How To Get Started In Your Career

How to get started in your career.

Getting started in your career and the corporate world can be a very daunting stage in life. I recall being a university graduate and having absolutely no clue on how to get started in my career. I did what any other hopeful graduate would do, and applied for over 100 jobs via seek.com until I finally got called into an interview for an entry level position! To say it was one of the most disheartening stages of my life would be an understatement. Here are my top tips on how to get started in your career:

1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

The single most important part of getting started in your career is knowing what you want to do, and sticking to it. What is your passion and what are you good at? Spend some time researching and speaking to people within the industry. Gain some work experience and complete internships to gain an understanding as to whether it is the right role and industry for you.

2. CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOURSELF

I don’t have many regrets in life, but one of them would be the fact that I never created opportunities for myself to gain experience, until it was time for me to apply for a full-time position. Instead of working a retail job for the 5 years I was at university, I could have invested some time searching for internships or entry-level positions to help me gain the relevant experience. These days, employers look for entry level employees who have at least some degree of experience, so my advice is to put some effort into networking with the right people and getting your foot in the door sooner rather than later. You never know- that unpaid internship could lead to a graduate or full time position down the line.

3. FIND A MENTOR

Find a great mentor through inspiring people you already work or associate with. If you don’t personally have any contacts, find someone who is at least 5-10 steps ahead of you in your chosen field, role or industry. Follow their work and understand the steps they took to be able to get to the place you want to be.

GET STARTED IN YOUR CAREER

Even the most successful people had to start from somewhere, so just start! The more energy and time you dedicate to establishing yourself and your career, the closer you will come to achieving your goals.

I hope these tips will help you get started in your career. And remember- your current location is not your final destination!