How to land your first job in your field

Just out of school and looking for your dream job? Want to put in practice everything you’ve learned? Looking for work at a company that inspires you? Here are a few tips to help you enter the job market.

Be active and update your resumé on LinkedIn

In addition to generic job boards and company-specific job sites, there are other places to look for your first job in your field. You can use LinkedIn, for example, to contact managers or recruiters at companies where you’d like to work. Always stay professional in your communications and keep your resumé as up-to-date and complete as possible.

Go to job fairs

Attend job fairs organized by your university or college. It’s the perfect opportunity to get in touch directly with recruiters from companies you’re interested in. Introduce yourself professionally and have your resumé on hand. This initial contact is your chance to ask about the company, the position and the department and to get ready if you have an interview in the future. It might be just what you need to get an interview. And what’s more, during that interview, the recruiter will remember who you are.

Attend networking sessions

Another way to get a job in your field is by attending networking sessions organized by your industry. If you’re in finance, go to events organized by CFAs. If you’re studying accounting, go to networking events for CPAs. It’s the perfect opportunity to get in touch with people who have been down the same path as you, and also to meet recruiters in these areas!

Don’t forget about your professors

There’s a final way to land your first job in your industry, your professors and instructors. They often have contacts in their field. So be a good student and feel free to ask them for advice.

Stay flexible

Be open-minded: your first job won’t always be your dream job, but you have to start somewhere. It’s important to stay open at the start of your career. The goal here to learn, to prove yourself and to get your foot in the door in your field of study!

Already found your first job?

Here are a few tips to help you have a great experience and make the most of it.

First, remember that you’re there to keep learning and to build on everything you learned at university or college. So be attentive and learn from your more experienced coworkers. That way you’ll learn new ways of working and will be better equipped to find what works best for you.

Next, take on every new opportunity that come your way. If your boss or team members need someone for a project, put your name forward. It’s a chance for you to learn, to work with colleagues from other lines of business, and to show what you’re capable of—so make the most of this work opportunity. There’s no telling what a project might bring you and where it might take you.

Finally, remember that this is your FIRST job in your field. So keep your eyes and ears wide open and get ready: you’re just at the beginning of a marvellous career.