‘I need a job to to get experience, but I need experience to get the job I want’.
How many times have you found yourself in this situation? Even if you’ve got a good idea of your perfect position, finding a role that helps you get from A to B can prove to be a pretty frustrating experience. Especially if you’re just starting out in your career.
To help you get your foot in the door, here are six of the best entry-level positions you could be applying for right now:
Bookkeeper
Category: Accountancy
What they do – A Bookkeeper’s main role is to gather and record the financial transactions of a business, calculate their profit and loss, process invoices and, ultimately, detail how much money the company makes and spends.
Requirements – A strong aptitude for numbers and excellent attention to detail. In terms of qualifications, a degree may be preferred by some employers, but is by no means essential. Good academic grades (GCSE A-C in Maths and English minimum), and superior IT skills are necessary. Knowledge of single-entry and double-entry bookkeeping and other key bookkeeping practices could also prove invaluable.
Average entry-level salary – £18,000
Honourable mentions: Junior Accountant, Accounts Assistant.
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Teaching Assistant
Category: Education
What they do – The main role of a Teaching Assistant is to provide support and assistance to a teacher to lighten their workload – whether it’s helping supervise students, or providing extra assistance to those who need it. For some students, Teaching Assistants are absolutely essential in ensuring they get the most out of their education.
Requirements – In terms of attributes, you’ll need exceptional communication skills and a motivational personality. You may often be working with unruly pupils or those who lack confidence, so patience is also extremely important. A degree is not essential, but experience working with children, an industry-specific qualification or simply starting in a voluntary role are all good ways of getting started.
Average entry-level salary – £12,000
Honourable mentions: Support Worker, TEFL.
How to become a Teaching Assistant
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Junior Web Developer
Category: IT, technology
What they do – Assist Senior Developers in all aspects of software development and implementation. Depending on the size of the company, their duties will range from planning and developing applications and writing programming code through to site updates, troubleshooting and coming up with initiatives to increase traffic.
Requirements – It’s possible to get a job in tech without any previous experience, especially if you have a high level of computer literacy and good technical skills. A degree in an IT discipline is definitely a bonus, but it isn’t the only route. A Web Development-specific qualification or even knowledge of programming languages, such as C# and JavaScript, will all help you secure your first role.
Average entry-level salary – £18,000
Honourable mentions: Assistant Project Manager, Trainee Graphic Designer, Junior Tester.
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Business Analyst
Category: IT, technology
What they do – BAs are responsible for analysing a business’s processes and investigating how they work. They then identify improvements that can be made, evaluate any problems that need addressing, project how feasible these improvements are and use all of the acquired information to present a business case back to the company which details the solutions.
Requirements – There are three main routes to becoming a BA. Firstly, a degree in any discipline (preferably business) and some analytical experience are musts for most big employers. It is possible, however, to have good A-level grades and still start in a junior position. Alternatively, many BAs start in different roles and progress through the company to assume the position.
Average entry-level salary – £20,000
Honourable mentions: Junior Commercial Analyst.
How to become a Business Analyst
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Marketing Assistant
Category: Marketing and PR, Media & Creative
What they do – The main duties of a Marketing Assistant can range from content creation and email copywriting, through to communicating marketing plans to clients, producing pieces of collateral, conducting PR calls and helping manage social media accounts. For anyone looking for a career in Marketing, this is the perfect place to start.
Requirements – A good knowledge of marketing best-practices and up-to-date knowledge in the industry are both excellent tips to help you get started in Marketing. For many entry-level roles, a degree (Marketing/Business preferable, but not essential) can be a prerequisite. However, a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) qualification can also be a great way to break into the industry – no degree necessary.
Average entry-level salary – £18,000
Honourable mentions: Digital Marketing Executive, Social Media Intern/Executive.
How to become a Marketing Executive
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Estate Agent
Category: Property
What they do – Estate agents market, let and sell properties, as well as providing services and advice for those looking to sell properties themselves.
Requirements – Entry-level estate agency jobs are all about your attributes. Aside from being self-motivated and a persuasive communicator, negotiation skills and the ability to sell are necessities. Most companies will offer on-the-job training to help get you up to speed on property practices, and vocational training is definitely one of the perks of the job.
Average entry-level salary – £14,000
Honourable mentions: Mortgage Advisor, Lettings Agent.
View all Estate Agent courses now
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Final thoughts
The industries given above are just a small sample of what you can do at entry-level. In truth, practically every sector has some form of entry-level position to help get you started.
However, even if you feel you’re lacking the necessary requirements to secure your ideal role, don’t be discouraged. Most people’s career paths are not straight lines, so never rule out taking an entry-level position to build experience and combining it with some on-the-job training or an outside qualification to help you get ahead.
It’s also important to bear in mind that there isn’t necessarily a set route into every profession, and many roles include elements which might help you move into your chosen area. You just need to know how to make the most of your transferable skills – not to mention have the desire to work your way up.
The main thing is to have a clear idea of where you want to go in your career. You may not be able to get there straight away, but getting a firm grasp on your destination will help you determine the route.
