Finding a job can be quite challenging especially when you have no prior experience. But you have to start somewhere to get that experience.
Following are a few things that can help you get yourself noticed and land your first job.
Be Realistic
You will have to set realistic expectations about what type of jobs and salary you can get. Focus and try only for the jobs that you can actually get. Don’t develop the lottery mindset because you will end up wasting a lot of time and energy for nothing.
How do you set realistic goals? Focus on your passion, talent and strength. If you don’t have enough skills, think of ways to learn new skills like short courses and certifications.
Create a Resume
Your resume is your first and usually the last impression you will make on potential employers. It is so important to stand out of the crowd. However, you do not need to think too hard when you are starting. Just make sure that it is professional and detailed. Since you will not have much professional experience at this point, it is important to highlight any assignments or projects you have done as a student. The idea is to emphasize that you are not totally new to the professional world.
Volunteer to Work for Free
There is nothing wrong with working for free when you have little or no experience. Many fresh graduates or students cannot digest the concept of working for free. But this internship can be your door to much better and bigger opportunities. This way you can add valuable work experience to your resume. This will help you secure a better job and build a career in the future.
If you can’t find internships in local companies, you can always go online and find gigs on Fiverr or Upwork.
Prepare for the interviews
When you are going for your first few interviews, it is important to prepare for it. You do not want to give an impression that you are totally new to the industry. Doing some research about the industry and the business itself will help you give an impression that you belong to this industry and that you will not take very long in adapting.
Dress Appropriately
Whenever you go for an interview, make sure that you dress professionally. You do not need to have a separate wardrobe and expensive clothing but keep a couple of trouser and shirts in basic colors for these appearances. The way you dress tells a lot about you. Many companies these days have a very relaxed culture but you cannot risk going there in your shorts in your first visit.
Apply for Plenty of Jobs
The success rate for the job hunt entirely depends on how many jobs you are applying for. Don’t get dishearten if you are not getting the call from your first few applications. Keep applying and keep going at it. Also make sure that you are using more than one platform. There are job sites or platforms that work better for one kind of job. So, keep an eye on all job boards and sites.
Don’t be afraid of following up. This will show that you were really serious about this job and if they have an opportunity in near future, they will get back to you. If you don’t get hired and you get a polite refusal, remember to send a LinkedIn connection request. This will grow your professional network but more importantly, you will be notified when they post a job next time.
Work on Your Reference List
Social media makes it easier to build a network and get references. Most jobs these days are announced and fulfilled through social networks. If some of your connections can refer you, you are a lot more likely to get selected. You can also look for mentors on these networks. Also stay in touch with your teachers because they usually have connections with other professionals and they can always recommend a student to these people. So there you have it. These tips should make the job-hunting process much easier. And do not waste all of your time in job hunting. Keep adding new skills and learning new courses and certifications. Because once you start a job, you will have much less time to learn anything new.
