Congratulations! You have managed to survive the education system. Now you have a shiny certificate, college or a university degree to show for it. But once your education years end, you are thrown into the deep end where you need to figure out your first steps into finding a job and joining a career path. You are about to enter the rat race of society. However, it can be daunting, especially if you haven’t fully decided on where you actually want to go in life. That’s why we have prepared some tips and tricks for you in order to get a head start in your career. Here is how you can prepare for your first job.
Understand what you do best
Whilst you do not need to immediately know where you’re going to end up in your career, it is important to know where your skillset lies. For instance, if you enjoy designing & mechanics then you may want to consider an engineering career, if you enjoy hosting or socialising you may want to be a party planner or work as an escort for a London escort agency, or if you enjoy scholarly study then you may want to work at a university as a lecturer.
It’s important for you to consider what sort of skill set you have and how it’s going to affect your work performance. You’re going to need to discuss these skills on your CV, so it’s important to consider them so you know how well you can fit into a specific job. If you already have something in mind then that’s great, but if you don’t then don’t worry. This is the best time to consider what you are suited for and how your skills can influence your job choice.
Unpaid Work
Now, working without pay really sucks, however, if you have just finished your time at university and are in that period of time before you actually graduate, you may want to consider how you can fill it with work experience. Internships (preferably paid), freelance and work-experience jobs at larger firms can provide you with valuable experience that will set you at a higher standard than other graduates. However, it is important to not stay in these sort of jobs forever. You do need to move forward to a paying position, so only do these sort of jobs when you have time to fill.
Go for Graduate Jobs
When you actually start searching online for jobs, you may shoot too high for a position. Instead of going for an entry-level position, you may end up going for something that requires more experience than you have. That’s why if you’re looking for work, you may want to look at a “graduate job” or “graduate scheme.” These sort of jobs are entry-level positions that are perfect for people who are starting off in the industry. They drip feed your responsibilities so you can eventually grow into a bigger position and take on more work. Just keep in mind that these schemes do tend to be very competitive, so make sure you stand out from the others with an amazing CV!
Network Opportunities
You wouldn’t believe the power of social media these days. If you are looking to get ahead in your career then you need to know the right people to do it. That’s why it’s important for you to follow the appropriate business pages and industry figureheads on places like Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook. Chances are if you are active on your own social media, and try to interact with others who are interested in the same business, you will be noticed. It also means you can meet new people and potentially learn from them. This is perfect if you do not necessarily have the experience needed in your job. Learn from the best and follow their advice. That way you know you will get ahead.
Brush up on your CV
Once you have found a job you like the sound of, remember to make sure that your CV sounds great! It’s important to keep it to around 1-2 pages and organise it efficiently. Start off with your most recent experience and qualifications and then move onto how they make you the perfect candidate for any sort of position. You need to boost your positive qualities and show that you are a force to be reckoned with! Just don’t forget to add references to back you up.
Good luck with the job hunt!
It’s never easy starting the world of work. You probably felt confused about where you were going when you were in university, well, now that you are actually out in the world of work, it has probably left you feeling ten times worse. But don’t worry. It just takes a little time to get your foot in the door. Once you do then you will be able to progress yourself up the career ladder until you have a job you are happy with.
