First job- when to start?

March 17, 2012|employees, How to find a job, Tips At work| No comments yet

When should you start your first job? As early as possible! Don’t wait until you get a high school diploma or a college degree to start looking for a job. The earlier you start working, the more job skills you will develop along the way and the more marketable you will become when applying for jobs in the future.

Ideally, you should learn new skills at each job you work at. In addition to job-specific skills, you should also develop valuable transferable skills needed for most all jobs, such as good job performance, good time management, leadership and communication skills, the ability to work with others, the ability to meet deadlines and the ability to contribute to the company’s bottom line.

Develop your work history early on. After age 16, more job opportunities will open up but until then there are many things you can do. Start a lawn mowing business, dog sit, house sit or babysit. Be a camp counselor or volunteer. Prove yourself a good and dependable worker no matter what the job.

All jobs offer the opportunity to develop job skills. If starting your own babysitting or lawn business, you will learn how to develop a customer base and how to manage earnings and expenses. You will learn the importance of providing excellent customer service to keep the business going and growing. If you work with others, you learn how to function as part of a team.

Regardless of what you do, if you do it well, you will gain a reputation as a dependable worker who does a good job. This early experience will look great on your first resume and will impress employers when you interview for jobs. These early customers and employers may also come in handy as references down the road.

While in high school or college, look for part-time, volunteer and intern positions. If related to the career path you plan on pursuing, all the better. You will get some good work experience and a possible foot in the door of some companies who may be interested in hiring you after graduation.

Once you do graduate, don’t hold out for that dream job, especially in today’s tight job market. Look for something decent but get a “real” job as soon as possible. Develop your skills, gain additional experience and continue to increase your marketability. Get more training and education if necessary.

Do your best to remain employed, as hiring managers are typically more impressed with job candidates who are employed compared to those who are out of work. Being employed also puts you in a better position to develop a strong network of friends, co-workers and contacts who may prove useful to you in future job searches.

Make the best of every job you work at. Consider it a learning opportunity. Offer to take on additional responsibilities and prove yourself a valuable employee. Continuously upgrade your skills and continuously enhance your resume as you advance in your career path.