Entering the job market for the first time can be exciting, but there’s no denying that it can also be quite terrifying.
After all, while you may have some idea of what a proper job entails from your experience with part-time work or internships, it’s different when you’re trying to land a job to start your career. That’s what this post is here to help with. So if you want to land your first job but you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ll be walking you through a few tips you need to know.
Have an Impressive CV
Remember that most of the time, you won’t be able to make a first impression on an employer – your CV will. This is why you need to make sure your CV is impressive. Of course, this can be hard to do if you don’t have a long list of qualifications or experience behind your name, but there are still a few things that you can do to make your CV stand out, such as focusing on your personal attributes. You should also try your best to have your CV look professional, which is easy with tools like free resume templates.
Try to Get a Few References
If you don’t have a lot of experience on your side – which you probably won’t, given that it’s your first job – your best bet is to have someone trustworthy act as a reference for you. While it isn’t always the case, employers will often consider an employee who has a good reference, even if they don’t have much experience.
This is because employers can always train an employee in the skills they need, but it can be hard to change their attitude. Having a solid reference is one of the many reasons why relationships in the workplace matter, but since you probably don’t have much work experience, you can also ask professors, sports coaches, or anyone who can vouch for you.
Your Attitude Matters
As mentioned, attitude often matters more to employers than things like qualifications and experience. Of course, that doesn’t mean that these things don’t count at all, but it does mean that your attitude can often make or break a job interview.
Don’t lie about your experience or be cocky. Admit when you don’t know something. But at the same time, be confident in yourself. You might want to learn how to pitch yourself for a job if you struggle with confidence.
Make Sure to Prepare Yourself
It’s never a good idea to walk into an interview blindly. Ideally, you should do some research about the company so that you know more about them.
You can also think about some questions they may ask, although you will likely always be surprised at the things employers ask in interviews.
You also need to consider what type of job and interview it is. An interview for an online job will likely be much different than an in-person interview, so be sure to keep this in mind when preparing yourself.
