Entry-Level and Graduate Jobs: How to Start Your International Career

Entry-level and graduate jobs are designed for candidates at the beginning of their careers and can include opportunities in customer service, sales, technology, marketing, operations and other areas. You don’t always need extensive professional experience: employers can also assess transferable skills, languages, education, internships and motivation. For candidates open to relocation or international teams, these roles can also be a first step towards an international career. Explore current opportunities with Workster.

Everyone wants experience.

But how do you get experience if every job asks for experience?

Welcome to one of the classic challenges of starting a career.

The good news?

Your first professional opportunity doesn’t need to begin with five years of experience and an impressive job title.

Employers also hire for:

potential + transferable skills + languages + attitude + ability to learn.

And if you’re willing to look beyond your local market, your first career opportunity could even take you abroad.

Here’s how to get started.

 

What Are Entry-Level Jobs?

Entry-level jobs are positions intended for people who are beginning a career or have limited professional experience in a particular field.

They can be suitable for:

• recent graduates;
• school leavers;
• students finishing their studies;
• career changers;
• candidates with limited work experience.

“Entry-level” doesn’t always mean:

“No experience required.”

An employer might still ask for:

• internships;
• relevant education;
• language proficiency;
• technical skills;
• customer-facing experience.

The key distinction is that the position doesn’t generally require an extensive professional track record in that career.

 

What Are Graduate Jobs?

Graduate jobs are roles aimed primarily at candidates who have recently completed higher education.

They can include:

• permanent junior positions;
• graduate programmes;
• trainee programmes;
• rotational programmes;
• specialist entry-level roles.

Some employers recruit graduates from specific academic backgrounds.

Others accept candidates from a wide range of degrees.

Always check the vacancy rather than assuming your degree is — or isn’t — relevant.

Entry-Level Jobs vs Graduate Jobs: What’s the Difference?

The terms overlap, but they aren’t identical.

Entry-level jobs	Graduate jobs
Designed for candidates with limited career experience	Usually aimed at recent graduates
Degree may not be required	Degree is often expected
Open to broader candidate profiles	Can target particular academic backgrounds
Includes many junior roles	Can include structured graduate programmes
Suitable for some career changers	Usually linked to transition from education to work

A graduate job can be entry-level.

But not every entry-level job is a graduate job.

That’s important if you don’t have a university degree.

There may still be plenty of ways to start.

 

What Are No Experience Jobs?

No experience jobs are positions where previous professional experience isn’t necessarily required.

Instead, employers may assess your:

• communication;
• languages;
• motivation;
• availability;
• education;
• transferable skills;
• ability to learn.

These positions can provide the first experience you need to progress towards more specialised careers.

However, “no experience” doesn’t mean “no requirements”.

A role can require fluent German, for example, without requiring previous customer-service experience.

Read the full vacancy carefully.

 

What Jobs Can You Get With No Experience?

Available opportunities vary by market and employer, but candidates with limited professional experience can potentially find positions across areas such as:

• customer service;
• customer support;
• sales development;
• business development;
• content moderation;
• hospitality;
• operations;
• administrative support;
• selected technical-support roles;
• junior marketing positions.

Some roles provide training after you join.

Others expect you to arrive with certain technical or language skills.

Focus on what you already bring to the employer.

 

What Are Good Entry-Level Jobs for an International Career?

Some professions can provide particularly useful foundations for international careers.

Customer Service Jobs

Customer service can be an accessible route for candidates with strong communication and language skills.

You can develop experience in:

• customer communication;
• problem-solving;
• CRM systems;
• conflict management;
• teamwork.

For multilingual candidates, customer service can also create opportunities to support customers in their native language from another country.

Read our complete guide to customer service jobs.

Sales Jobs

Entry-level positions such as SDR or BDR can help you develop:

• prospecting;
• communication;
• negotiation;
• CRM skills;
• commercial awareness.

Sales performance is also measurable, making it easier to demonstrate results as your career develops.

Read our guide to sales jobs and international sales careers.

