Top 20+ Best Jobs for College Students With No Experience 2024

As you’re planning your post-college life, you may wonder what the best jobs for college students with no experience are. What you’re looking for are entry-level jobs — entry-level typically refers to a professional job that requires no previous experience in that field. They’re usually for recent college graduates, in that a relevant degree is all you need.

However, many entry-level job postings ask for zero to one, zero to three, or even zero to five years of related experience in addition to a college degree!

What career options are there for people who have a degree but are just getting started? Plenty! The best jobs for college students with no experience are in all kinds of sectors and with different types of companies. In this guide, we’ll share over 20 entry-level opportunities, as well as a quiz to help you decide which entry-level job for college students is right for you.

How Can I Get a Job If I Don’t Have Experience?

So, how can you land one of these entry-level jobs for college graduates? It may seem ironic, but the best way to land a job where you’ll get professional experience is to get some experience first!

While having a paid job in your target field is one way to go, not every student can work while they’re in school. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to obtain relevant experience that won’t interfere with your studies — and can help you land one of the best jobs for college students with no experience.

1. Internships

The most common way to gain related work experience is through an internship. An internship is a work-based experience where you complete entry-level tasks for the company. You can do these over the summer and work for a company that does what you want to do. Sometimes, you can intern for the very company you want to work for.

Internships are a great way to get hands-on experience in a professional environment. You’ll build job skills and network with other professionals and peers.

However, internships can be quite competitive. We know what you’re thinking — do you really need more experience to land an internship that’s not supposed to require experience? You don’t need work experience, but you will need to show your skills and related experience, which can include extracurriculars, coursework, independent projects, volunteering, part-time work, and more.

2. Job Simulations

A virtual job simulation (like the ones we offer at Forage) is another great way to gain practical skills on the job. Though it’s not the same as a job or internship, completing one or several job simulations demonstrates that you’re interested in the job, willing to master the necessary skills, and can hit the ground running when you’re hired.

Job simulations are also a great addition to your resume — once you do a job simulation, you more than triple your chances of landing a role. That’s because you’ve shown initiative, built relevant skills, and have the right experience to thrive on the job starting on day one.

>>MORE: Not sure what job simulation is right for you? Take our quiz.

3. Transferable Skills

One often overlooked way to demonstrate you’ve got the right skills and experience for the job is transferable skills. These are the skills you master in one job that you can use in any job. For example, you’ll collaborate and communicate with coworkers no matter the role, so highlight these on your resume to demonstrate you’re a team player.

Let’s say you worked at an ice cream shop over the summer and now you want to be a salesperson. At the ice cream shop, you likely interacted with hundreds of customers. These interpersonal skills are crucial in sales as you build relationships with prospective clients—so emphasize them on your resume!

4. Certifications

Finally, obtaining a relevant certification demonstrates that you’re willing to learn and master new skills. Plus, you’ve already learned the basics, so an employer can feel confident that you have some idea of how to do the job.

>>RELATED: Here’s how to add your certificate to your LinkedIn profile.

The 20 Best Entry-Level Jobs for College Graduates

While searching for the best jobs for college students with no experience, it’s important to note that not all titles are created equal. Some may include the word “assistant,” while others may use “junior,” “grade 1,” “coordinator,” or a different designation. 

Here are 20 of the best jobs for college students and graduates, with many that also have a free job simulation on Forage to help you master the skills you need to get the job done — and more than triple your chances of landing a role. Each job title includes salary range estimates from Glassdoor for someone with zero to one year of experience.

1. Lab Technician

Salary range: $39,000 – $55,000

A laboratory technician is responsible for a lot of the hands-on testing that happens in a lab. They don’t design the research, experiments, or tests, but they are responsible for ensuring the test results are valid. Lab techs do this by calibrating and maintaining the equipment, following the proper procedures and protocols, recording the data, and reporting any problems they encounter during testing.

2. Graphic Designer

Salary range: $46,000 – $75,000

Graphic designers communicate ideas and sell products using visual elements. That includes things like logos, illustrations, infographics, or other images. Though much of a graphic designer’s work is created digitally these days, some graphic designers still design by hand.

3. Human Resources

Salary range: $54,000 – $97,000

The human resources department is responsible for all things employee-related. So, human resources professionals may recruit, hire, and onboard staff, but they also figure out fringe benefits, design and update policies, and maintain employee records. Human resources professionals also need to stay aware of changes to federal and state laws that may impact their policies and decisions.

4. Research Assistant

Salary range: $41,000 – $62,000

As the name implies, a research assistant assists the lead researcher with their project. You may find work in an academic setting helping a professor with their research projects. Or you could work in the private sector, like at a pharmaceutical company that’s developing new drugs.

5. Marketing Coordinator

Salary range: $47,000 – $69,000

Marketing coordinators usually don’t develop the marketing plan, but they do execute and track how well it performs. As a marketing coordinator, you may suggest ways to improve the plan’s performance based on the data you gather. Marketing coordinators also collect and analyze information about their target market, competitors, or broader market trends.

6. Public Relations Assistant

Salary range: $39,000 – $59,000

Public relations assistants handle a broad range of public relations tasks. They are responsible for managing the public relations calendar, responding to requests for comments, and writing some press releases. PR assistants also manage relationships with existing media contacts and develop new ones.

>>RELATED: PR assistant is one potential job for graduates with communications degrees. Learn more about top jobs for communications majors.

7. Accountant

Salary range: $56,000 – $90,000

Most accountants start their careers at accounting firms, though some may work for companies that maintain an accounting staff. Accountants have a broad range of duties, but at the entry-level you may audit financial records, help prepare tax returns or other complex financial documents, or track financial indicators (like a profit and loss statement or reconciling payments).

