Finding That First Job

Finding your first job:

One of the scariest things you will do as a young person is attempt to find a job and enter the work force. We all have an innate fear of rejection that makes this process almost overwhelming at times. In some cases the NEED for a job increases the pressure we are feeling. Below is a general guide you can use to prepare yourself for the job search. 

1. Decide on what you would like to do. But be realistic about it. Understand that without education or training your options are going to be limited. Looking on job sites can help you to understand which companies are willing to hire you without any experience. Some of the best places to apply are Tim Hortons and McDonalds (excellent training program). They may not be the glamorous jobs you envision in your future but they do provide an excellent start. Don’t be ashamed of finding your first job … or your second

2. Write a resume for yourself. This is an extremely important part of the process. It is your one chance to provide a potential employer with a reason to hire you over the other applicants. The trick is it can’t be too long or too short. Employers are looking for a couple of key things and don’t want to be bogged down with too many details. A few excellent sites showing what to include in your resume are listed below.

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/content_pieces-eng.do?cid=11906

https://ca.topresume.com/career-advice/make-a-great-resume-with-no-work-experience

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/tips-for-writing-your-first-resume-2058744

3. Work on your appearance. I know you all like to have your own sense of style. For some it’s a lot of piercings and for others it’s a lot of ink or tats. Or different coloured socks. The problem is it may not be what employers are looking for so you need to be ready to adapt how you look to suit where you’re going to apply. For instance, if you apply to mow lawns you can likely be a little more liberal with your appearance than if you apply to work in a bank. And so on. Asking your parents or teachers might be a good place to go for advice on this.

4. You need to prepare yourself mentally for the big “NO” when applying for jobs. The reality is there could be many applicants for only 1 or 2 spots. And its very possible the manager doing the hiring has certain things in mind they are looking for. You cant get disheartened if this happens to you. I can pretty much guarantee you will be turned down at some point in your professional career. Don’t let that define you. Tell the business owner or manager you appreciated their time and that if there was a chance in the future you would hope to be considered. Simply walking away indicates you were never really serious about the job.

Check out the link below to see how some rather famous people have done after being rejected. Not sure I would do what Madonna did but I bet it was funny to be there

35 Famous People Who Were Painfully Rejected Before Making It Big

5. At the risk of sounding like a parent, this list wouldn’t be complete without adding this item. You absolutely need to stand up and be mature when meeting with a potential employer. How you carry yourself is critical to showing the employer you are serious about the application. Keep your head up. Maintain eye contact as much as possible. Have a firm handshake. Be as confident as you can even if you don’t feel like it. And lose the electronics. Its a deal breaker for almost all places. Simply turn them off.

6. Last item is to do a follow up. For some it is considered the most important part of getting a job but the reality is its just one more part of the process. For employers it shows you have a real interest in the job and sets you apart from many of the others. It can be an excellent way to have them take a second look at your resume. Wait about a week (less if you know the hiring timeline) and place a call to the employer. Its vital you speak to the person doing the hiring so don’t leave a message with someone and hope it gets passed on.

There are no guarantees but if you can follow those 6 steps you will improve your chances of being hired. There are certainly other things you can do but the idea is to give you the basics to start with and you can adjust to what works best for you. As part of my work experience I have performed interviews with potential candidates. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

  At some point make sure you tell the employer you really want the job ( provided you actually do). They love to hear you’re interested in the position. Trying to act cool and casual doesn’t cut it. DON’T EVER tell them you need the job. That gives them wayyyyy too much power over you.

Be early for the interview if possible. 10 -15 minutes is a good guideline. If you can do a little research on the company you are applying to. It is very common for a manager to ask “what do you know about us”. Always good to have an answer to that.

   Speak clearly and concisely with the best grammar you are able to. Make sure you look the person or people in the eye when you speak to them. Don’t be afraid to take a moment to form your thoughts before replying to a question. Better to get it right the first time

  Lastly … at the end of the interview, if they have time, ask them how they thought the interview went and what could have been improved. It may not help you with that particular job but it will better prepare you for future interviews. You may also find out you forgot to provide them some information about yourself that could change the final outcome. Don’t be scared to ask.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!!