It’s also important to note that many internships lead to full-time employment after graduation.
2. Speak with recruiters at job fairs
Attend job fairs or college events and speak to the representative recruiters. Do your research in advance and know which companies you might be interested in working for. Take notes during your research and use it during your discussion with recruiters. The effort you put into preparing for the meeting will help you to stand out in the recruiter’s mind above other potential candidates and could even earn you an interview on the spot.
3. Emphasize your skills on your resume
Many employers today are most concerned with whether candidates are capable of learning relevant skills. Use your resume to show how you have developed key skills such as communication or collaboration in other positions, organizations or volunteer opportunities.
4. Customize your resume and cover letter for each position
Even when you have limited experience, you should still customize your resume and cover letter for every job you apply for. Review the job description for the entry-level position you plan to apply for and prioritize these key skills and experiences in your application. Follow this process for each entry-level job you apply for.
5. Use career office services
Colleges typically have a career services department that is specifically designed to help place students after graduation. They can put you in touch with alumni who work in your field, helping you set up informational interviews or job shadowing. Most also offer career counseling, internship and job listings for students and other career resources. These services are typically available for not only students but also alumni, which can be beneficial if you are changing careers.
6. Post your resume to job sites
Many job sites include or are even dedicated to entry-level jobs. These sites often include a searchable database with job listings as well as a place you can post your resume so employers can find you. Many even offer guidance for improving your skills and increasing your experience to qualify for entry-level roles.
Related: Guide: Using Indeed.com Job Search
7. Update your social profiles
Employers today are reviewing social media profiles as they evaluate candidates and determine who might be a good fit for their organizations. Review everything you have posted to your social media profiles in the past and delete anything that doesn’t represent the professional persona you want to portray.
Make sure, also, that your LinkedIn profile is complete with a professional, updated photo. Consider taking time daily to give endorsements on LinkedIn to encourage others you’re connected with to give some to you in return. You may also want to consider asking past supervisors in internships or volunteer organizations to leave you a recommendation. To make it easy for them to do so, you can even offer to create a draft that they can revise in their own words to post to LinkedIn.
8. Network
Attend networking events and let people know that you’re looking for an entry-level job and what you’re looking for. Connect with people who work at a company on LinkedIn and see if you have any mutual connections. You may even want to invite one of the employees you connect with to coffee to learn more about the company and any openings available. Impress them by how thorough you are and they may be willing to vouch for you.
Most in-demand entry-level jobs
Here are some of the most in-demand entry-level jobs that you may want to consider exploring:
- Call center representative
- Data entry clerk
- Laborer
- Customer service representative
- Receptionist
- Installer
- Warehouse worker
- Delivery driver
1. Call center representative
National average salary: $12.16 per hour
Primary duties: Call center representatives are responsible for managing inbound and outbound calls. Their primary duties include identifying a customer’s needs, researching issues and providing solutions.
2. Data entry clerk
National average salary: $12.61 per hour
Primary duties: Data clerks are responsible for maintaining databases by entering and updating customer and account information. Their primary duties include preparing source data for computer entry, processing customer and account source documents and verifying entered data by reviewing and correcting data as necessary.
3. Laborer
National average salary: $13.10 per hour
Primary duties: The primary responsibilities of laborers vary depending on their industry. Their primary duties may include cleaning and preparing job sites, loading and delivering materials and using a variety of tools and machines to perform specific tasks related to their roles.
4. Customer service representative
National average salary: $13.23 per hour
Primary duties: A customer service representative is responsible for being the liaison between a company and its customers. Their primary duties include resolving customer complaints via email, phone, mail or social media, placing or canceling orders and taking payment information and other pertinent information.
5. Receptionist
National average salary: 13.44 per hour
Primary duties: A receptionist is responsible for greeting and welcoming visitors, notifying company employees about visitor arrivals and maintaining security and telecommunications systems. They are also expected to maintain a safe and clean reception area by complying with rules and procedures.
6. Installer
National average salary: $15.39 per hour
Primary duties: An installer is responsible for installing, repairing, upgrading and maintaining equipment for customers. Their primary duties include traveling to customers’ homes and installing electrical or computer equipment, making recommendations for where equipment should be placed and troubleshooting problems.
7. Warehouse worker
National average salary: $15.10 per hour
Primary duties: Warehouse workers are responsible for receiving and processing incoming stock and materials, managing and organizing stock and packing and shipping orders. Their primary duties include welcoming delivery trucks, receiving and tracking shipments and tagging and labeling merchandise.
8. Delivery driver
National average salary: $16.71 per hour
Primary duties: A delivery driver is responsible for loading, transporting and delivering goods to clients or businesses. Their primary duties include reviewing orders before and after delivery and assisting with loading and unloading from trucks.
