Getting Your First Job For Dummies

Chapter 1

Mapping Out Your Job Search Strategy

IN THIS CHAPTER

Setting expectations for your search

Creating a road map for finding your first job

Using tools that will keep you organized

What kind of job are you looking for and what do you want to get out of it?

Your answers to these questions determine how long it will take you to find your first job. They also establish what you’ll need to do to get the job. For example, if your goal is to get part-time work, of any kind so you can earn some money, then you don’t need to do a lot of research. For the most part, it’s about going to places like Starbucks and Applebee’s to fill out applications. It may take you a few days or a few weeks to get a part-time job.

On the other hand, if you have a plan in mind, where you want a highly coveted job after college and you know you’ll have competition, then you have to start thinking about the internships you need to have in order to improve your chances of getting that job. It may take you up to three months, and sometimes even a year and a half to land the job you like, depending on whether you have relevant experience.

Even entry-level jobs sometimes require experience. This is a Catch-22. ...