In this day and age, landing any new role seems harder for many, and even harder if you’ve never been employed.
Because of the ever-changing work landscape, made more complex with the advent of new technologies; employers’ requirements have become more expansive. On the other hand, universities and other schools are barely producing graduates ready for the new challenges.
So what then does it take for you to land your first role? Here are a few pointers.
A.Have a clear plan
‘Failing to plan, is planning to fail.’ It’s a bit cliche, isn’t it? But it’s true.
It’s important that you have some sort of plan. Probably 80% of your career journey won’t be as planned but it’s better to have it. Ask around, most people aren’t working jobs they studied for.
But planning gives you a sense of direction and focus. It’ll dictate where you should invest more and less of your time and energy.
Even when you’re unsure of what you’d want to do, plan around what you think you want. Plans can be short, medium and long-term.
Lay them down quickly.
B. Increase your exposure and network
We become what we know, and what we know is a function of who we’ve met and what we’ve been exposed to.
It’s important that you study well and get the best grades. But if you’re spending all your time on this, you got it twisted.
Over 50% of the jobs available on the market today aren’t even advertised for. Even in the case of the advertised ones, the majority get recruited through referrals.
This is not the same with underhand activities to land a role, it’s positioning yourself to network and connect with decision makers who could massively impact your future.
Divide your time between studying and attending events and conferences where you can network with people who’ve gone ahead of you.
C. Show off what you can do
Work experience is a huge requirement when securing work opportunities. Employers would be trying to reduce risks by looking for people who can hit the ground running quickly and make minimal mistakes.
Show off that this is you. If you’re a creative, create a portfolio that showcases your work. If you have great people skills, get some practice by having an active role in clubs and communities. In some instances, you can go as far as offering your services for a defined short period with compensation to show off your value.
If there’s ever a time and place to show off. That’s where it should be.
D. Pivot when it’s necessary
It’s a given that plans can and will go sideways.
Having a clear plan shouldn’t mean that you become rigid and close your mind off to other opportunities that may come your way.
A time may come for you to travel to a country you’ve never heard of, learn a new skill or take on tasks you don’t like. See only the opportunities and brace yourself until you achieve your career goals.
The reality
Ideally, you want to get it right the first time and land the job of your dreams. But this is not always the case.
For your first role, the most important thing is getting your foot into the door. With a positive attitude and excellent work ethic, you’ll most likely be noticed.