How to prepare for the first job?

If you are a recent college graduate and you are looking for your 1^st job, you will likely garner a higher salary and more specific skills than someone without a college degree…

You are looking for a job for the first time, you may feel somewhat intimidated. Your job goal in this case is to find a position which matches your skill set and other qualifications and also pays a salary you can be happy with. If it provide room for advancement, that’s even better. Otherwise, you will have to look to another company, another job search to move upward.

So, how do you begin your search for that first job?

The first thing to do is to decide exactly what you are looking for in a job. This sounds simpler than it really is as few people sit down and think about their goals and criteria before they begin their career search. Instead, most people go from job to job without ever thinking about their goals, other than financial ones.

By first identifying your goals, you will have a clearer picture of which positions you really want to pursue. Don't neglect to do this – it would be tragic to reach retirement and realize that you never were truly fulfilled in your work life. Find the positions which truly interest you and go for them!

Your first job search should also entail looking into the track records of the companies out there to assess which most closely meet your goals and needs. While you could work for any company and do OK for yourself, you will be much more personally fulfilled working for an organization which is in alignment with your own personal beliefs and values.

Remember that not all companies are created equal – some really are better than others. Talk to people currently employed at the company and find how they feel about their employer.

Do your research and find out how the company ranks in regard to employee satisfaction.

At this point, you know what you want and you have an idea of the kinds of employers for whom you would like to work. What do you do next? When you are looking for your first jobs, the next step is to find out which jobs are available that match your goals. There are a number of ways to do this – and it’s recommended you do all of them. The more you limit your approaches, the less likely you are to find the ideal job.

Where do you look for job openings?

Internet

Networking

Classified Ads

Career Centers at Colleges

Employment Agencies

Direct Employer Contact

The good news is that 1^st jobs are easier to come by than high level positions, so you shouldn’t have to look as hard or for as long to find a job that meets your qualifications.

One thing to keep in mind is that the more effort you put into your job search, the more likely you are to end up with a position that makes you happy AND pays your bills.