Stop Killing Young People’s Dreams! Stop No Experience-No Job Culture!
Healthy and successful young generations are the greatest guarantee of the future- Mert Unal
You will need some experience to get a job, but you will not be able to get that experience unless you are hired first. Remember that you are not alone if you have reached this juncture in your life. That is a systematic problem rather than a personal one.
I would like to touch on a very important problem that has caught my attention for months, which I can best describe as a bleeding wound among the youth. I will talk about how employers steal the ideals of brilliant young people on the grounds of “NO EXPERIENCE.”
Since businesses around the globe began to provide more “Remote” job opportunities due to Covid-19 restrictions, I have decided to research to see job opportunities all over the world to acknowledge the employer expectations by using various social media platforms; such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and many others that have been advertised as a sea of opportunities for young people to catch. And I quickly realized that this was not the sea where I could pleasantly swim along with high hopes of catching an opportunity. After months of job-hunting investigations, I can state this discouraging observation that these social media platforms could only be useful for young people if they are analyzed way earlier to determine the expectations of the companies in the target business sector to develop a strong resume around that information.
The majority of young people who are about to graduate from high school with good grades or those who are about to get a college degree with a 4 GPA without any work history and internship, hoping that those grades will be enough to open that dreamy door into the business world, will be awakened from a sweet daydream to reality like a fish out of water with two words; “NO EXPERIENCE!”
My only purpose here; will be to bring a bitter truth to the surface through my observations. Not doom-mongering. In 2022, it is very difficult or nearly impossible to find even an “entry-level” job without an internship or experience in a related field for at least six months or a year. Many employers prefer their new hires to have some form of relevant work experience, even if they are just getting started in the industry. That creates the current dilemma where young people cannot get jobs because they have “NO EXPERIENCE,” and they cannot get “EXPERIENCE” because they cannot get jobs. That is a devastating barrier to overcome before achieving success for many young people.
It is like the chicken-and-egg situation. Which came first?
The whole internet is chock full of so-called modernist companies that brag about how much their jobs require creativity and innovation while simultaneously requiring at least two years prior experience, a bachelor’s degree for $15 per hour entry-level jobs. Well, then what is the point? What is the logic behind that? Why are there entry-level positions if companies are looking for employees with experience in the related field, even for entry-level positions? If talented young people or talented people of all age groups are not given a chance, how will they obtain experience and be successful, for example? Guess what? This dilemma will hold you back forever from finding an opportunity to show your talent and improve yourself! Say something now, before it is too late!
I am not sure if employers or those in positions of power who rule the society behind closed doors have set an unwritten rule that one must have a particular level of experience to get hired, even for ENTRY LEVEL jobs. I am saying that because 90% of online job ads are like two peas in a pod. Like AI-generated robotic articles here on Medium. At some point, I felt like they were just copy-pasting each other’s ads with only changing brand/company names. Because there is only one song they all sing, NO EXPERIENCE-NO JOB! And you know what? That is not fair at all! The truth is that nobody has enough experience when they first begin their career. And I believe everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves.
How will young people gain experience if no one will provide them a job in which to gain experience?
The world is changing and with it job market. There are new technologies, new ideas, and new ways to approach the way we live our lives in today’s society. And in order to adapt to these changes, we need people with new ideas and fresh methods of problem-solving. Despite these facts, many companies continue to refuse to hire young individuals because they believe their lack of experience is a threat.
We need companies to stop being narrow-minded and start thinking about the bigger picture; If we continue this way, we will be damaging our future generations for good. And that is the real threat! That’s why I am calling on all employers to stop this madness. Let’s work together and make sure young people have all the resources and opportunities they need to achieve their goals. Have a chance to prove themselves. And not only do they deserve a shot at proving themselves, but they also deserve the opportunity to learn and grow while doing what they love.
Because if someone has the right amount of passion and drive: anything can be accomplished!
Then there are the “false prophets” who are hungry for getting the last penny in your pocket. Oh, I ought not to confuse you. Let me be more clear. I meant “motivational speakers” or so-called “mentors” by saying “false prophets.” The ones grinning from ear to ear with their shiny, fake zirconium-crowned teeth on social media ads whose sole purpose is to sell you “false hopes” to kidnap what had left in your pocket by offering you a way to get a job that is paying six figures. Just like here on Medium. The ones who keep writing all these articles: “How To Make $1000 A Month With Writing” while begging for 100 followers in the previous articles. You know where I am getting, right? So, be careful of those “hope dealers” on your job hunting journey.
After selling you dozens of lies that you would happily buy with high hopes, they will finally tell you one crucial truth you need to know. Network! Network! Network! Because in this Era, what matters is not what you know but who you know. I would tell you not to get too excited because you heard one truth out of dozens of lies, even a broken watch is right twice a day, but I can’t. A single truth is worth a thousand lies, after all. Network! And I am telling you that here now for free, so you wouldn’t need to be the sponsor of someone’s fake shiny teeth.
Since I said, “I am not doom-mongering,” let’s take a look at some facts. We are on a writing platform and many of us dream of making a living through what we love to do the most! Writing. And to reach that goal, we are dying to prove our potential and talent to someone out there whose name we do not even know. Let’s talk professionally in its most familiar form. Most of us want to at least start as content writers and work our way up in the industry, right? We have recently graduated from high school, and even if we did not obtain a college degree, we discovered our skills, and we want to turn that talent into financial opportunities. We are ambitious, we are proud, we are confident, and we have finally decided to take that golden step and apply for jobs.
