This document contains general advice for people
looking for entry-level employment in the United States.
It references laws and procedures common in the US, and is targeted
toward people who have spent a long time outside the job market, such as those
who have left high demand organizations, or spent a long period of time making a
home, as in the case of a divorced spouse.
The author is an employer in Los Angeles, California.
Finding Entry Level Employment
By Joseph
It is possible to find a job even if you have no official work experience. Everyone has skills, and it is a matter of identifying what you are good at, and marketing your skills to employers.
Even if you have never received an official paycheck, there is usually some sort of work you have performed that a legitimate employer is willing to hire you for.
The first step is to define your skills. For example:
These are just a few skills that can qualify you for jobs such as:
Next, you should put together a resume. A Resume tells an employer who you are, how to get in touch with you, what your goals are, and lists your education and skills.
Only include positive information in your resume. It should be a commercial for you, and what makes you someone that should be hired.
DON'T include personal information such as:
DON'T include details that show you in a bad light such as:
DON'T include your height, weight or photo (unless this information is specifically requested by a prospective employer).
There is an excellent, non-profit website that will teach you the details of how to write a good resume, even if you don’t have work experience at:
http://www.write-a-resume.org/
There are many resources on the web for posting resumes. However some of these services come with a cost. The employers who use these services are often looking for managers and people with a great deal of job experience and education.
For entry level jobs, most states have an Employment Development Department (EDD). You can usually find the phone number in the telephone book white pages in the front under State Government Offices.
Normally, a state EDD provides free job referrals. Employers give the EDD their requirements, and they attempt to match it with people who have registered with the EDD who are looking for a job. The EDD will submit your resume to employers, and if they indicate interest, they will contact you with a time and location for the job interview.
Other sources include “want ads” in the newspaper-classified section. You can also ask friends who are working if their employer is hiring. Often, a person already working for a company is aware of job postings and can recommend you to the Human Resources Director.
The Job
Interview
The call comes and you are scheduled for a job interview. What is expected of you now?
Appearance is very important. Even if the interview is for a gardening job, or loading trucks, dress at least business casual.
For men this means a “dress” shirt (no t-shirts or tank tops), slacks (no jeans or shorts), and dress shoes that have been shined (no tennis shoes). If you don’t have these, borrow them if you have to, or go to a thrift store and sell them back after the interview if you have to. A tie would be optional, if you have one. Make sure you have shaved (or trimmed facial hair).
For women this means a blouse (no t-shirts, bare midriff, low necklines), a brazier, a skirt or slacks (no jeans, shorts or hip huggers, sheer see-through clothing), nylons (if your legs will show with a skirt, make sure they are shaved), sensible dress shoes (no tennis shoes, no high heels). If you don’t have these, borrow them if you have to, or go to a thrift store and sell them back after the interview if you have to.
Pay careful attention to personal hygiene. Hair should be neat. Teeth clean. Breath fresh. Wear underarm deodorant even if you don’t think you need it, because you will probably be nervous before you go in, and you might sweat. If you have any tattoos and piercings they should be covered.
Try not to have any clothing or items you carry that have product logos or slogans that could end up belonging to a competitor of the company you are interviewing with.
Bring something to write with and something to write on. A folder, if you have it. If not, bring a tablet. Know what your schedule is and when you may be available for a second interview, or to start working.
Bring extra copies of your resume, even though you know that they already have a copy.
When you arrive, you will probably be seated in a waiting area. The receptionist will likely give you an application to fill out. Most of the information will probably be on your resume, but fill it out anyway. It might be in a format that makes it easy to standardize with their human resources system. Make sure you give the same answers on the application that are on your resume. Whatever you do, don’t write something like “See Resume”.
You may be given a test to complete. If the job you are applying for requires computer skills, they may put you at a computer to take a test and to measure your typing skill and ability to enter data.
You may be given a test that gives you some ethical questions. Some of these questions may sound silly, but answer them in a manner that will show you in the best possible light.
You may be asked for a list of references. Friends, or people with a different last name are more credible references than members of your family. You should have at least three references, and be able to provide address and telephone information. Make sure that your references know that they may be called, and that they will give you a positive recommendation.
You may be asked if you are willing to submit to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, and if you are willing to submit to random drug and alcohol testing if you are hired. If you are not willing to do this, or if you are afraid that you will not be able to pass a test, you probably should come up with a good excuse to leave. I would not recommend saying that you are leaving because you can’t pass a drug test.
