Brought to you by Jobs.ie.
Giz a job?
Looking for your first job can be an overwhelming experience. If you’re just out of school or college and have managed to mooch off your parents up till now, it’s time to get off your arse.
It’s hard to know where to start if you’ve never had proper work experience or been through a job interview. Well, don’t fret. Believe it or not, you’re not the first person to join the workforce. We’ve all been there.
It might be challenging but there are steps you can take to put yourself in the best position to get that first job. We’ve put together a list of five tips to get you started.
1. Get your CV sorted
It might sound like an obvious point but it’s worth mentioning because it’s so important. If this is your first CV and you’ve never had a job, you might think that you have nothing to put on there. That’s your first mistake. Even without a previous job, there’s still plenty of stuff you can include to give prospective employers a sense of who you are.
Whether it’s transition year work experience or helping your Da paint your Granny’s gaff, there’s some way of dressing it up to give employers what they want to hear. You should definitely emphasise any extra-curricular work you did while in college. Stuff like student newspapers and societies are all valuable experiences.
You should also think about tailoring your CV for to the specifications of the job you’re applying for. When you’re researching, keep an eye out for words that are repeated, or frequently mentioned skills. Try to incorporate these words into your CV.
2. Get experience
OK, so if you really struggling for adequate experience to put on your CV, it might be worth clocking up some time in a voluntary position.
Volunteer work stands out almost as much as a proper job because it shows that you’re dedicated and willing to put in the time. Aside from just adding a line to your CV, you’ll probably learn valuable skills that will stand to you when it comes to an actual job.
Another option would be to look into shadowing someone working in the type of job you’d like for a day or two. Remember your Uncle in law who works at the bank? Ask him can you watch him work for a day.
3. Be open and enthusiastic
Chances are you won’t be walking into your dream job straight out of college. You’ll probably have to compromise when it comes to your first job.
If you’re open to all possibilities when you start off the job hunt, it’s more likely to yield success.
At this stage, it’s just as important to build up experience. At the very least you can use your first job as a stepping stone if it’s not completely to your liking.
4. Investigate all your options
Start your search by looking at sites that cater to people who are new to the job market. Retail and service industry jobs are the most likely to hire people with little experience and will provide you with training. You can search by the category of employment you’re interested in, which saves time.
5. Be persistent
One of the more valuable lessons that you’ll learn from job hunting is that nothing will happen for you unless you make it happen. If you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll be more successful.
Keep track of everywhere that you apply to and if you don’t hear back from them within a week or two, go back in or send them a follow-up email.
You’ll lose absolutely nothing from being persistent. If anything, it will make you stand out as someone with more get up and go then anyone else. Even if you don’t get the job first time around, it might pay off in the long run, as an employer will remember you when they’re hiring again.
Find your perfect job from the thousands available on Jobs.ie right now. You’ll find vacancies from companies of all sizes and sectors in every part of Ireland. Your next job is waiting for you. Start your job hunt now.
Brought to you by Jobs.ie.
