Entry-Level Jobs Near Me: Finding Work With No Experience

Landing your first job can seem daunting, especially if you don’t have prior work experience. However, there are plenty of entry-level jobs perfect for those just starting out. This article explores the best jobs for students and others with no experience, providing tips on where to look and how to stand out during your job search and interview.

Overview of Entry-Level Jobs

Entry-level jobs are roles specifically geared towards people new to the workforce, including:

• Intternships
• Apprenticeships
• Assistant positions
• Customer service roles
• Administrative/clerical jobs
• Hospitality and retail positions
• Delivery driving jobs

These types of jobs rarely require previous job experience. What they do require is a great attitude, willingness to learn, and some basic skills getting started. They offer crucial opportunities to gain workplace experience and references for your resume.

Benefits of Taking an Entry-Level Job

 

There are many advantages to taking an entry-level job, even if the pay is low or the work isn’t glamorous.

Gain Transferable Skills

Many basic workplace skills carry over across jobs and industries, things like:

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Time management
• Customer service
• Using basic hardware and software programs

Gaining competency in these areas will help you move up the ladder over time.

Explore Industries and Careers

Entry-level roles provide exposure to industries and jobs you may have never considered before. You can get first-hand experience to see if it’s really a good career fit for your interests and abilities. This can help guide your career decisions.

Make Connections and References

Starting at the ground level is a great chance to form relationships with colleagues and supervisors. These connections can lead to career opportunities down the road, as well as provide professional references.

Set Yourself Up for Advancement

Gaining experience in entry-level jobs enables you to eventually promote into more advanced roles with better pay and responsibility. It shows future employers you have initiative.

Finding Entry-Level Job Openings Near Me

So where exactly can you find entry-level jobs in your local area? Here are the best places to start your search:

Online Job Boards

Sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Monster and Craigslist routinely post lots of entry-level openings across all industries. You can search for keywords like “entry-level”, “no experience required” or specific jobs like “retail assistant”.

Create email alerts so you get notified immediately when a relevant new opening pops up. This helps you apply early before positions get flooded with applicants.

Company Career Pages

Keep an eye on the careers page of companies you’d be interested working for. Big corporations frequently run internship and training programs catered to those getting started.

For example, check brand name stores/restaurants, banks, hotels, medical centers, tech firms or local government in your area.

Staffing Agencies

Temporary staffing agencies help place people in lots of entry-level jobs, especially administrative, warehouse, production, event setup and other short-term roles.

They also may offer free training or certifications to make candidates more hireable, like food handling permits.

College Campus Job Boards

If you’re currently enrolled in classes, don’t forget to browse campus job boards. Lots of departments seek students for admin help, campus tour guides, food service and more.

Some even post grads first “real world” jobs. Experience on campus looks great on resumes.

Professional Associations and Trade Groups

Industry/trade organizations offer job boards catering to their particular field. This is fantastic for internships and apprentice-style training programs.

For example, computer science students might browse openings on the ACM website. Aspiring electricians could check the IBEW or NECA sites.

Social Media Networks

Network on LinkedIn and Facebook groups related to your industry of interest. Lots of employers informally announce openings through their company pages or employees’ own accounts.

This is often the first place roles get posted, even before making it to major job boards.

Best Entry-Level Jobs for Beginners

Now let’s explore some of the top entry-level jobs perfect for gaining that crucial career experience.

1. Retail Jobs

Working retail is one the most common starter jobs for high schoolers and college students. Clothing stores, hardware shops, supermarkets, and other retail outlets offer roles like:

• Sales associates
• Cashiers
• Stock clerks
• Customer service

Duties involve tasks like greeting customers, operating registers, restocking shelves, merchandising, and maintaining store appearance.

The work hours tend to be flexible, accommodating students’ schedules. The fast pace and customer interactions also build skills for future office jobs. Pay typically starts around minimum wage but scales up with experience.

2. Restaurant and Food Service Jobs

Like retail, restaurants also employee a high volume of entry-level team members. Standard roles like hosts/hostesses, bussers, dishwashers, cooks and delivery drivers generally don’t require any past work experience.

You earn money while also getting exposed to the fast-paced restaurant environment. Dependability, stamina and learning various stations will help qualify you for better tipped positions like serving down the road.

Average pay rate starts at around $9-$12 per hour for entry positions. Servers can make $15-$25 per hour including tips.

3. Warehouse and Manufacturing Associates

Warehouses or production plants need plenty of dependable entry-level workers for things like:

• Production line assembly
• Materials handling
• Inventory auditing
• Product picking/processing orders
• Shipping and receiving

These provide great experience in supply chain logistics, especially in growth industries like ecommerce, food production and medical supplies. Most provide on the job training too.

Pay typically falls around $12-$15 per hour, sometimes more pending shifts. Major brands like Amazon and UPS also hire frequently for fulfillment centers.

4. Administrative Assistants and Clerks

While administrative coordinator roles often want some experience, many businesses hire junior level assistants, clerks and data entry personnel without any.

Duties range from typing, filing and answering phones to data entry and organizing systems. Having advanced software skills like Microsoft Office helps qualify for more specialized admin work.