When you are called in for the actual interview, have the items you are carrying in your left hand, and have your right had free. When you see the interviewer, put out your right hand (even if you are left handed), and shake hands. Look the interviewer in the eye, and say, “Thank you for taking the time to see me”.
The next most common thing that happens is the interviewer will say, “So, tell me about yourself”.
This can be an awkward moment if you haven’t already prepared something to say. This is not a good time to go into your life story, or your past job history (or lack thereof). Think of something short and interesting to say. Perhaps something interesting that happened to you lately. If you have lived in a foreign country, you could talk a little about that. All the interviewer wants is to break the ice and get you to talk so he or she can evaluate your presentation.
If you are much older than twenty, and have little or no job experience plus no college education, the interviewer is likely to ask you what you were doing all those years. It is okay to say you were doing volunteer work, and perhaps give an example of something positive that you participated in. It is not a good idea to say that you were in a cult, or even that you were a full time Christian missionary, or that you are in the middle of a divorce and now have to work for the first time.
The interviewer is not allowed to ask you personal questions. For example, they can’t ask you your religion (which is why not to say you were a Christian missionary). They cannot ask you if you are married, or have children. They may ask you questions that lend themselves to giving this information. For example, the interviewer may have a picture of his or her spouse and children and might point it out hoping that you will respond by saying you have ten children. This would be a bad idea, since the interviewer might jump to the conclusion that with so many children, you will be more likely to miss work.
If they do ask these questions, it is a sign of an unprofessional company. Applicants who are not hired by such a company could file charges of discrimination. Legitimate employers will not ask personal questions to avoid this possibility.
Sexual harassment policies are in force at all times in the workplace, even during the job interview. A professional in human resources will never make sexual advances, including inappropriate jokes or comments. If this happens, leave immediately. Applicants must play by the same rules. Flirting, sexual jokes, and provocative clothing or behavior on the part of the applicant will cause any professional human resources person to call an immediate halt to the interview. The conversation from both sides should be strictly business.
The interview process is a two way street. This is not only the time for the company to decide if it wants to work with you, it is also the time for you to decide if you want to work with the company. It is appropriate to ask questions that you may have about the job. What is the typical starting hourly rate, or salary? Are benefits such as health care, and retirement available? What are the work hours? Is night or weekend work required? It is a good idea to have a list of questions prepared before the interview.
The interviewer will tell you when the interview is over.
Don’t call an end to it yourself.
A long interview is a good sign of interest.
When you are given the signal that it is time to leave, stand up, put out
your right hand, shake hands, look the person in the eye and say, “Thank you
for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.”
Then leave.
You may be called back for another interview. Usually this is with the person who would be your immediate supervisor. Human Resources often filters out undesirable applicants for managers, so they don’t waste time with people who are not appropriate for the job. For entry-level jobs, the reason for not hiring is often that the applicant is over qualified. This is where a person who has not worked before might actually have an advantage.
If the company decides that they want to hire you, they will make you an offer. This can be verbal or in writing. If it is verbal, you should ask for the offer in writing before you accept or decline. The offer should include your starting salary or hourly rate, what benefits you will be eligible for, what the probationary period is (normally 90 days), what the policy on vacations and sick leave are, and other details.
Normally, the pay rate is negotiable. You can make a counter offer for a higher pay rate, and it will be up to the company to accept or decline. You can always decide to back down and accept the original offer, if the company tells you it is final.
If the company is offering health benefits, the rate will usually be lower than from other companies that do not offer health benefits. Depending on where you live, your age and your health, it may be better to accept a lower paying job with health benefits. If you accept a higher paying job without health care, you will be responsible to pay doctor or hospital bills if you become sick or injured. If you try to buy benefits on your own, it could be very expensive, or perhaps not even available to you at any price.
Most offers of health coverage will be for the employee only. Some companies pay all of the cost of employee insurance some only pay part. Most do not offer to pay any of the cost of covering your spouse or children. It is appropriate to ask the cost of spouse and dependent coverage.
If you accept the offer, you will be given a time and a date to start work.