Marketing Jobs

Junior marketing positions can include:

• Marketing Assistant;
• Marketing Coordinator;
• Social Media Assistant;
• Junior Content Specialist;
• Junior SEO Specialist.

Projects, internships and portfolios can be particularly useful when trying to enter marketing without extensive professional experience.

Read our guide to marketing and social media jobs.

Tech and Technical Support Jobs

Not every entry-level technology career requires advanced programming skills.

Depending on your profile, possibilities can include:

• IT Support;
• Technical Support;
• Junior QA;
• Junior Data roles;
• Junior Developer positions.

Practical projects and certifications can help demonstrate your ability.

Read our guide to tech jobs and international opportunities.

 

Do You Need a Degree for an Entry-Level Job?

No, not for every entry-level position.

Requirements depend on:

• profession;
• employer;
• industry;
• country.

Some jobs require a university degree.

Others prioritise:

• skills;
• languages;
• certifications;
• practical experience;
• transferable abilities.

Don’t reject yourself from every vacancy because you don’t have a degree.

Read the actual requirements.

At the same time, if a qualification is clearly mandatory, don’t assume enthusiasm will automatically replace it.

Target roles where your profile genuinely fits.

 

Can You Get a Graduate Job Without Work Experience?

Yes.

Graduate recruitment exists precisely because candidates at this stage may have limited full-time professional experience.

But you probably have more evidence than you think.

Consider:

• internships;
• university projects;
• volunteering;
• student organisations;
• part-time work;
• freelance projects;
• sports;
• personal projects.

The question isn’t only:

“Have you had a full-time office job?”

It’s:

“What evidence shows that you can perform in this role?”

That’s what your application needs to communicate.

 

Do Internships Count as Experience?

Yes.

An internship is professional experience.

If it involved relevant responsibilities, include it clearly on your CV.

Explain:

• what you did;
• which tools you used;
• who you worked with;
• what you learned;
• what you achieved.

Don’t hide six months of relevant internship experience because the word “intern” feels less impressive.

For an entry-level candidate, it can be one of the most relevant parts of the CV.

 

Does Part-Time Work Count as Experience?

Absolutely.

Imagine you’re applying for a customer-service position after working part-time in a restaurant.

You already have experience with:

• customers;
• complaints;
• pressure;
• teamwork;
• communication;
• problem-solving.

The industry may be different.

The skills aren’t.

Transferable skills are especially important when you’re starting your career.

 

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills are abilities that remain useful across different jobs and industries.

Examples include:

• communication;
• teamwork;
• problem-solving;
• organisation;
• adaptability;
• time management;
• customer service;
• leadership;
• digital literacy.

Imagine you’ve never worked in sales.

But you spent two years in hospitality.

You may already know how to:

• understand customer needs;
• recommend options;
• communicate value;
• handle objections;
• work towards targets.

Those skills can transfer.

Your job is to explain the connection.

 

What Skills Do Employers Look for in Entry-Level Candidates?

When you don’t have years of experience, employers need other signals of potential.

Communication

Can you explain yourself clearly?

Can you listen?

Can you communicate professionally with customers and colleagues?

These skills matter across almost every profession.

Problem-solving

Employers don’t expect junior candidates to know everything.

They do want people who can think.

When faced with a problem:

Understand → Investigate → Ask → Act → Learn

That’s a valuable habit.

Adaptability

Your first months in a new career involve learning.

A lot.

New:

• systems;
• people;
• terminology;
• processes;
• responsibilities.

Show that you can adapt.

Teamwork

Very few careers happen completely alone.

Examples from:

• university projects;
• volunteering;
• sports;
• part-time work;

can all demonstrate teamwork.

Digital skills

Basic digital competence is increasingly important across professions.

Depending on the job, that could include:

• office software;
• collaboration tools;
• CRM platforms;
• social media;
• spreadsheets;
• specialist software.

You don’t need to know every tool before starting.

You need to show you can learn.

 

Are Languages Valuable for Entry-Level Jobs?

