Why your first job is so important

The impact of first jobs can be huge. We all know stories of the CEO who started out by flipping burgers or the FTSE 100 boss selling sweets in the playground at the age of 10.

Starting out in your first job – as thousands of school leavers and graduates will be doing this year – is exciting, nerve-wracking and frustrating all at once.

Even if you’re successful in landing a role from jobs24.com, it might be light years away from what you imagined or not in your chosen field.

But first jobs can provide a bedrock of skills that never go to waste.

They teach us things we would never learn elsewhere and help shape the person we’ll become later in our professional lives.

Just look at some of our biggest celebrities – very few hit the big time right away.

Beyoncé learned how to graft as a hair salon floor sweeper, comic Amy Poehler’s time as an ice cream scooper taught her how to engage with the public and Brad Pitt’s experience as a chicken costume-wearing restaurant promoter taught him the importance of immersing himself in a character.

If you’re just starting out, here are some important lessons you could learn from your first job.

Keep time

Unlike school or college where they tolerate late-comers, an employer won’t. Set your alarm, get your mum to call you or sleep with the cat who always stirs at 6am…anything to ensure you make it on time.

Talk the talk

The workplace demands people skills and you’ll need to learn a whole new language: how to do small talk, colleague chat and boss-speak.

Groundhog days

Some tasks are predictable and you may question why you aren’t learning something new every day. What you are learning, however, is to truly master a skill and that is crucial to development.

Make your move

Learn to anticipate what your boss or customers want, take the initiative and use any opportunities that come your way.

Manage expectations

It’s okay if you’re not 100% in love with your first job. Remind yourself that just like Beyoncé, Amy and Brad, you very rarely finish where you started.

Make the first move by checking out the latest vacancies on jobs24.com.

Posted on August 8, 2018