The other day, while browsing on the internet, I came across a job posting. The posting was for an entry-level job in the marketing department of a company. After reading the job description, i went on to read the "Qualification Requirements" where the first sentence read "2-3 years of experience is required for this entry-level position". I then found myself wondering about a variety of thing regarding someone who's on the job hunt.
Speaking from a recent college grad perspective, this was quite perplexing. First of all, the posted was for an entry-level position. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't an entry-level position for newcomers like recent college grads or individuals who looking to change careers? If I had 2-3 years of experience of entry-level work, my next step would be a forward progression up the job hierarchy. Who actually jumps from one entry-level job to another?? Seems pretty stagnant to me, but I digress.
My next point is: where do companies expect you to gain valuable experience if they are looking for 2-3 years of experience for an entry-level job?? For college students, internships are great ways to gain relevant experience but how many college students can actually gain 2-3 years of experience from internships? Most companies seek college juniors and seniors for their internship positions, therefor most of them spent their first 2 summers of college working menial jobs at the local department store or fast food restaurant. So if your lucky, you'll typically come out of college with about 6 months to a year of relevant experience in the field you intend on working in. Thankfully, many universities curricula now require their students to find at least one internship to satisfy graduation requirements.
Most college graduates go from undergraduate studies straight to graduate studies but times has changed. A master degree used to separate someone from other in the employment pool, but now it seems as though one requires a master degree just to enter the fray of the competition. Even if you go straight to graduate school, the problem still exist. Now you have a master's degree but you still don't have the amount of relevant experience these companies are looking for. The cost of education is too high for someone to have a an advance degree and not be able to find a decent job.
In tough economic times like these many people are forced to settle for any job to makes ends meet, until something better comes along. However nobody likes to settle, and. Furthermore is settle a good idea??? All these companies are looking for 2-3 years of relevant experience. Hypothetically speaking if someone was a marketing major but couldn't find a job in their field, so they settle and start working in a group home. What are the odds that they'll be able to find something in their marketing field?? After all, although they are working they still don't have the relevant experience.
It's things like these that make me wonder and question the choice to go to college. You can't help but wonder if you wasted time and money going to institutions of higher learning when there is virtually no career fulling jobs for recent college graduate.
Things that make you go "hmmmmm"....