Very.

Especially if you’re considering an international career.

A candidate with limited experience but strong language skills can be highly relevant to an employer that needs to serve a particular market.

For example:

German + English + communication skills

could fit a German-speaking customer-support role.

Or:

Dutch + English + commercial potential

could fit an entry-level sales opportunity.

Languages can therefore help compensate for limited professional experience in some international roles.

They don’t replace every other requirement.

But they can make your profile much more specific.

For more opportunities built around language skills, read our guide to multilingual jobs.

 

How Should You Describe Your Language Level?

Be specific.

Avoid:

English — Good

or:

French — Basic-ish

Instead, you can use recognised proficiency levels.

The Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) uses levels from A1 to C2.

Official information:

https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages

For example:

Portuguese — Native
English — C1
French — B1

Most importantly, be accurate.

If the employer conducts part of the interview in that language, your actual proficiency will become clear quickly.

 

Can Your First Job Be Abroad?

Yes.

You don’t necessarily need to build five years of experience at home before starting an international career.

Some employers recruit junior candidates for jobs abroad, particularly when they need specific languages or transferable skills.

Your first full-time role could therefore involve:

• relocating to another country;
• joining an international team;
• supporting another market;
• using your languages professionally.

That can be an exciting way to start.

But moving abroad adds practical considerations.

You need to understand:

• right to work;
• visa requirements;
• relocation;
• accommodation;
• salary;
• local cost of living.

For a complete overview, read our guide to working abroad.

 

Where Can You Find Entry-Level Jobs Abroad?

Potential opportunities depend on current employer demand, but international recruitment can include markets across Europe and beyond.

When evaluating destinations, don’t simply ask:

“Where is the most exciting city?”

Ask:

• Where are employers recruiting my profile?
• Which languages do I speak?
• Can I legally work there?
• Does the salary make sense locally?
• Is relocation support available?
• Does the role help my career?

Workster’s current vacancies can include opportunities across different European and international locations.

Explore current vacancies.

For official information about employment mobility across Europe, you can also use EURES:

https://eures.europa.eu/

 

Do Entry-Level Jobs Abroad Include Relocation Support?

Some do.

Others don’t.

Relocation support depends on the:

• employer;
• position;
• destination;
• recruitment campaign.

A package could potentially include elements such as:

• travel support;
• temporary accommodation;
• airport transfer;
• relocation allowance;
• administrative guidance.

Never assume the package exists.

Read the vacancy and ask the recruiter.

For more detail, see our guide to jobs abroad with accommodation and relocation packages.

 

Do Entry-Level Jobs Offer Visa Sponsorship?

Some employers may consider candidates who need visa or work-permit support.

Many others won’t.

This depends on:

• employer;
• country;
• role;
• nationality;
• applicable immigration rules.

Being entry-level can also affect sponsorship availability because employers may have access to a larger local or regional candidate pool for junior positions.

If sponsorship is essential, identify this requirement early.

Read our guide to jobs abroad with visa sponsorship.

For non-EU nationals researching work routes within the European Union, use the official EU Immigration Portal:

https://immigration-portal.ec.europa.eu/

 

Can Entry-Level Jobs Be Remote?

Yes, some can.

Entry-level remote opportunities can exist across areas such as:

• customer service;
• sales;
• marketing;
• technical support;
• other digital functions.

However, remote work presents a particular challenge when you’re starting a career.

You may have less immediate access to:

• colleagues;
• informal learning;
• in-person support;
• office interaction.

A good remote employer should have clear:

• onboarding;
• communication;
• training;
• management processes.

For a broader overview, read our guide to remote jobs.

 

Entry-Level Remote vs On-Site vs Abroad

Which start is right for you?

Option	Main advantage	Main consideration
Local on-site	Direct support and team interaction	Less geographic flexibility
Hybrid	Office learning + flexibility	Requires proximity to workplace
Remote	Location flexibility	Requires independence and strong communication
Job abroad	International experience	Requires relocation and adaptation
International remote	International exposure without necessarily relocating	Location restrictions can still apply

There’s no universally “best” option.

