Land your First Job

The Working World: How to get a Foot in the Door

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Whether you are a student looking for your first job opportunity or an experienced professional searching for a new career path it can be tough standing out from the crowd and getting noticed for the right reasons.

Many of you will be competing against hundreds of other candidates all aiming to secure the same position. You may be a bright and capable individual, however, something is preventing you from obtaining the job you want –  so how exactly do you get your foot in the door?

Landing an Internship

For those looking for their first taste of an opportunity, an internship allows you to become exposed to the working environment which will help you to enhance your skills as well as gain vital experience. Occasionally work placements can even be paid jobs for a firm on a temporary basis.

Internships allow you to gain invaluable transferable skills including time management, communications, and teamwork within a real working environment, where you may be required to take on responsibility.

However, I’m sure those who have already tried this path know, internships aren’t typically handed out to just anyone.  You must research the company that is hiring and discover what they are looking for, and remember you will be competing against a number of other candidates.

Make your cv stand out

Submitting your cv will usually be the first time you have any direct contact with a company. However with so many other applicants all gunning for the same position, you need to take this opportunity to differentiate yourself from the other applicants to ensure that your cv is not overlooked.

Of course, your cv must always follow the fundamental rules – it should be clear, concise, and illustrate the relevant skills you possess to become a strong member of the team you’re applying for. As well as ensuring that it is easy to read and tailored to the position that you are applying for.

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Many people are also trying unique and creative ways to get noticed ahead of all the others, often using different forms of communication when attempting to sell their skills and achievements. Consider all of your options, and look at the different avenues that you have available to you – with constant advancements in technology they are changing all of the time. Stories that I’ve come across include attaching a QR code to business cards that load up your cv, sending a personal message via video, and using social media to build up your own network of contacts.

Whether you are a student looking for your first job opportunity or an experienced professional searching for a new career path it can be tough standing out from the crowd and getting noticed for the right reasons.Click To Tweet

One thing I would advise that you review is the privacy policies on your social media accounts – prospective employers really don’t need to see photos of you with your mates in the pub on a Saturday night!

Be smart in your approach and work hard to differentiate yourself – it will pay off.

Take the additional step

Often getting that initial foot in the door is down to you taking the additional steps to minimize the chances of your job application disappearing into a black hole.

  • Invest time in finding an internal referral that’ll get your cv into the right hands
  • Use the sources available to you including alumni contacts, previous employers, and recruitment agencies
  • Maximize the potential of social networks and get connected with similar groups associated with similar careers
All Work, No Pay: Finding an Internship
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03/26/2024 05:21 pm GMT

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