5 Tips to Get The Job You Want
After grinding through university, I knew I didn’t want to settle for my first, real job. After all, your first job is probably the only job you can afford to take a risk on — so why not take a risk on it? Why not go out and get the job you want?
Over my 5 years in university, I worked in 4 (actually 5 if you count my current job — which will soon become my permanent, full-time job and the one I’ll be referring to throughout this post) different jobs, 3/5 of which were actually related to my major, Marketing. But all of these positions showed me what I do and do not want in a career.
I remember being in high school and just thinking “I need to follow a career path for the money”, and while my taste for treating myself has not changed since then, my perspective on career paths definitely has. Of course you want to make sure you’re following a career which can sustain your lifestyle, however, there’s a lot more to it than that. If I’m going to be spending 40+ hours a week in this career, I sure as heck better be enjoying what I’m doing and where I’m working.
Which is why I’m here to PREACH to you today, that for your first job, PLEASE don’t settle for something because it’s the safe way out, or because it simply pays well. PLEASE go out there and pursue that job that you’ve always wanted. Because when it comes down to it… we’re in our early-mid 20’s… why on earth would you want to begin the next ~40 years of your working life somewhere that totally sucks or somewhere that’s not satisfying every little hope you had for a career when you were grinding out the past 4-5 years of schooling because that’s what was supposed to lead you to a career path that you dreamed of.
1. Don’t underestimate yourself
I mean it. You’re probably much smarter than you think, and you are actually experienced enough for many of the jobs out there. Don’t neglect to apply for certain jobs because you feel you don’t line up exactly with the job posting. You may not have everything they listed as required or preferred, but chances are, you may still be the best candidate out there, OR you may have other skills that make you even more attractive!
2. Talk to alumni
At one time, they were in your shoes, and have since gained some experience in a role or two, and can very likely give you some great insight into career opportunities that you may be interested in, or point you in the direction of someone in their network who may be able to get you closer to the career/company you want to get into!
3. Meet with companies that interest you and professionals that you look up to
There’s absolutely no harm in requesting a meeting with companies you’re interested in, or with professionals you aspire to be like someday. This shows your genuine interest in a career/career path, and people are almost always happy to hear you out! In fact, I got my current position, simply through a meeting that turned into an interview… that turned into a job offer!
4. Do your research
It can be difficult to know exactly what jobs are out there, but the key is doing your due diligence to figure out what the opportunities are, what your specialties are, and where you can link the two together to find a job you love. I subscribed to all the job posting boards (Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn Jobs, etc) in both my city and in others, just to get an idea of the positions out there and how my qualifications lined up against them.
5. DON’T SETTLE
Whether you follow these tips or not, please oh please do not settle. Don’t just take your first offer because it’s easy. And don’t just take the highest paying job offer because of the money. You’re in your 20’s — take this time and early phase in your life as an opportunity to find what you truly love, what will build your skill set and experience for what you want to pursue for the rest of the your life. This life is yours — go out there and turn it into the life you used to dreamed about.
