Entry Level with 3+ year experience

Entry Level with 3+ year experience

I've been applying to jobs for months.I applied to mid-senior level positions and they say they're looking for someone with more experience. I applied to entry level positions but they want people with 2-3+ years of experience. I'm starting to believe that everyone's looking for unicorn.lol

Recruiters are hiring manager can you please explain why entry level is 3+ years experience?

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13 Comments

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  1. Anonymous

    They are probably looking for people who did internships and worked during college. I graduated with 3 years of field experience from my 5 year bachelor, for example in this case this wasn't crazy. Perhaps that's the idea?

  2. JJ

    What is your profession?

  3. Anonymous

    My degree is in health science but my goal is to be in the medical device/pharma industry. I had a contract for three months at a pharmaceutical company. I was a fast learner. But when jobs want 3+ years of experience it makes it harder to get into these companies. Even when the responsibilities described is similar to what I did in the contract role

  4. Julie Humbird

    I keep seeing posts on LinkedIn that entry-level jobs are requesting 3-5 years experience because the number of applicants is massive. They are betting on a person with experience to take an entry-level job that offers no room to grow. They will likely be sourcing it again within a year.

  5. Anonymous

    "Entry" level doesn't really mean "first job." It means lowest level in the hierarchy.

  6. Anonymous

    Understandable but it's also confusing because when I have less that 3+ years experience with a software such as Salesforce it isn't enough.

  7. Anonymous

    I'm glad you mentioned this because I've heard of some positions that are entry level and there isn't any room for growth in the position or company

  8. Anonymous

    Usually, the years of experience is preferred, not required...BUT don't let it stop you from applying. Sometimes the hiring manager is looking for a "plug and play" so training is slim to none...OR they just want to narrow down the applicants. If you want the job and believe you are capable, then don't hesitate and just apply. Looking for a job is a full-time job, and in today's market, you really need to apply 3x more than you're used to.

    If there's a specific company you want to work for then remember to always follow up on your application, follow them on social media, look for other employees (in HR or Recruiting) and connect with them. If you don't have LinkedIn then set up an account asap; if you do have it then use it to find contacts. It's extremely helpful when you can connect with an insider in the company.

  9. Anonymous

    Thank you! It's definitely a full-time job. Most of the applications look the same lol. I'll definitely try to connect with them on LinkedIn.

  10. Anonymous

    They are either looking for a unicorn or the job ad is a sham to cover for an internal or nepotism hire. Or.... the field is full of people with 3-10 years of experience who are getting those jobs.

    Keep trying, and if you establish a connection with one of the hiring managers, ask for feedback on your interview or resume. It could be that you're making some error. Also, check with all your references!

  11. Anonymous

    Thank you! It's just interesting because some of these positions still aren't filled and it's been months. I'll try to connect with the managers

  12. Tomilyn Richards

    I think some times they dont even know. Why do we always look at years of experience versus abilities and competencies to do the job. What someone does in 5 years, someone else may conquer in 3... I think that this whole game of 2 years, 4 years, 10 years is OLD and outdated. Entry level means you do not have experience or what you do have is purely beginner level and you need to be trained... =) It is NOT 3 years of specific experience in the job.

  13. Anonymous

    Exactly! I completely agree. I've seen people get hired with the years of experience they prefer. The years of experience doesn't always mean the person will be successful in the role.They're neglecting untapped talent

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