Average pay starts around $12 per hour but can reach $18+ for assistants with more specialized technical abilities like bookkeeping expertise. This is fantastic experience for office jobs.

5. Childcare Jobs

Childcare centers, preschool programs, schools, camps, and even private homes need caring people to watch over children. Typical jobs like teachers’ assistants, daycare staff and babysitters make great starter roles for those wanting careers caring for kids.

You’ll gain experience supervising groups of children, helping with schoolwork, organizing activities and ensuring a safe environment. Pay spans $10-$15 per hour depending on duties.

Early childcare also works well for high schoolers wanting a flexible part-time schedule. Families often specifically seek out mature sitters still in school themselves.

6. Landscaping and Property Maintenance Workers

Landscaping companies and property management firms routinely hire entry-level people for things like:

• Lawncare
• Tree trimming
• Gardening
• General grounds cleanup
• Janitorial work
• Painting

The ability to learn safety protocols while doing manual tasks makes these roles ideal for gaining initial work skills. Pay averages $11-$15 per hour.

Those wanting to ultimately run their own business could study trade skills like irrigation, chimney sweeping or waste management which also regularly train beginners.

7. Delivery and Driving Jobs

Delivery drivers for places like restaurants, retailers, rental car agencies or even medical testing labs generally don’t need any special license upfront beyond a regular drivers’ license and clean record. You’ll earn money while learning roads and improving driving abilities.

Those wanting commercial trucking careers can often train while working using employers’ training programs to get proper licensing for bigger vehicles. Pay ranges from around $12 to $18+ per hour.

Rideshare or food delivery apps also offer flexible ways to gain supplemental income in the gig economy around existing work or school schedules.

8. Home Health Aides and Caregivers

The growing aging population requires more professionals looking after older adults in home/facility settings. Jobs like home health aides and personal care assistants help with activities like:

• Housekeeping
• Meal prep
• Bathing
• Dressing
• Medication reminders

Working directly with seniors, plus coordinating care plans with nurses and social workers, offers great experience for entering nursing fields or medical administration. Pay typically starts around $11-$14 per hour.

9. Hospitality and Tourism Positions

Hotels, event centers, parks and recreation programs routinely take on helpers to assist with things like:

• Front desk customer service
• Housekeeping
• Food prep
• Ticket sales
• Tour guiding

These roles help build people and hospitality skills which carry across many industries. Starting pay ranges $9-$13 per hour depending on specific duties.

10. Internships and Apprenticeships

Paid internships and apprenticeships offer newbies hands-on career development in dozens of fields from engineering to IT to finance. You work right within leading industry employers while gaining mentorship for entering the profession long-term.

Intern pay averages around $14 per hour, with apprentices slightly higher at $15-$19 per hour. Openings get posted year-round by individual businesses as well as programs like Year Up and Americorps.

Best High Paying Jobs Without a Degree

The jobs above serve as a good starting point to gain baseline experience. Once you have a couple years’ experience under your belt, consider making a strategic shift to higher earning fields aligned with your interests and competencies. Here are some well-paying jobs accessible without needing a college degree:

Trade Jobs

• Electricians – $33/hour
• Plumbers – $27/hour
• HVAC Technicians – $23/hour
• Construction Managers – $45/hour

Transportation Jobs

• Commercial Pilots – $31/hour
• Air Traffic Controllers – $33/hour
• Railroad Engineers – $35/hour

Personal Services

• Gaming Managers – $28/hour
• Private Chefs – $25/hour
• Professional Photographers – $25/hour

Technology Jobs

• Web Developers – $32/hour
• IT Support Specialists – $25/hour
• Software QA Testers – $30/hour

Notice many of these roles work independently or actively lead teams. Pursuing supervisor and management opportunities accelerates income potential even without pursuing extensive higher academic credentials.

Still, those able to earn even basic Associate or Bachelor’s Degrees related to their field will stand out during hiring and promotion decisions.

Remote Jobs for Stay-at-Home Parents

Parents pausing full-time professional careers to be at home with children need not give up stimulating work entirely while raising families. The rise of remote work enables pursuing flexible earning options from home.

These opportunities allow setting your own hours around parenting schedules. The ability to leverage previous career experience also commands higher earning potential even working reduced hours compared to basic entry-level roles.

Common work from home jobs for parents include:

Virtual Assistants

Administrative pros help solo entrepreneurs or small teams handles duties like:

• Email correspondence
• Scheduling calls/meetings
• Managing documents
• Event planning
• Travel coordination

Pay ranges from around $15-$25 per hour depending on speed, accuracy and expertise level.

Tutors

Former teachers or simply those excelling in academic areas like math, science, technology or test prep can tutor students remotely. Services like Wyzant, Chegg and Varsity Tutors connect professional tutors with learner needing help.

Tutors earn $15-$50+ per hour depending on subject matter expertise and field of study. Hours align conveniently around personal schedules.