Let’s take a look at what we are up against:
For legal purposes, I won’t share the name of the companies. Here are some examples of entry-level content writer job requirements across the United States.
1. Job- Content Specialist -Full-time- ENTRY LEVEL
Description- Are you a writer who loves working from home?
“Well, you may have found the next step in your career. ********** is an award-winning branding and marketing agency that has long embraced the fact that employees working from home are more focused, productive and most of all, happy.
What we’re looking for: Our new Content Specialist will be passionate about connecting with customers through exceptional, engaging storytelling. You are always looking for ways to creatively capture attention for a brand and curate content that is as creatively written as it is effective.
Desired Skills and Experience- Are you equally comfortable writing for digital platforms as well as traditional media? Do you have a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications or related major and at least three to five years of copywriting experience in the marketing field?
They said Entry-Level right? I guess you are not a great entry-level candidate for this one, let’s find you a different opportunity.
2. Job- Content Writer- Full-time- ENTRY LEVEL
Description- At ***********, you will help build a modern, transparent, and open financial protocol for the 21st century to disrupt the legacy multi-trillion dollar derivatives market. We’re looking for people who are excited about democratizing finance and creating distributed systems that work at scale.
What we’re looking for: We’re looking for a Content Writer at ********** who will create informative and engaging content. You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are confident navigating ambiguity and rapidly shifting priorities. The content you produce will educate existing users, and provide the first touchpoint for potential new users.
Desired Skills and Experience- 3+ years of experience in writing and editing at a company in the financial services, tech, or fintech space.
I guess this won’t work as well, right?
Do you really want to know what other desired skills they may looking for that you may have?
Sorry, You’ve already been eliminated from the very beginning! You have NO EXPERIENCE! NEXT!
3. Job- Digital Content Writer- ENTRY LEVEL
Description- *********** is looking for a Digital Content Writer to help write highly creative and traffic driving content. This position will work with all members of the Digital Marketing and Strategy team to produce original content across a variety of industries.
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Journalism, Communications, English, or related field.
2+ years of professional writing experience, preferably in an agency or technology environment
Experience writing copy for a mid-market to enterprise audience is a strong plus
Ability to come up with new and unique messaging is required
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) is required. Photoshop and Illustrator skills are a plus
Strong problem solving and creative concept skills with the ability to work independently and as well within a team environment
I know you are still enthusiastic.
You still have hope for this world.
I will not break your heart.
Lets continue.
4. Job- Content Writer- Full Time- ENTRY LEVEL
Description- **************** is seeking a Content Writer to elevate executive content in the technology sector. The ideal candidate is a communications pro who is skilled in assisting on multiple projects at one time while working with a fast-paced team of designers and communicators.
Responsibilities: Work simultaneously on multiple projects and consistently meet deadlines on U.S. East Coast and West Coast
Consider the role of written communication to complement visual communication
Strategize and collaborate with the design team to create new-age, dynamic and cohesive storytelling
Qualifications: 3–5 years of experience
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Digital Communications, Literature, Marketing or related discipline
Experience managing multiple social media accounts including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Previous experience in executive communications a plus
Are you still enthusiastic?
Let’s stop it here if you want.
I can give you hundreds or even thousands of examples over the course of 24 hours.
It will do nothing but upset you more.
Do you really want me to do this?
I know. Now you will spin around and go back in time. Perhaps you will remember the sleepless nights you spent pursuing the 4 GPA or the years you spent away from your family to attend school and exclaim, “I have a 4 GPA that I have given my years, which is not even worth 4 days of experience…” (However, you can still see the bright side. In most cases, a college diploma is required even for entry-level positions. At the very least, you got that part done. Feel bad for the people who did not.)
Some people will refuse to acknowledge that the list of “must” success criteria that society imposes on us from the moment we are born is not always true, and these cliché criteria may be a “waste of time.” Accepting this reality might be painful. And they are more than welcome to condemn me all day if it will put out the fire of regret that burns inside them.
I wouldn’t blame them, nor would I blame you if you are one of them. I know all you want is to get one step closer to the dreams that have blossomed in your heart for years. You don’t want to believe that the world is becoming more unjust day by day. You still hope for humanity and that things will change on their own. Well, it is time to grow up now! It is time to say goodbye to the fairy tales you grew up believing were true. The reality is different than the lullabies you listened to as a child in your family’s warm home. The world is a brutal and unforgiving place. The year is 2022. Accept the harsh truth and move forward. There’s a jungle out there, and blood-sucking mites are just waiting to take advantage of you. Keep an eye out. Awareness is key. Awareness is halfway to success.
If you don’t step in and say something; Nothing will change! Don’t forget; you are the future of the next generation!
However, this issue must be solved from its roots. We must do something. This mindset must change! This culture must change not only to create opportunities for brilliant young people who are unable to find jobs but also to provide opportunities for those whose brilliance is being squandered by working in low-wage jobs in order to survive.
I know there is only one question left for us to answer; is it possible to change this culture? Will things continue to be this way forever? No! A different life is possible! Change is possible! This hierarchy will undoubtedly change one day, and perhaps we will be among the first to realize it! Do you know why? Because “there is no force more powerful than a group of dedicated individuals who believe in their cause!” Let’s change this system! Let’s save our future!
In my next article, we will address the origins of this systematic problem and how it is linked to talent discrimination that begins in elementary school, as well as possible solutions for our future, for our world, for the next generations!
Thank you.