Why are recruiters so discriminative when it comes to experience?

Question

I have good engineering and programming skills & I have done several academic projects and I have earned A and A+ grades in the relevant classes. Only thing is that I have never worked full-time for a company before. Just because of that reason, nobody is giving me a call after they see my resume. WHY?

I have the skills, I have the mastery - just because I haven't sat behind a desk covered by the four walls of an office, nobody is even giving a damn about me.

Oh, and the positions I am applying to are Entry-level anyway.

Answer 1

Be realistic, generation Y does not deserve a 80-100K pay check just for finishing college. Go to www.salary.com and find out what your real market value is.

Recruiters make up to 20% of your first year salary, which means that only hard to find people with lots of experience are recruited through them. If you don't have the necessary experience you won't make the through their initial selection process. I think you are wasting your time with these guys.

Only once you realize that you might be applying to the wrong jobs as a recent college grad will you be able to adjust your strategy. Get a ground level job with a large respected company in your filed of expertise. Make sure they offer a “talent” growth program, and if you are as good as you say you are your career and paycheck will skyrocket over the next few years. Remember good hard working people hard to find.

Apply directly to the large companies. Your first job will likely not be your dream job, but it will look great on your resume, especially if you show growth. After one or two years switch jobs. Try to stay in that job for 2-4 years. Switch again after that in order to get the raises and promotions you desire.

Good luck with your future.

Answer 2

The truth is - because their clients require experience.

As you will find out, actually doing what you learned in school is a bit different than when you learned it.

I'm sorry you are having such trouble - have you tried to go through your school? Often they can help you with placement. They will have companies that know you are a new grad. Also, try contacting larger companies - 300 + employees. They are more likely to have something set up for new college grads.

Have you graduated already? If not, get an internship. (In fact, if things stay slow, try that anyhow. An Internship will give you a lot more credibility than class projects.

Also, do see if your school's placement program can review your resume - they will probably be free. This is important.

Best of luck!!

Answer 3

I feel your pain. I wonder about that too, why is experience required for an entry level job when almost all hires are trained afresh on the company's own system. I know this might suck, but try working without pay for a few months. That is what I did, I knew I was going to have a hard time getting a job right out of school due to my lack of experience: so I took a few unpaid jobs...basically went to the companies and asked them to hire me for nothing. I did this for a few months and was able to get a good job afterwards.

I lived with my parents and did not mind being broke for the short term to achieve my long term goals. Good luck with your search.

Answer 4

Without seeing your resume, I can only assume that you may be correct as to the reason you're having difficulty. For one, your question here is clear and well crafted. You seem bright and articulate but, as you say, you lack experience. Perhaps you're trying for positions that require more than you can offer, in terms of contacts, experience, etc. I suggest you try an entry level position, bite the bullet of a lower salary, and wait a year before moving on.

Answer 5

They are trying to sort through the people who whine and the people who are go getters. Did you whine a lot during the interview? Cause your whining now!

Getting a job is all about the 'Law of Averages'! The more applications you put out, the better the chance of getting an interview. The more interviews you do the better chance you have of having a successful one.

Don't take it personal if they don't call you back. Its called business. What you need to do... is keep trying.

Also... It is easier to get a job if you already have a job. Go do some 'Temp' work while you are interviewing. It shows that you are not sitting around on your asz all day, whining!

Answer 6

Employers are too lazy to properly train anyone these days - they want someone who can "hit the ground running" and don't want to wait for results.

It's aggravating, isn't it?

You may want to try donating some of your free time as a volunteer - ask a local business if they want a website developed or enhanced, and then show them what you can do. If anyone takes you up on your efforts, you can get some kind of "experience" and show it off to potential *paying* employers.

Answer 7

I am a recruiter and companies give us specs on what they are looking for -- they are not going to pay us for somone who has no experience....most of the time entry level means 1 to 2 yrs. of experience believe it or not.

Answer 8

Because the cost of training you will cut into the profit margin.
That's what wrong withthese comglomerates. Everybody is looking for the perverbial free lunch. They want you already trained and experienced so they won't have to do it and you can start putting some coin into their pockets.

Answer 9

Get real!
That's not "descrimination".
You basiclly have no experience in a full-time environment...by your own admission!
You *think* you have the skills.
You *think* you have the mastery.
THe recruiter is most likely looking for somewone that has proven their abilities in the real world....not at a school.
.
.
.
Pick yourself up & quit trying to blame others for your short-comings.
Get out there & apply yourself.

Answer 10

I agree, everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves.

Don't give up keep applying, sooner or later the right employer will give you the chance.