Searching for your first job takes thought and care. You want to put your best foot forward and show your potential employer that you have what it takes to do the job. You want to appear capable, reliable and professional. By doing your homework and being prepared, you improve your chances of getting that first job.
Assess Your Job Search
When entering the job market for the first time, you might not know exactly what career you want to pursue. But you do know what your interests, skills and talents are, so think about how you can use them on the job. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and that people rarely walk into their perfect job the first time they try. There is no substitute for experience. To build a resume, you have to start one.
Prepare for the Interview
Prepare for any job interview by learning as much as you can about the employer. Maureen Crawford Hentz, who hires teens for jobs at the New England Aquarium, likes to test applicants' interview preparation. "If an applicant comes in to interview for an Aquarium Guide position and tells me that she thinks she will be feeding the animals and 'stuff,' I know that she has not read the job description," Hentz says. Ask a friend or family member to help you prepare with a mock interview. It can help your confidence and prepare you for possible questions. Pay attention to your body language and handshake.
Dress for Success
Your appearance is the first visual impression that a prospective employer forms of you, so make it a good one. Being well-groomed and dressing neatly can give you an immediate advantage. Dress more conservatively than you normally would, and perhaps even a bit more conservatively than the typical dress at the workplace at which you're interviewing. Avoid heavy makeup, open-toed shoes, revealing clothing, short skirts, visible piercings, tattoos, clingy tops, platform shoes, huge earrings, wrinkled clothing and hair in your face. Don't chew gum or smell of smoke.
Engage in Appropriate Follow Up
After you have completed the interview, it is important to send a hand-written know to the interviewer. Address your enthusiasm about the opportunity to interview and reference a particular part of your visit. Send the note right away, even if you aren't interested in the position after the interview.
Be A Sponge
If you get the job, approach it as a wonderful opportunity to learn a new and exciting skill set. It is also important to be realistic. Know what hours you can work and what your employer expects. Figure out how to balance your job responsibilities with the other things you need and want to do.
Learn and Improve Every Day
As you begin the new job, remember what got you to that point. You set your sights on being hired, you prepared, you presented yourself well, and you were hired. Now take those same steps as you learn, grow, develop and contribute your own unique skills and talents to your new employer. And when you make a mistake, don't make excuses; learn from the mistake, and get better.
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