How to move beyond an entry-level job: A 5-part playbook

Key takeaways

• Hiring rates are at a 10-year low, which makes entry-level roles harder to land and to leave, and many still ask for at least two years of experience.
• Gaining career clarity, networking, and upskilling are all critical to moving beyond entry-level jobs.
• Use these tips to turn an entry-level job into a stepping stone to higher-level positions.

Early job seekers, recent grads, and young professionals know the frustration: the "entry-level" job asks for at least two years of experience. The immediate response is something like: "Huh? Isn't this entry-level? Are these positions for people with no experience at all?" This common roadblock has given rise to plenty of viral posts and passionate venting about employers' unreasonable expectations. Indeed's Career Guide says most entry-level jobs require two to five years of previous experience. So what counts as experience, and how do you move up?

What exactly is entry-level?

"The 'entry-level' debate has become an easy target because there is no clear answer," says Adam Posner, founder of NHP Talent Group and host of #thePOZcast. As Rachel Serwetz, CEO and Career Coach at WOKEN, adds, "it will vary in terms of what a certain role title really means." At some companies, entry-level means no experience required; at others, a year or two of related skills. Neither is right or wrong; they're just different. As one IT Support Specialist put it in the Glassdoor Community, "Entry" is supposed to mean getting your foot in the door, not "already climbed three flights of stairs." The label just marks the lowest job level, aside from internships or other student roles.

Why entry-level jobs are harder to land — and leave — right now

If breaking in feels harder, the data backs you up. Glassdoor's Economic Research team reports that hiring rates are at a 10-year low, and job seekers were 12% less likely to reject a job offer in 2025 than in 2023¹. This market squeezes the bottom of the ladder hardest. AI is reshaping the picture, too. AI-specific job listings rose 123% from 2023 to 2024 and carry a typical 25% pay premium². It can absorb routine work entry-level hires once learned on, but AI skills are a way to stand out.

How long should you stay in an entry-level job?

Most people move up in one to three years, and a first promotion often takes 18 to 24 months. There's no hard-and-fast rule, and the calendar matters less than the evidence: what moves you up is a documented track record, not time served. As one Financial Management Analyst shared on Glassdoor Community, "At my company, it usually takes about 2-3 years to move up from entry-level to mid-level, depending on performance."

5 ways to move beyond an entry-level job

Here's how to take the next step, at your current company or a new one.

1. Gain career clarity

"Career clarity is an underestimated tool," explains Serwetz. Know where you want to go, then research career paths through informational interviews to find your fit.

2. Network with intention

Connect with people in your target role, ideally within one to five years of your experience, and ask how they broke in. As Serwetz puts it, "Instead of how many applications you can submit, think about how many people you can meet in a given week."

3. Upskill, including with AI

You have to build the skills your target role demands. AI skills are a smart place to aim: with a 25% pay premium attached to AI roles², learning them proves you're ready before you hold the title. As one Research Analyst noted in the Glassdoor Community, "you have to think about how you can show you have experience without having had the job. Volunteering, courses etc will help for this."

4. Exceed expectations in your current role

Your entry-level job is your best proving ground. Volunteer for stretch work, ask for projects outside your role, and log what you accomplish: the problems you solved and the metrics you moved. That log is the case you'll make later.

5. Advocate for yourself with your manager

Waiting to be noticed is not a strategy. Ask your manager what the next role requires, then use your accomplishment log to make the case. Don't base the ask on tenure: "I've been here two years, so I'm due" is easy to refuse. Lead with evidence of impact instead.

Entry-level: An entry point, not an eternity

Entry-level jobs stir contention, understandably so. But employers aren't pulling a fast one; the label marks a company's lowest rung, not "no experience." There's a silver lining, too: Glassdoor's Economic Research team projects that real wages for early-career workers with zero to four years of experience are set to surpass 2020 levels in 2026³. Use it for what it is: a door, not a dead end. Check out our guided career chat experience to map out your next move.

Frequently asked questions

Why do entry-level jobs ask for years of experience?

Employers use "entry-level" to mean the lowest rung at their specific company, not "no experience required." A soft hiring market also lets them raise the bar.

What counts as entry-level experience?

More than you might think: internships, volunteer work, relevant coursework, freelance or side projects, and transferable skills from unrelated jobs all count.

Is AI making entry-level jobs disappear?

AI is automating some routine tasks that used to fall to new hires, but it's also creating fast-growing, better-paid roles. Workers who learn to use AI tools well are gaining an edge.

Methodology

¹ Glassdoor Economic Research, "Glassdoor's Worklife Trends 2026," November 12, 2025. Based on 173,479 Glassdoor interview reviews for interviews that began between January 2020 and September 30, 2025 that resulted in a job offer. ² Glassdoor Economic Research, Chris Martin, "Conversation starter: are AI jobs booming or overhyped?", July 28, 2025. Based on an analysis of job postings on Glassdoor from 2023 to July 15, 2025. ³ Glassdoor Economic Research, "Glassdoor's Worklife Trends 2026," November 12, 2025. Based on 7.0 million salaries submitted on Glassdoor from workers with zero to four years of relevant experience between January 2020 and October 31, 2025, combined with Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) inflation data.