From Classroom to Career: A 4-step guide to secure your first job as a Fresh Graduate
By: Neil Nepomuceno
Congratulations, graduates!
Looking for your first job can be daunting. Whether it’s the lack of experience or the fear of the unknown, you may have a hard time overcoming these factors if you don’t prepare a plan for the journey ahead.
We’re here to help you #OwnTheFuture and reach your career goals! Here’s a comprehensive guide that will help you secure your first job.
DISCOVER YOUR CAREER INTERESTS
Before entering the interview room or joining an online interview, it’s important to create a list of job positions in which you can envision yourself – excelling and enjoying.
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Research about the roles you have in mind, check your current skills, and acquire new ones to get you ready to land the role you are eyeing.
With the help of the internet, free professional training courses are well within your reach. By acquiring more skills, you can enhance your confidence and prove that you are a valuable asset to your team.
RESEARCH ABOUT THE COMPANY YOU ARE APPLYING TO
Researching about the company you are applying to helps you gain valuable insights and tailor your application to align with the company’s values and goals. From there, you can assess if their values and goals align with your own morals and career plan.
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Before starting the job-hunting process, you may increase the chances of getting hired by attending career fairs. It provides an opportunity to learn about the companies that are hiring, high-demand roles, and the required expertise.
REVIEW YOUR SKILLSET
Fresh graduates often believe that having extensive work experience is the key to getting hired, but that is not always true. By shifting your perspective and showing your genuine passion for working, learning, and contributing to the company, recruiters will recognize that there is more to you than what appears on your resume.
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During the interview, be confident when you talk about your skills. First-time applicants are sometimes too nervous to prove that they are capable during interviews. Practicing in front of a mirror. talking to an HR Professional, or doing a mock interview may help keep nervousness at bay.
USE ‘ZERO-EXPERIENCE’ TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Fresh graduates often believe that having extensive work experience is the key to getting hired, but that is not always true. By shifting your perspective and showing your genuine passion for working, learning, and contributing to the company, recruiters will recognize that there is more to you than what appears on your resume.
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Paper qualifications will not matter if the employee cannot execute the tasks. The interviewer may subject you to explaining how you would solve a work-related problem, or how you would do a certain project to test your knowledge and your approach when it comes to work.
Don’t solely rely on your resume. Be prepared to showcase critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills when responding to interview questions.