CAREER START : STALKING THE RIGHT JOB : Finding a mid- or entry-level spot can be tough these days. The service sector is a good bet, but takes some sleuthing.

OK, the pressure is on. The folks kicked you out of the house, or you finished high school and college isn’t beckoning. Maybe you’ve just lost your job and need another one--fast.

You’re not asking for the moon, just a basic entry-level job that pays, say, anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 a year. You haven’t got a college degree or years of experience. You do have desire and ambition.

But how do you find such a job?

It won’t be easy due to the recession. You have lots of competition. But finding lower- or mid-level jobs in greater Los Angeles these days is probably no more difficult than finding specialized, high-paying jobs that require lots of experience.

That’s because aerospace, auto, electronic and other industrial companies are laying off skilled workers or imposing hiring freezes these days. But many other companies in service-oriented industries--restaurants, clerical firms, retailers and the like--are looking for help.

Eight of the 10 occupations with the greatest projected growth over the next decade generally require a high-school diploma or less, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the U.S. Labor Department. The jobs include retail salespeople, cashiers and waiters/waitresses.

To be sure, many people bemoan the fact that while there are many of these relatively lower-paying jobs available, there are not enough jobs that pay well, are steady and offer advancement.

It’s a serious problem, but one you’ll deal with later. Right now, you need to eat. And although the businesses that are offering entry-level jobs won’t pay you a fortune--at least not at first--they might train you themselves.

Consider the obvious starting point in your search: newspaper classified ads. Some recent ads in The Times sought carpet cleaners (“complete training provided; earn $400 to $600 a week”), computer repair technicians (only a high-school diploma needed), real estate escrow sales representatives (“training provided”), security guards (“free training”) and hotel desk clerks (“will train”).

And not having a college education does not mean having to wash dishes for a living. Perhaps you learned to sew as a youngster. A Beverly Hills fabric boutique recently advertised for a salesperson. Requirement: sewing knowledge.

Or perhaps you’re only claim to fame is a clean driving record and a winning personality. That might land you a job as a limousine driver, according to another ad.

First Nissan, a car dealership in Simi Valley in Ventura County, recently ran an ad for a salesperson and claimed “no experience necessary.” But selling cars clearly takes a knack, so what does the dealership look for?

“The ideal employee would be someone who can listen and who’s intelligent,” said Don Conniff, First Nissan’s general sales manager, adding that his salespeople--who work strictly for commissions--can earn $2,000 to $5,000 a month if they’re good at selling cars.

“They don’t have to have a master’s degree, but must have common sense and be affable,” he said. If you fit the bill, First Nissan will train you on the nuts and bolts of the car business, he said.

Don’t just scan major local newspapers, either. Check smaller papers in your immediate neighborhood, as well as local trade journals. (Would-be actors scan the Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety, for example.) Keep an eye out for job fairs and other gatherings aimed at bringing businesses and potential employees together.

For instance, the state Employment Development Department held a job fair for The Oaks shopping mall in Thousand Oaks. About 200 of the 660 people who applied got sales jobs at the mall for the holiday season, said Dolores Brum, an employment services representative for the department.

“But that was just temporary work,” she noted.

Many supermarkets and drugstores have bulletin boards where employers post openings. Ask your friends and family if they know of any openings and to keep an eye out for you if something develops. A few companies have employment hot lines--dial up and hear recorded messages outlining their job openings and requirements.

While you’re at the phone, call one of the dozens of temporary-employment agencies in the region. These firms collect information about your schooling, job experience and employment goals, and then try to match you with businesses looking for part-time or temporary workers.

Such firms are best known for placing secretaries, receptionists, word processors and other clerical help, but they also place proofreaders, bookkeepers and heavy-equipment operators.

Talent Tree Personnel Services Inc. in Tarzana will first put you through some tests--the session takes 60 to 90 minutes--to determine your marketable skills and “to see what your needs are and where we can place you,” said Carmen Sampedro, a Talent Tree client service representative.

A temp agency might not make your match right away. But except for time spent on the initial visit, you have nothing to lose. Applicants almost never pay for the temp service’s trouble--because the employer picks up the agency’s tab if it hires you.

One benefit of dealing with a temporary-help agency is that you can work on a temporary basis if desired. Many people like working part-time while spending the rest of the week learning skills that could help them find more lucrative long-term work.

Also pay a visit to the local office of the state Employment Development Department, which is essentially in the same business as the temporary-help firms.

Like temporary-help agencies, the department will record information about your education, skills and goals, and try to match you with job openings. It’s free as well, and whereas a temporary-help agency might limit its search to the local area, the department can search job postings around the state--if you’re willing to move.

But the state might be no more successful in finding you work right away. “We’re receiving fewer jobs and see many more people” applying for work, Brum said.

All of which means job-seekers must pursue every possible angle if they’re going to defy the recession and land a job, she said.

“In the world of work today, people need to use all of their resources,” Brum said. “They need to do lots of networking, to contact people and businesses on their own. They need to find any means of getting a referral or making a contact. They need to use them all.”

CAREER SEARCH Editor: Barry Stavro

Art Director: Chuck Nigash