Choose the environment where you can:

learn + perform + develop.

Your first job should create momentum.

 

How to Find Entry-Level Jobs

Don’t search randomly.

Build a system.

1. Search for entry-level titles

Try:

• entry level jobs;
• junior jobs;
• assistant jobs;
• trainee jobs;
• graduate jobs;
• no experience jobs.

2. Add your profession

For example:

• entry level sales jobs;
• junior marketing jobs;
• graduate tech jobs;
• entry level customer service jobs.

3. Add your language

For international roles:

• German entry level jobs;
• French-speaking graduate jobs;
• Dutch customer service jobs;
• Italian jobs abroad.

This can significantly narrow the market.

4. Add your destination

For example:

• entry level jobs Portugal;
• graduate jobs Lisbon;
• jobs abroad no experience;
• junior jobs Spain.

5. Use specialist recruitment platforms

International recruitment agencies can help match your skills and languages with employers hiring across markets.

Read our guide to international recruitment agencies.

6. Check current opportunities

The most useful opportunity is one that’s actually open.

Explore current Workster vacancies.

 

How to Write a CV With No Experience

No professional experience?

Your CV still has content.

You simply need to prioritise differently.

Start with relevant skills

Identify the abilities the employer needs.

Then show evidence.

Don’t write:

“Excellent communicator.”

Show where you developed communication skills.

Include your education

For recent graduates, education can be prominent.

Include relevant:

• degree;
• coursework;
• academic projects;
• achievements.

You don’t need to list every module you’ve ever taken.

Prioritise relevance.

Include internships

Treat internships as experience.

Describe what you actually did.

Include part-time work

Don’t hide retail, hospitality or other part-time experience.

Translate it into relevant professional skills.

Include projects

Projects can demonstrate:

• technical skills;
• creativity;
• leadership;
• initiative;
• teamwork.

Explain your contribution.

Include volunteering

Relevant volunteering can demonstrate real responsibilities.

Again:

experience isn’t only paid full-time employment.

Include languages clearly

For international employers, make your languages easy to find.

Don’t hide your strongest differentiator at the bottom of page two.

 

Should an Entry-Level CV Be One Page?

For many candidates with limited experience, one clear page can be enough.

The goal isn’t to reach a particular length.

It’s to communicate relevant information efficiently.

Don’t turn:

six months of experience

into:

four pages of responsibilities.

Recruiters value relevance over volume.

 

Do You Need a Cover Letter for Entry-Level Jobs?

It depends on the employer.

When a cover letter is requested, use it to explain:

• why the role interests you;
• why the company interests you;
• what relevant skills you bring;
• why your background makes sense for the opportunity.

Avoid generic statements such as:

“I have always dreamed of working for your prestigious company.”

Especially if you’ve sent the same sentence to 42 prestigious companies this week.

Be specific.

 

How to Prepare for Your First Job Interview

Your first interview can feel intimidating.

Preparation helps.

Research the company

Understand:

• what it does;
• what it sells;
• who its customers are;
• what the role involves.

You don’t need to know the CEO’s breakfast order.

You should know what the company does.

Prepare examples from outside work

No professional examples?

Use:

• university;
• school;
• volunteering;
• sports;
• projects;
• part-time work.

You can still answer questions about:

• teamwork;
• conflict;
• problem-solving;
• deadlines;
• leadership.

Use a clear structure

For behavioural questions, organise your answer around:

Situation → Task → Action → Result

Keep it specific.

Prepare questions

At the end of the interview, you can ask:

• What does onboarding look like?
• What would success look like in the first six months?
• What training is available?
• How does the team work together?
• What are the next recruitment stages?

You’re evaluating the employer too.

 

What Are Common Entry-Level Job Interview Questions?

Prepare for questions such as:

“Tell me about yourself.”

“Why do you want this job?”

“Why do you want to work here?”

“Tell me about a time you worked in a team.”

“Describe a challenge you solved.”

