Looking for entry level positions and how to spot them.

Well the obvious ones are easy to spot. "Recent graduate opportunities" and "Entry-level" might be right in the job title. And as I discussed in my last post, boy does that make life easier.

But how do you know when it's appropriate for you to apply for a job when you have little or no work experience? Most North American postings ask for a minimum level of years of professional experience. Jobs explicitly for recent grads will actually say "zero" years on many occasions.

Don't automatically rule yourself out of applying for a job if you have no experience and well, they as for more than that.

A good rule of thumb to follow is this: If a job says its looking for one or as many as two years experience, that's often HR code for "Our ideal candidate has 2 or so years experience, but if that person is not out there, a great recent grad will fit the bill."

Once you see a job asking for 3 years or more, that tends to an intermediate position and definitely targets an experienced candidate. It doesn't mean you can't apply for it, just understand that your chances for success are slimmer for that vacancy. Worst case scenario: if your resume makes a good impression, it will be kept on file for upcoming entry level vacancies.

So if you are a recent grad looking to be a GIS Analyst or Urban Planner without any experience, look for jobs asking for 2 years of experience or less as a guide.