The secret's knowing just what you want and exactly where to find it. But that's never easy, especially when you're setting off on your career.
This 10-step guide is full of practical tips and advice for graduates looking for their first job opportunity and to help them make the most of their first job and build on this to develop their career further.
Step 1 - Get Lucky
This exercise lets you rate how lucky you are to make you think about ways you can bring more luck into your life. By having more luck you’ll soon find you’re on the way to finding the kind of job and life you really want.
Step 2 - Spot Your Skills
The skills we love using are normally the ones we’re best at. If you can find a job that lets you do the things you love doing and are good at then you’re sure to be successful.
This exercise will help you identify the skills you love using which you should be focusing on in your job hunt.
Sometimes you have more skills than you even realise, you just need to think about things in a different way. Take a look at this example and then try the exercise yourself to get a better idea of the hidden skills you possess.
Step 3 - Find Your Style
Finding the right job is easier if you have a really clear picture of what you would like to do. This exercise is designed to help you paint a better picture of your ideal job and give you a clearer goal to work towards.
Step 4 - Shopping For Your Future
You should plan your future like any other journey. If you have an idea of the route you’re going to take to get there, you’re more likely to end up in the place you want to be. The following exercises ask you to picture where you will be in 5 years time so you can begin to think about the route you need to take to get there.
Step 5 - Be Confident
Confidence allows you to make the choices and take the steps that lead to that perfect job. There are lots of practical ways to build up your self-confidence. This exercise will help you to think about what attributes you have to feel confident about, as well as some handy tips to help you boost your self confidence too.
Step 6 - Shop Smarter
In the job market there are a lot of smart things you can do to get ahead of the crowd. This 5-step exercise has loads of handy advice for job hunters to help you on your way to gaining your first role.
Step 7 - Build Your Band
Whatever career you’re interested in, you’ll find that it’s hard to make it alone. You really need the right people in your life to help you along the way. This exercise will help you think about the people you have around you and how they can support you in finding that perfect job.
Step 8 - Get Value For Money
Once you’ve got your first job and had a chance to settle in to the role it’s really important to step back and think about whether you’re gaining the right skills and experience you need on your journey to your ideal career. The following exercise helps you think about your role and whether you’re making the most out it.
Step 9 - Build On Your Investment
Your first job is an investment you should build on. You need to think about how this job can help you take the next step up the employment ladder. The following exercise encourages you to consider how you can build on the job you have now to get you where you want to be in the future.
Step 10 - Be Brave
Now you know what you need to do to achieve in your jobshopping. To take the next step towards your ideal career you’re going to have to be brave. This may mean stepping out of your comfort zone and taking up new challenges. The following exercise should help you think about ways in which you can go that bit further to help you get the career you’ve always dreamed of.
