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General Discussion

Where are the real entry level jobs that don’t require 2+ years?

I’ve been researching the job market, and there are lots of opportunities for people already in the business, but the so called entry level jobs require a few years of working in the industry. This seems insurmountable. Anyone have some insight?

2 Answers

Jason Anders
MOD
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,858 Points

Hi Brandon Bostwick

When looking for employment, almost everyone will have a line that specifies # of years experience. Honestly, I wouldn't and never have paid much attention to that. If you feel you can do the job being offered, then apply for the job, regardless of whether or not you meet the list of "qualifications needed."

Many companies add a whole bunch of "qualifications" to their postings but are really only expecting some of the qualifications to actually exist in the applicants. This is the same in all industries, not just coding.

Knowledge, personality, and your capabilities are what really matters to prospective employers. As long as you have tangible evidence of your skills (a strong Portfolio) and these skills meet or exceed the requirements for the job, the "years of experience" is often not that important.

Like any job market, it can be tough. Many people apply for postings, but only a few will be hired. Just apply for any and all jobs you feel you can competently do with your skills, and one will eventually land for you.

Keep Coding! :) :dizzy:

Jennifer Nordell
seal-mask
STAFF
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Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher

Hi there, Brandon Bostwick!

I definitely agree with Jason Anders on this. Honestly, many times those experience times seem to be arbitrary and in some cases, make no logical sense. For example, I've seen advertisements for junior level positions where they want 10+ years of experience. Or, that's what they say at the very least.

My fiance actually ran into this scenario once. He found a recruiting ad for a Swift developer with 10 years of experience. Keep in mind that Swift was first released in 2014. It won't be possible for them to find someone that meets that requirement until 2024 :smiley:

Definitely take those "years of experience" with a huge grain of salt.

I would say that if you have 75% of the requirements (not counting years of experience) and have one "nice to have", you should apply. Give it a go! You may get a hundred "no"s but all it takes is one "yes".

Hope this helps! :sparkles: