What Firms Offer For Entry-Level Jobs

"Six-figure pay packages. The promise of a promotion within months. Thousands of dollars in student-loan reimbursements.

Look at hundreds of entry-level job postings for college grads, and you'll find that companies are still in sales mode, despite employers' moderating demand for young professionals.

Not long ago, new college graduates on the hunt for their first professional role could expect job ads to contain a litany of duties and responsibilities to the company. 

Postings today extol the opportunities that workers can expect from their employers, including commitments to flexible work styles and bosses' respect for work-life boundaries.

The Wall Street Journal analyzed hundreds of entry-level job postings in a range of roles, sectors and locations, from Chicago to Dallas to San Jose, Calif. They reveal what entry-level work looks like -- a mix of in-office and remote work that puts new graduates on track for more responsibility -- and what companies think young workers want now.

Pay and promotions

Entry-level job ads highlight the career paths and pay new grads can achieve after a few years.

Young professionals care more about salary than paid-time off and remote work, according to a recent poll of about 2,000 college students on priorities in the job search by research and analytics firm Veris Insights.

New grads can expect more employers to spell out salary ranges in job postings, thanks to pay-transparency laws in places like New York City, California and Colorado.

New grads prefer clear development plans. Third Bridge, an investment research firm advertising for an associate in Dallas, revamped its job descriptions to reflect young professionals' interest in their future trajectories, said Heather McClory, the company's head of people for the U.S. and Europe. "There's much more likelihood of someone leaving if they don't have that picture," she said.

Office debate

Some companies are hyping the office like it's 2019. Others are highlighting flexible workdays. Many, though not all, job postings specified how much time hires must spend in the office.

Some of the in-office perks being offered: comfy chairs by a fireplace, snacks, floor-to-ceiling windows and a flavored water bar.

Benefits

Employers are trumpeting benefits that go far beyond 401(k)s and basic health plans.

Companies are emphasizing mental health resources as college campuses have seen spikes in student anxiety. Many companies are highlighting their work-life balance.

Companies are expanding student debt-repayment programs, which usually come with strings attached. Many companies offer thousands of dollars toward loan repayment, as long as employees stay with the company for several years.

Epic, a healthcare software company seeking a project manager in Madison, Wis., offers a paid four-week sabbatical after five years. Epic says these sabbaticals allow staff to travel to new places. The company pays for flights and a per-diem for lodging, meals and activities. If employees use their time to volunteer, Epic will donate to the organization they are helping.

Experience required

Employers want hires with a track record, even when they're freshly out of school.

Job descriptions note hiring managers prefer to see several years' experience -- or even an advanced degree -- for jobs described as entry level.

Internships matter. Research shows that securing one internship during college significantly improves the odds of landing a college-level job upon graduation.

More than 80% of employers said that communication -- like asking thoughtful questions or effectively highlighting experience -- was a sought-after skill in emerging professionals, ranking closely behind adaptability and reliability, according to a survey by Handshake, a job-search platform, and SHRM, the human-resources trade association.

Students who attended college in the Covid-19 era often need extra help on soft-skills like emailing, managing up and making presentations, say campus staff, HR leaders and recent grads.

Diversity and identity

After last year's Supreme Court decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions, many companies stopped discussing their diversity, equity and inclusion programs openly. In entry-level job ads, however, hiring managers are clear that applicants' diverse identities are valued. One firm explicitly spells out to applicants, "You are welcome here."

One-third of new and soon-to-be graduates say they would turn down a job at a company without a diverse workforce and leadership team, according to a Monster and Harris Poll survey of 1,000 of them conducted this spring.

Mission

Employers often describe their mission and lofty goals to show new grads they can be part of something bigger than themselves.

Most young job seekers would prioritize a mission aligned with their values over higher pay, according to a survey by Veris Insights." [1]

1. What Firms Offer For Entry-Level Jobs. Ellis, Lindsay; Dapena, Kara.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 22 May 2024: A.10.