Student life can result in some of the very best years of your life. There are so many fun things that go on...You meet a lot of new people, go out with friends and get to enjoy a range of activities. You study a bit as well, of course! After it’s all over, though, you’re out into the big world, and you need to try and find your first job. This can be a lot harder than some people think, and there are a variety of different obstacles to overcome when students are applying for their first job.
The competition you’ll be facing once you get out of the study mode will be stiff, especially from fellow students who are graduating, and you need to do everything in your power to ensure that you stand out from the crowd. This is easier said than done, but there are ways to get ahead of the curve. That’s why I’m here today, so here are the basics a student should know about applying for their first job.
One of the first things you should be doing is looking for some job search tips. As a student, a lot of your education has been all about working by yourself. It can, therefore, be natural to think about doing all your job searching by yourself too, but there’s no harm in looking for a bit of help. There are a lot of websites out there that are specifically designed to help people like you with finding your job- all you’ll have to do is enter a few details into a search engine. These could include your qualifications, the area you want to work in, and your job preferences. After all, these are entered, you should be presented with a handy list of jobs that suits you. Check these out on a few sites to make sure you see all the jobs best suited to you.
When you’re leaving your studies and are planning to apply for a job, you must make sure that your CV is as up to scratch as possible. This is likely going to be the first impression that potential employers have of you, so you need to make sure they’re impressed. Everything must be neat and organized, with everything easy to find. Headings will help this and should ensure whoever is reading your CV doesn’t get bogged down in lengthy sections. You also need to make sure you include details that help you stand out from the crowd; it’s important that employers remember you as this will give you a better chance of attaining success.
As a student leaving college or university, the chances are high that you’ll have to go through an interview of some kind when you’re looking for a new job. It’s therefore imperative that you’re up to scratch with your interview techniques and are comfortable in this environment. To ensure this, I believe the best thing to do is take part in some mock interviews. These can be given to you by family or friends, and example questions can be found online. Doing this will make sure you’re much more comfortable when it comes to the real thing at a later stage.
There may be cases wherein an employer may ask you if you would like to work for free. Ramming yourself the whole day long and not receiving a single penny for the same is something that you would never want to take up. But if this is the last resort, do not step back! Yes, even if you do not get a paycheck at the end of the month, volunteering your services may surely add experience years to your CV. At first, you may think volunteering to be a waste, but in the long run, it can help you as a fresher. Saying 'yes' to a non-profit job can help you scoop out some excellent opportunities and high paid jobs in the future.
The last day of graduation comes with a lot of emotional moments and promises of staying in touch. But what actually happens, we all know it very well, isn’t it? There are hardly any pals with whom you stay connected once you move out of college.
However, this is a wrong practice which many tend to commit, putting the blame on lack of time. Your colleagues, your classmates, your professors, and teachers can be a boon for you when you are out in the real world searching for a job. Though they may not help you directly but can surely provide you with references and contacts who can serve as guardian angels in your job hunt. So stay in touch and never miss the network game.
Once you are all set to face an interview, take a leap, and apply for jobs. Do not limit yourself; apply for numerous vacancies that you find relevant matching your requisite frame. And, remember that you may come across failures but you don’t have to give up at any instant. Try and keep trying until you crack an interview to kick start your new phase of life where you will be termed as ‘employed”.
Being ready to face an interview is not only about having an updated CV and confidence to face the HR team but also about your dress up. As a thumb rule, one should groom themselves appropriately so that you express a pleasing approach at the very moment you step inside. ‘Do not judge a book by its cover’ is a common saying, but hardly it happens in the real world. The team can start carving their own opinions just by having a look at your attire and attributes. So be yourself and be professional to get them to appreciate your knowledge as well as your appearance.
We hope that this article makes you feel empowered and motivated to take the plunge of applying for a job. So what are you waiting for? Get out and work hard to achieve your dream job. We wish you good luck and excellent opportunities coming your way!
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