Top 3 Things to Look for in a First Job

You are just about to finish your final semester, your parents have been pressuring you to start job hunting and your friends are already knee-deep in churning out multiple job applications.

But where should you even start? What do you even look for in a first job?

To start off, begin your job search with a clear mind – otherwise, you might find yourself approaching your job search process the wrong way. Do not panic and take your time to really think about what you want.

To help you get started, here are three considerations you should make when taking your first step into the professional world.

“Where will this career path or job lead me?” is a question that you should always ask yourself before you decide to apply for any job.

Your first job is a stepping stone and how it pans out may pave the way for your career ahead. It is crucial that your first job can lead you to more opportunities in the future and help you achieve your long-term career goals.

This usually translates to career advancement opportunities and higherlevel responsibilities offered as you progress on the job with your employer. You can start by conducting some research on the typical career progression pathways for the position you want to pursue and in the specific field you want to work in.

If you already have a specific employer in mind, you can do some background research of the employees that currently work, or have worked, in the company. Another thing to consider is how the job or your prospective employer can help you grow professionally.

Your first job should be a chance for you to learn as much as you can, so you might want to look for a company that provides training or mentorships to graduates and newcomers. You can ask about training opportunities during the job interview with your prospective employer.

Does your employer believe in spending the time and effort to show and teach newcomers how to succeed at what they do? Or do they think that it is more effective for fresh recruits to learn on-the-job by throwing them in the deep end and letting them swim on their own?

Figure out which method you prefer and understand the initiatives the employer practises to ensure that their employees continue to learn and grow.

Your course of study may have equipped you with a specific skill set, but while it is beneficial for you to expand on your existing skills on the job, it is also crucial to think about building other transferable skills.

Your first job is your golden opportunity to take in as much knowledge and skills as you can. You need to think about diversifying your skills, especially transferable ones, so that you become a more well-rounded and marketable individual.

One way for you to find out if your prospective employer or role will allow you to pick up other competencies outside your current skill set is to ask about how teams work in the company. Do departments work independently or together as a collaborative effort? Will your role involve interacting and working with other departments? How does working remotely affect your role?

Exposure to cross-departmental tasks will also allow you to pick up different skills, while repetitive, routine tasks may limit you to only one specific skill set. Hence, it is essential to have a good understanding of the role on offer.