A young Australian woman has revealed the sneaky way she thinks employers are trying to take advantage of Gen Zers.
Emma Walker, 24, works in e-commerce and took to TikTok to point out a huge problem she sees with basic job offers.
“Can someone please explain this to me? What is it with companies that list jobs as entry level jobs but require more than three years of experience? she asked.
Ms Walker said the scenario was becoming so common it was “getting out of hand” and she kept seeing it whenever she browsed LinkedIn.
“Basic level means you're fresh out of university. I'm four years out of university and I've had three full-time jobs in my career and I wouldn't say I'm entry-level,” she said.
She said if employers wanted someone with three years' experience, it was a “mid-level” position and that person should be paid “accordingly.”
“I look at the work and I feel like I can't do anything. I don't understand why companies think it's fair and then want to pay you minimum wage. Absolutely fucking not,” she said.
“It's so frustrating. If you're an employer, think about this before you post your next ad.”
Ms Walker told news.com.au she thought requiring years of experience in entry-level roles was a way for companies to “take advantage” of Gen Zers.
“Companies requiring more than three years of experience for an 'entry-level' position essentially make it impossible for either recent graduates or those looking to change careers to find work,” she said.
Even if you manage to get a job, the Melbourne worker said the structure made it difficult for young people to “progress” in their careers.
Ultimately, he thinks companies need to invest in young people and be willing to train them instead of expecting years of experience from someone just starting out.
“I understand that some roles require people who can dive right in, but in many cases people could be trained. Asking for more than three years of experience in a certain industry seems outrageous,” she said.
Ms Walker said she was very lucky to get her first entry-level job without being told she needed more experience.
“I was very poorly paid for it, but it got my foot in the door and we need to see more of it. Companies need to realize that more than three years in a role is a pretty long time and that experience deserves recognition and compensation accordingly,” she said.
Her speech resonated with young Australians who shared how they were dealing with the same issue.
One person claimed that this is common in the graphic design field. Some will be called “junior entry-level designer” but require at least two years of experience.
“Girl this killed me when I was trying to find a job,” admitted another.
Someone else said that's why it's “so hard” to change industries, and another called the trend “crazy.”
“I agree 100% with everything you said!” It's getting out of control,” wrote one.