Customer Service Representatives

Handle inbound calls, emails or online chats assisting customers. Companies like Apple, Amazon, CVS and BT Global need vast teams handling high volume customer interactions in roles like:

• Sales support
• Account management
• Reservations coordination
• Technical troubleshooting

Jobs often pay $14-$19 per hour with flexible shift options. Some companies even provide specialized training to qualify for premium customer service roles.

Teachers and Instructors

Former educators or simply knowledgeable experts can teach classes online for companies like Outschool, Udemy and Vipkid. Lessons get recorded once which students access on demand.

Teachers set their own rates for private or group classes, earning around $20-$50 per hour based on expertise. Subject matter spans from academics to hobbies like arts, music, fitness and more.

Writers, Editors and Marketers

Those with solid writing skills are in demand creating digital content, ads and marketing materials for brands and publications trying meeting boundless reader demand. Subject matter coverage spans industries.

Typical freelance writer rates start around 10-20 cents per word, $500-$1,000+ per blog post or ad campaign. Edits or managers on marketing teams also get paid by project or retainer agreements.

Flexible Hour Jobs for Students

Students juggling class schedules, studying and exams appreciate employers offering extremely adaptable hours. Jobs with shifts during all hours of the day and night better accommodate changing semester demands.

Here are some of the most flexible roles for students seeking work:

Delivery Drivers – Hours align around dynamic order volumes from restaurants, grocery stores, retailers and more. Students can select shifts through apps as schedule allows.

Average Pay: Up to $20/hour including tips

Brand Ambassadors/Promoters – Serve as a brand representative at campuses, malls, events handing out free samples or flyers. Event times span early morning to late nights as needed.

Average Pay: $15/hour

Supermarket Associates – Baggers, cashiers, deli clerks and stockers needed round the clock. Shifts available opening early morning until late night.

Average Pay: $11-$15/hour

Hotel Staff – Front desk, housekeeping, maintenance and kitchen help work morning, evening and late night hours serving guests. Flex schedules.

Average Pay: $11/hour + free hotel room stays

Movie Theater Associates – Cashiers, concession attendants and ushers accommodate night and weekend film lovers. Matinee mid-day shifts also available.

Average Pay: $9-$12/hour

Youth Sports Referees/Umpires – Officiate games at school campuses or parks. Games occur evenings and weekends. Set schedule based on availability.

Average Pay: $15-$22/hour

Nursing Assistants – Hospitals and care homes need helpers all day and night to assist patients with basic care tasks and transport around facility.

Average Pay: $12-$15/hour

Restaurants – Cooks, dishwashers and servers work morning, afternoon and late nights fitting around demanding class schedules.

Average Pay: $12+/hour plus tips for FOH roles

Call Center Reps – Support customers via phone from scripts. Some centers open 24/7 to align with companies’ operating hours across time zones. Choose shifts.
Average Pay: $14+/hour

Pet Sitters – House sit, walk dogs or host pets overnight while clients travel. Select gigs in your neighborhood based on classroom schedule.

Average Pay: $14-$18/hour

Jobs That Help Make a Positive Impact

Beyond earning income to cover expenses, today’s students and job seekers hope to make a positive difference in the world. Luckily many emerging roles empower newcomers to uplift communities or help people directly. Here are a few ways to do good through entry-level jobs:

Case Management Assistants – Help social workers organize care plans ensuring clients in need receive proper community health and support resources.

Victims Advocates – Provide information and support to crime victims or families as they navigate law enforcement and court proceedings.

Adult Literacy/ESL Instructor – Teach basic academic, financial and digital literacy skills to adults seeking to improve their education and employment options.

Youth Program Leaders – Run after school programs, sports team and camps that provide a safe space for at-risk kids. Mentor through challenging times.

Homelessness Support Staff – Work in shelters, soup kitchens and outreach programs helping families struggling with housing insecurity access meals, temporary accommodations, job training programs and social services.

Sustainability Program Coordinators – Develop and promote environmental conservation initiatives that protect local ecosystems and encourage responsible community practices.

Clinical Research Associates – Play a pivotal role advancing medical studies for pharmaceuticals looking to prevent or cure diseases.

Accessibility Designers – Shape product design and user experiences that empower those with disabilities to navigate digital properties and physical spaces inclusively.

Notice you don’t necessarily need medical degrees or advanced credentials to assist public health and wellbeing for vulnerable groups. Entry-level helpers act as crucial boots on the ground making community impact!

Key Skills to Showcase as a Beginner

While formal experience may be lacking on an entry-level resume, call out other personal strengths that make you stand out as a promising new team member eager to excel.

Highlight examples of skills like:

• Enthusiasm to Learn – Show up energized ready to work hard, ask questions and take initiative even with unfamiliar tasks.
• Responsibility – Follow through consistently on individual duties and team commitments without cutting corners or needing excess oversight.
• People Skills – Interact politely with colleagues, customers and partners even during tense or frustrating situations.
• Self Motivation – Carry out duties with optimism and purpose without waiting around to be told what to do. Look for helpful ways to contribute.
• Technological Comfort – Adapt quickly when introduced company hardware/software critical for role duties. Troubleshoot basic issues that arise.
• Multitasking – Manage several concurrent short term assignments while staying focused on top priorities and team