“What are your strengths?”

“Where do you want your career to go?”

The employer isn’t expecting 15 years of corporate stories.

They’re assessing your potential.

 

What Should You Look for in Your First Job?

Salary matters.

But your first career decision shouldn’t necessarily be based only on the largest number.

Also consider:

• training;
• manager;
• responsibilities;
• team;
• career progression;
• transferable skills;
• company;
• industry;
• international exposure.

Ask:

“What will I be able to do after one year here that I can’t do today?”

That’s a powerful way to evaluate an entry-level opportunity.

 

How Long Should You Stay in Your First Job?

There’s no universal minimum.

Instead of treating your career like a timer, think about:

• learning;
• performance;
• progression;
• opportunities.

Leaving after a short period isn’t automatically bad.

Staying for years isn’t automatically good.

What matters is whether you’re developing useful skills and making thoughtful career decisions.

Build a career story you can explain.

 

How Can You Build an International Career?

An international career doesn’t have to begin with a senior position.

Start by building transferable value.

A possible journey could be:

Customer Support in Lisbon

↓

Senior Customer Support

↓

Team Leader

↓

International Operations

Or:

SDR abroad

↓

Account Executive

↓

International Account Manager

Or:

Junior Marketing Specialist

↓

Marketing Specialist

↓

Regional Marketing Manager

Your first job isn’t the destination.

It’s the first piece of evidence that you can deliver professionally.

Build from there.

 

How to Avoid Entry-Level Job Scams

Candidates looking for their first job can be targeted by fraudulent recruiters and fake vacancies.

Be cautious if someone:

• guarantees employment;
• offers unrealistic pay for vague work;
• asks you to pay to secure a job;
• requests sensitive financial details early;
• uses suspicious contact information;
• provides no clear employer or responsibilities.

Research the company and recruiter independently.

For international opportunities, read our guide to international recruitment agencies and how to identify legitimate recruitment processes.

 

Start Your International Career with Workster

You don’t need your entire career figured out today.

You need a good first move.

Maybe that’s:

• your first customer-service role;
• your first sales position;
• a junior tech opportunity;
• a graduate job;
• a move abroad;
• a role where you finally use your second language professionally.

Workster connects candidates with employers recruiting across international markets, functions and languages.

Explore current Workster vacancies.

Look for the role where you can:

contribute + learn + grow.

You don’t need ten years of experience to start a career.

You need somewhere to begin.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Entry-Level and Graduate Jobs

What is an entry-level job?

An entry-level job is a position intended for candidates beginning a career or with limited professional experience in a particular field. Requirements vary, and some roles can still require relevant skills, education or languages.

What is a graduate job?

A graduate job is a role primarily aimed at candidates who have recently completed higher education. Graduate opportunities can include permanent junior roles, trainee programmes and structured graduate schemes.

Can I get a job with no experience?

Yes. Some employers recruit candidates without previous professional experience and assess transferable skills, languages, education, projects, internships and motivation instead.

What jobs can I get with no experience?

Depending on the employer and market, opportunities can include customer service, sales development, content moderation, administrative support, hospitality and selected junior marketing or technical-support roles.

Do internships count as work experience?

Yes. Internships are professional experience and should be included on your CV when they demonstrate skills and responsibilities relevant to the position.

Does part-time work count as experience?

Yes. Part-time jobs can demonstrate transferable skills such as customer service, teamwork, communication, organisation and problem-solving.

Can my first job be abroad?

Yes. Some employers recruit entry-level candidates internationally, particularly for roles requiring specific languages or transferable skills. Right-to-work and relocation requirements still apply.

Do entry-level jobs abroad offer relocation support?

Some do, but relocation packages vary by employer and vacancy. Always check what is specifically included before accepting an offer.

Can entry-level jobs be remote?

Yes, some entry-level positions can be remote. However, employers can restrict the countries where employees are permitted to work.

Where can I find entry-level international jobs?

You can explore current Workster vacancies and compare opportunities by profession, location, language and working model.