Entry Level Jobs in Seattle, WA: Entry Level Opportunity or a Seattle Myth?
Entry level jobs in Seattle can be hard to come by. Finding cool jobs in Seattle can even be harder! This page will review current entry level positions in Seattle and surrounding areas. We also hope to update the entry level openings in Seattle on a regular basis to serve as a valuable resource for entry level job seekers.
Check out this month's featured Entry Level Job!
Check out this month's featured Entry Level Job!
What is "Entry Level?"
An entry level position in a company is more of a career-path than a job. An entry level job may be fairly uninteresting or seemingly menial work. However, entry level jobs often lead to more interesting and higher paying work after a certain time period of 'proving oneself.' Some examples of entry level positions are: Entry Level Account Executive, Jr. Account Manager, Entry Level File Clerk or Court Messenger, Mail Room Clerk, or Paid Internships. There are way too many entry level positions to list on this site, but maybe after some time and review, we will have accumulated enough information from many industries to better inform you of all entry level positions in Seattle, WA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Fair Warning About Entry Level Jobs
Almost every entry level position in any industry is neither glamorous nor is it extremely interesting. Employers are more concerned with you earning your keep, rather than just giving you the position that you ultimately want.
In order for an employer to weed out the people that really wouldn't do well in the 'ideal' position, they start everyone in an entry level role. Unless that person has demonstrated a competency in other industries or similar companies, the chances of that person being hired directly for a position like Senior Manager are fairly slim.
Remember this: Any entry level position out there might be tough, boring, remedial, unnecessary, underpaid, etc. If you can get through it and you enjoy the industry that it is in, you just may earn your right to move up within the corporation.
An old proverb states "A man who cannot live through the bad, will not live to see the good." Entry Level jobs in Seattle are no different.
In order for an employer to weed out the people that really wouldn't do well in the 'ideal' position, they start everyone in an entry level role. Unless that person has demonstrated a competency in other industries or similar companies, the chances of that person being hired directly for a position like Senior Manager are fairly slim.
Remember this: Any entry level position out there might be tough, boring, remedial, unnecessary, underpaid, etc. If you can get through it and you enjoy the industry that it is in, you just may earn your right to move up within the corporation.
An old proverb states "A man who cannot live through the bad, will not live to see the good." Entry Level jobs in Seattle are no different.
Who are Entry Level positions for?
Entry level positions in Seattle are ideal for those just entering or re-entering the workforce after a leave of absence. They are most accepted by recent college graduates. When an individual enters the workforce, he/she is competing with every other college grad in the area for "cool jobs." However, it is only the person that accepts what he/she will have to do as an entry level employee, who gets the position.
If someone feels that they are overqualified for an entry level position, chances are, they are probably correct. However, if someone else is willing to start at the entry level and another person is not, than the person with the better attitude wins the position, and not the person who is 'too qualified.'
A great way to look at the value of an entry level opportunity is to compare it to how an athlete enters into the high-paying role of an NFL star. The NFL relies on proven added value to a team and pays accordingly. Meaning, if someone has put forth the effort and has shown excellence in the sport, that person will be paid more than someone who has just been drafted into the league.
If someone feels that they are overqualified for an entry level position, chances are, they are probably correct. However, if someone else is willing to start at the entry level and another person is not, than the person with the better attitude wins the position, and not the person who is 'too qualified.'
A great way to look at the value of an entry level opportunity is to compare it to how an athlete enters into the high-paying role of an NFL star. The NFL relies on proven added value to a team and pays accordingly. Meaning, if someone has put forth the effort and has shown excellence in the sport, that person will be paid more than someone who has just been drafted into the league.
Entry Level Opportunities from a Sports Perspective
No one is ever drafted into the NFL without a prior demonstration of competence and excellence in any given position. The same rule applies to business and much sought-after high paying positions within a company.
Entry Level Positions in BusinessYou interview with a company and after much deliberation of the management staff identifying top-talent through a series of interviews,you are offered an Entry Level position.
You excel in the entry level position, showing leadership / management potential and are awarded with additional responsibilities. You excel in your duties and are awarded an increase in pay and oversee a department. You excel in overseeing that department and take on additional responsibilities, earning a higher salary. You gain a track-record for excellence and are offered a seat on the board of directors or a position as V.P. or maybe even President (if the spot opens up). After a successful career, you retire. |
Entry Level Positions in FootballYou 'walk-on' to a college football team and try to make the cut. The coaching staff deliberates to identify top-talent and offers positions to a select group of individuals. You are one of the few selected and are now part of the team.
You excel on the team and become part of the starting line-up. You excel as a starter and are then drafted to the NFL. You excel in the NFL and earn a starting position. You gain a track-record as a starter and earnings increase. After a successful career, you retire. |
The Difference in the Above Entry Level Positions
In business, there is a limited amount of growth potential from an entry level position with a large company. If you choose to go this route, it may be a very long time before you see any rewards for your efforts. Starting your career with a smaller company may increase your growth opportunities, but may also increase the risk of finding another job down the road if the company isn't successful. However, the work that you put into helping grow the smaller company will not go unnoticed from future employers, and will most likely be considered an asset, giving you an edge over the competition of other entry level candidates.
However, just because you decide to take an entry level position with a large corporation, doesn't mean that you are necessarily safe in your position either. Large companies administer mass layoffs and the entry level positions are usually the first to go. Large companies love 'seniority' and if you don't have it, you may be considered expendable.
In the NFL, seniority doesn't play as big of a part in the equation. Granted, if an NFL quarterback is leading the team to Superbowls, they probably won't come off of the field so that the second-string QB can prove himself...but that's because he adds a ton of value, obviously. Professional sports offer income increases and more credibility based on merit, primarily, and not seniority. Businesses may or may not abide by this line of thinking.
However, just because you decide to take an entry level position with a large corporation, doesn't mean that you are necessarily safe in your position either. Large companies administer mass layoffs and the entry level positions are usually the first to go. Large companies love 'seniority' and if you don't have it, you may be considered expendable.
In the NFL, seniority doesn't play as big of a part in the equation. Granted, if an NFL quarterback is leading the team to Superbowls, they probably won't come off of the field so that the second-string QB can prove himself...but that's because he adds a ton of value, obviously. Professional sports offer income increases and more credibility based on merit, primarily, and not seniority. Businesses may or may not abide by this line of thinking.
Entry Level Careers in Seattle, WA
Entry Level careers in Seattle, WA may indeed be plentiful, but its fairly difficult to find the right fit. Although we have previously discussed the need to exhibit competency in a position before moving past the entry level job in a corporation, don't set your sights too low. However, if your Seattle job search has been taking too long (only you would know what 'too long' means), then you may want to readjust your expectations.
Seattle is home to a ton of different corporations, and a lot of their corporate headquarters are either on the Seattle side or the East side (Bellevue, WA). Since there are plenty of business, there are also plenty of jobs. Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com can both serve as valuable resources for finding a great entry level position in Seattle. A lot of other websites like Indeed.com are simply "aggregate" sites, in which they just post what is already posted on the two main job boards. So, some entry level candidates may like this "one-stop-shop," but some may find that they have already applied to these entry level jobs through the original source.
Seattle is home to a ton of different corporations, and a lot of their corporate headquarters are either on the Seattle side or the East side (Bellevue, WA). Since there are plenty of business, there are also plenty of jobs. Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com can both serve as valuable resources for finding a great entry level position in Seattle. A lot of other websites like Indeed.com are simply "aggregate" sites, in which they just post what is already posted on the two main job boards. So, some entry level candidates may like this "one-stop-shop," but some may find that they have already applied to these entry level jobs through the original source.