5 ways first time job-seekers get the jump on the job

First you get the experience, then you get the job.

Written by Ayman Abdel Jaber, Contributing Blogger

Editor-in-Chief for The Richmond Stag

Every student faces a similar issue when looking for a work placement for the first time. The process can be quite tedious, given the fact that employers require previous work experience. It’s an “egg-and-chicken” situation. What comes first: the work experience, or the job?

In these situations, your incredible wits and adorable sense of humor will go unnoticed when an employer takes a look at your résumé. The one thing you must bear in mind is that the real world is no friendly place. Luck is probably the most vital factor in the process. However, there are a few steps you can take to increase the chances of impressing a potential employer.

A simple business analysis model, like The SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), can be vital when it comes to evaluating yourself. Make a list of your current strengths (academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, skills, qualifications), weaknesses (academics, character flaws), opportunities you can seize (gain a qualification, master a skill, internship), and threats you can’t control (more qualified applicants). Once completed, you will have a better sense of where you stand and where you’re going.

Here are some specific things you can do to get ahead in today’s job market:

1. Choose a clear career path that interests you, and focus on improving yourself in relation to that field (ex: journalism).
2. Look into workshops and short courses relevant to the field to gain a better understanding (ex: a certificate in creative writing).
3. Get involved in extracurricular activities to hone your skills, and experience a simple work environment (ex: the school newspaper).
4. Volunteer in your field of interest. This is potentially the best way to enhance your career, since you’ll get the chance to network with professionals in your field. Surveys from an employers point of view have shown that volunteering placements can have a positive effect on an individual’s career progression.  And according to Rebecca Wainwright, of KPMG, “The majority of students applying for graduate jobs won’t have a great deal of work experience. By volunteering, they can demonstrate evidence of some of the skills employers are looking for.
5. Apply for internships.

Once you’ve taken some (or all) of these actions, polish up your resume, hone your interview skills, and go kick start that career!

By: Ayman Abdel Jaber, Contributing Blogger

Editor-in-Chief for The Richmond Stag

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