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Published on May 14, 2005 By joeKnowledge In Business
Talking about entry level work and actually being entry level work (rather than just a job) should be debated.

As much as I deride the place I work now, they actually hve interior advancement that works and works often. People have moved from workin in the trucks (with the dirt and dust moving packages at an unbelieveble amount per hour) to workin as a floor manager.

This, I find, makes me try my best to come in everyday and on time no matter how much I am still hurting from the previous day or lack of sleep I have gotten.

I am not much for unions, but I have to say probably the ONLY reason why this job has true entry level jobs is because of them.

What I mean by true entry level jobs is that there is a actuall possibilyto to move up. McDonalds is NOT an entry level job. If you make hambers now you will be making them a year from now. No raise, no tests, no job openings to a hire statis.

True entry level work is:
) The actuall; and identifiable ability to move upward in position within 2 years.
If you go into a business and a year later the very same people are in the very same spot (or just 2 or 3 out of 20 move up) something is wrong.

) Yearly pay increase. Whether you get 6.50 an hour or 12 an hour, your pay increases aftrer staying a year and increases on some basis thereafter. If you are working somewhere and 2 years later you are still getting the same pay, something is wrong.

) Lateral moves. Same pay work, but is a set up for different positions within the company that would allow for advancement in a feild of choice. Your a tech guy working at Starbuck's, you can or should be able to, after 3 to 4 years be in IT of Starbuck Inc. Soeone should be able to poit out numouros examples of this happening.

) benefits: whether it be medical or educational. 401K to investing in the business itself with stock. You should be able to say or get something out of working there that helps you when you clock off at night (other than your paycheck)



Poor workmanship aside, there are obviously people who fit the bill for advancement, but don't because they are not in a true Entry Level Job. What they are in is a regular job or what is otherwise coined as 'dead end job'. If the business world as well as those who wish to actually help those who are poor there should be actual oppertunity. No matter how you may think of why you 'made it', the reality is that it is not just hard work that put you there; it was oppertunity that did so. Real entry level jobs give people who do earn minimum wage a chance to move up.

I think this would make it easier on business (politicians would not be so eager to speak to minimum wage if there was a real chance of advancement and pay increases) and you will have better harder working workers which means more profits.


Trust me, I would not be moving boxes in a truck for anyone if they were not going to pay for my education in some form or had some sort of real advancement for a degree holding individual like myself. If I was working at Macy*s I would not have recieved anything until maybe 3-4 years after working there.


Hopefully, the next time anyone speaks of entry level work, they keep in mind that entry level implies the true ability to move up levels.

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