Educated and Unqualified : Entry-level job requirements and their effect on Self-efficacy of graduating students

Sammanfattning: Problem The exact definition of an entry-level job is being blurred out. Due to rapid technological advancements, clerical occupations that heavily rely on repetitive tasks are being automated at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, multiple entry-level job listings are paradoxically requiring years of entry-level experience from the applicants.  Purpose The purpose is to first validate the phenomena of entry-level jobs requiring entry-level experience through a content analysis of job listings. In addition to this, a survey has been sent out to map out the reactions of students at Jönköping International Business regarding this paradoxical phenomenon. Method The methodology is mainly in an experimental setting to assess a novel phenomenon. The occupation we have chosen is “economy assistant” where 50 listings were inspected in the Stockholm region. Vignette scenarios have also been supplied to the students in the survey, to ascertain how they respond with regards to motivation, stress, and sense of qualification.  Results The results showed that most economy assistant listings required prior qualified experience in addition to an academic degree. The survey found statistically significant effects of job requirements reducing motivation to apply, applicants' sense of qualification, and increasing applicants' stress.