Success in an Entry Level Position

Posted: December 9, 2009

By: Meg

A few Sundays ago I made the trek to Lewiston, Maine to visit my alma mater, Bates College. I participated on an alumni panel called Business Beyond Banking: Corporate Careers.

Each panelist told the story of their career path since college and how they ended up in their current job. It was fascinating to hear each person’s journey and a reminder that most people have a winding road on the way to their own success.

One of the main points discussed was how to be successful in an entry level position. These days the term “entry level” can be seen as a negative. Many recent college grads make the mistake of assuming that they are overqualified for an entry level job. However when starting your career it is important to show your value no matter what the task or title.

I have supervised unsuccessful interns who were the cause of their own failure. They would start a job with a chip on their shoulder feeling overqualified to do the basic office work. As the internship progressed, they would become frustrated when they watched their peers get better projects. They didn’t understand that the interesting and more demanding projects went to the interns who were hard working and reliable no matter what the task.

The intern who brought back the meticulous copy job and finished the data entry job with attention to detail was much more likely to be asked to take on a larger project. They had shown what a value they were to the company.

By demonstrating your reliability and work ethic, you will be able to create opportunities for yourself, entry level or not. No matter type of job you are looking for, every employer is looking for those qualities. That is what will create great success!