8. Financial Analyst

Salary range: $81,000 – $128,000

Financial analysts collect and analyze data to create forecasts and predictions for the business. They do this by examining historical data or conducting a technical stock analysis. The financial analyst then builds a model to predict future financial performance and uses these predictions to help the company make strategic decisions.

9. Sales Representative

Salary range: $78,000 – $141,000

A sales representative works directly with customers interested in purchasing a company’s product or service. Even though sales reps work with customers who have expressed an interest in making a purchase, they are still a “potential” customer. It’s up to the sales representative to close the deal. They often achieve this goal by educating the customer on the advantages of the purchase or by offering a deal that makes the purchase worth it.

10. Auditor

Salary range: $61,000 – $104,000

An auditor is similar to an accountant in that they examine and work with the financial records of a company. However, instead of using the analysis to forecast outcomes, auditors use it to identify areas of financial risk or fraud. They review a company’s financial systems and practices, then make recommendations to improve its process to secure its financial data.

11. Events Coordinator

Salary range: $43,000 – $62,000

Event coordinators plan special events, including everything from weddings to conferences to fundraising galas. But they’re so much more than party planners. Event coordinators have to pull together an event that runs smoothly. They do this by selecting the appropriate venue, coordinating the details with multiple vendors, and staying within the budget.

12. IT Engineer

Salary range: $66,000 – $118,000

Information technology (IT) engineers are responsible for the health and maintenance of an organization’s computer systems. They identify and troubleshoot problems, configure and test systems, identify areas that need improvement, and make suggestions for updating or eliminating software and hardware. The IT engineer is also the team most people turn to when they need tech support.

13. Teacher

Salary range: $36,000 – $54,000

Teachers impart their knowledge and wisdom to their students. They do this by creating lessons that engage and enlighten while also assessing how well their students are mastering the information. Teachers communicate with parents and the school, adapt lessons as necessary, and prepare the class for whatever comes next.

Depending on the type of school they work in, these professionals will need varying education levels and credentials. For example, K-12 public schools almost always require a degree and a teaching credential for their state, while private institutions don’t need to follow the same federal and state regulations.

>>RELATED: Top 10 Teaching Skills for Your Resume and How to Highlight Them

14. Social Worker

Salary range: $46,000 – $71,000

Social workers can work in a variety of settings, such as schools or community mental health programs. They work with individuals, families, and groups and help them create an action plan to overcome challenges. Social workers may refer clients to a food bank or help them get food stamps, counsel them to overcome anxiety, or refer them to other treatment providers who can better serve their needs.

>>RELATED: Learn about other jobs for psychology majors.

15. Data Analyst

Salary range: $70,000 – $117,000

People generate a vast amount of data every day (think: scrolling TikTok, shopping with a credit card). Companies hire data analysts to interpret and explain this data to help them make strategic, data-driven decisions. As a data analyst, you’ll clean and wrangle data, analyze it, then tell a meaningful story about what you’ve found.

16. Web Developer

Salary range: $53,000 – $93,000

Web developers create, update, and maintain websites. That work includes everything from writing the code that runs the site to designing a frustration-free user experience — not to mention keeping the site safe and secure! As a web developer, you may work for a company, agency, or as a freelancer running your own web development company. Depending on where you work, you may plan the design and function of a site, help with creating individual pages, or maintain and update the backend code.

17. Management Analyst

Salary range: $70,000 – $112,000

Management analysts are sometimes called management consultants, but no matter what you call it, management analysts help organizations find ways to become more efficient. They look at a company’s challenges and analyze data to find inefficiencies or excesses. The management analyst then recommends new systems, procedures, or organizational changes.

18. Social Media Assistant

Salary range: $36,000 – $58,000

Social media assistants may be part of a stand alone social media team or part of the marketing team. They schedule and post social media assets, respond to follower comments, and flag problematic posts or comments. Some social media assistants create content from the social media plan or contribute original ideas to the plan.

19. Account Manager

Salary range: $85,000 – $141,000

Account managers are the main point of contact between a customer and the business and ensure the customer is achieving their goals. They do this by tracking metrics and creating reports, answering questions and troubleshooting concerns, and providing suggestions to improve the overall performance of the account. Account managers regularly meet with their clients to provide status updates and may even engage in a bit of sales during a renewal period.

20. Case Manager

Salary range: $45,000 – $63,000

Case managers generally work in health care settings, though they also work in some community-based programs. They act as the client’s advocate, supporting and guiding them while coordinating care and services among multiple providers. Case managers may work with families and outside stakeholders (like a court) to ensure the patient’s needs are met.

21. Investment Banker

Salary range: $220,000 – $420,000

Investment bankers are a type of financial professional who analyze financial information to help companies buy and sell securities or make decisions on large corporate transactions. For example, an investment banker may figure out what companies a larger organization should target for an acquisition, or find the right investors for securities that the company is selling.

22. Supply Chain Engineer

Salary range: $93,000 – $145,000

Supply chain engineers work behind the scene to ensure that goods and services are built and delivered efficiently. These professionals work on the entire end-to-end process, from manufacturing and transportation to warehousing. Their goal is to ensure that this process is efficient, effective, and delivers the best quality—while addressing any complications quickly along the way. 

Which Entry-Level Job Should You Have? Quiz

Which of these jobs should you pursue? Moreover, what careers are right for you? Take the quiz! You’ll have to sign up to get your results, but it’s absolutely free. Let’s get started!

Find Your Career Fit

The best entry-level jobs for college graduates encompass nearly anything and everything you could want to pursue. But if our list isn’t enough to convince you, consider signing up for a Forage virtual job simulation today. You’ll experience what it’s like to work in these fields and more, while building practical skills that can help you land the job!

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