On your first day of employment, arrive early. You will probably be given an employee handbook that details the policies and procedures of the company. You will likely be asked to fill out more forms asking for information you have already supplied. Be patient, and realize that some companies have different departments that need information about you. Now that you are an employee of the company, some personal information can be asked.
You will be required to fill out IRS form W-4, which is the Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. A copy of this form and instructions on filling it out can be viewed on the web by clicking here.
Fill out this form clearly and accurately. If you make mistakes, you may be paid incorrectly, and it will cause your first paycheck to be delayed.
In box #3 the form asks you to check a box regarding your marital status. This has to do with how your taxes will be withheld. If you are legally married, and qualify to file your taxes as a married person, then check “Married”. If not, check “Single”.
Box #5 asks for the total number of allowances you are claiming. There is a worksheet on the back to calculate your allowances. This refers to how many dependents you are legally qualified to claim when you file your income taxes. If you have a spouse and six children living with you, you qualify for eight allowances (one for you, one for your spouse and one for each child living with you). If only four of your six children live with you, then you can only claim six allowances.
If you check Married rather than Single, you will have a lower amount of taxes withheld from your paycheck. If you claim six allowances rather than four, you will have less taxes withheld from your paycheck. WARNING: If you claim Married status, or a higher number of dependents than you legally qualify for, you will have to pay back the difference when you file your income taxes! Be very careful in how you fill out this form. If you do it incorrectly, you could either have too much withheld, or worse, too little withheld resulting in owing the IRS hundreds or even thousands of dollars at tax time. The best rule to follow is only claim your correct marital status and the exact number of allowances (or lower) than you really have in your household. Unless you have received advice from a tax professional, never claim “Exempt” status in line #7 of the W-4 form.
Another form you will be asked to fill out is US Department of Justice form I-9, known as Employment Eligibility Verification.
information about from I-9 can be viewed by clicking here.
The purpose of the I-9 form is to determine if you are qualified to work in the United States. People who qualify meet one of the three following specifications:
You will be required to provide documentation. If you have a US Passport (unexpired or expired) that is all you will need to produce.
If you do not have a US passport, you can produce a Drivers License AND a US Social Security Card.
If you don’t have any of the above, there is an extensive list of documentation and combinations of documentation you can produce. For example a School photo ID card and an original certified copy of your US Birth Certificate. To see the list, visit the website mentioned above.
It is important to understand that if you do not bring
adequate identification and documentation on your first day of work, you will
not be allowed to work. Failure to
produce documentation may cause you to be reconsidered as an applicant. In other
words, you may not get the job after all.
If all goes well in the process of filling out forms, you
will be officially hired, and allowed to start work. Most companies have a probationary period (usually 90 days)
where you or your employer may terminate your employment without cause.
It goes without saying that this is the time to make the best impression
by always being at work early and ready to start.
Arriving at work at the start time, then going and getting a cup of
coffee, or sitting in the restroom is not considered being on time.
Be sure that you are in compliance with company dress codes that should
be detailed in the company manual you should have already received.
Once the probationary period is complete, many companies
will offer a pay increase, since they have decided to keep you on, and you
should be trained in your job by that time.
If no increase is offered, it is appropriate to ask for a performance
review where you can be told in what areas you need to improve in order to
receive a pay increase.
Once you have been hired, look for opportunities for
advancement. Most companies will
post open jobs for their own employees first before going outside to hire.
It is easier to promote entry-level employees to the higher paying jobs,
then to find strangers. Posted
promotion opportunities will usually describe what kind of background or
experience is required. If you do not meet the requirements, consider going to
night school so you can meet the requirements in the future.
Find out if your company offers training opportunities.
Some companies will even pay part, or all, of your tuition if you agree
to study something that will increase your skill level.
You can also continue to look at jobs outside the company.
Once you are employed, you become more employable.
If you are unhappy at your job, it is better to line up another job
before quitting. At your next job
interview you are going to be asked why you don’t have a job in the first
place. You can avoid having to explain this by having a job, and
giving a positive reason for wanting to change, such as opportunity for higher
pay, advancement, etc. Don’t give
negative reasons for wanting to change jobs, such as not getting along with your
supervisor.
Lack of job experience is no reason to avoid the pursuit of gainful employment. Be willing to accept an entry-level position to start with, and then trade up. Always continue to develop marketable skills, and take advantage of company training programs, and community college courses. Present yourself in a positive light at all times.