Here are five tips to help you break into an entry-level position

Experience essentially has no relation to the real-life workforce. It doesn’t matter for an entry-level position that you majored in something like philosophy or history—most entry-level job requirements are similar and simply require an undergraduate degree.

Here are five tips to help you break into an entry-level position:

1.Find the Right Fit

Some positions you’ll find don’t require a field-specific degree. Look for jobs where you think you’ll be a good fit and start applying.That’s not to say there aren’t jobs meant for specific degrees—for example, an entry-level writing and editing job may prefer an English major.

2. Get an Internship

An internship is meant to provide real-world experience while exposing you to potential career opportunities. There are many success stories of internships turning into job offers. “Internships have become key in today’s economy,” says Melissa Benca, director of career services at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Internships are becoming more and more competitive, and you can apply some of these job-seeking tactics to your internship search.

3.Start a Side Project

Side projects aren’t just for engineers and designers.Starting a blog or maintaining social media accounts are a great way to get into marketing and help you develop your personal brand. Build a website or pursue creative interests. Don’t expect to make a ton of money, but rather work on it as a labor of love. Job recruiters will see you as a more well-rounded candidate who follows his or her passion. The Busy Building Things blog says of side projects, “It’s also important to be our own client sometimes and have side projects that push new skills, flex creative muscles, and give us testing grounds for new and innovative ideas.”

4. Learn to Sell Yourself

Your skill set is only one aspect of landing an entry-level job—you need to be able to sell yourself. You are pitching both your skills and your personality to a recruiter. The goal is to show that you are capable and want to work for the company. A recruiter may find you to be a more attractive candidate if you’re willing to be flexible and move to a smaller city.
Your course work is not irrelevant and is part of “the package.” For example, a course on Greek Theatre would make you an excellent candidate as a volunteer coordinator, as you may have learned valuable morals and life lessons from the ancient dramas. Review your coursework and think of how you can apply those lessons to the job you want. Every experience is an asset.

5. Find a Mentor

The Internet is one of the most obvious and valuable tools when you’re searching for a job, but getting together with a mentor is another way to get ahead. Mentors who work in your field of interest can offer career guidance and advice and possibly even connect you to a job opening.
Some cities have meet-ups for groups or individuals in specific fields. Start there and try to connect with experienced people.From there, you can ask if that person is interested in mentoring you, at which point you’ll be able to make more valuable connections. You can also expect a great mentor to offer valuable advice to advance your life goals and career.