Your first job is your first big milestone in your budding career. As a newcomer to the workforce, you can expect to feel considerable apprehension as you evaluate postings on job portals and your various job offers in search of that first job that is right for you.
You’ve probably heard people say that your first job is the most important because it sets the direction of your career, and also caught wind of even more vocal assertions that it matters not one jot. So how much does your first job really matter and how will it influence your future career, if at all? We take a look at the various ways this could play out for you and affect your future professional goals.
Entering the Industry Early
Many of you will want to get ahead as quickly as you can in your career. It’s a common perception that this involves deciding on an industry and focus area and then sticking with it for the rest of your career. By focusing on one area, so the thinking goes, you will gain the necessary expertise and experience to progress further.
These valuable years of experience can sometimes make the difference between being relegated to an entry-level job or securing a position further up the ladder. If you end up disliking your first job and decide to switch jobs, you could wind up back where you started. This leads to considerable anxiety when it comes to picking your first job as you worry that you’ll waste years in an industry that you dislike.
Workplace Skills are Widely Applicable
However, a disproportionate amount of weight is often placed on the importance of that first job. As a fresh graduate, the thing you are in need of is work experience and real-world skills, not a dream job. You can be sure that wherever you end up, you will gain plenty of opportunities to learn how to become a productive member of the workforce.
Whether it is the nuances of professional etiquette, how to work with a team or overcome conflicts, these skills will carry over to your next job – regardless of industry – and serve you well. The transition from university to your first job can also be difficult, and your first job will teach you to grapple with steep learning curves and deal with criticism.
Understanding Comes with Experience
As a young adult, you’re probably still struggling to articulate a clear idea of your goals in life. The industry you think you want to work in may not be the one you will end up excelling in. Instead of obsessing over finding the perfect stepping stone to quick promotions in a specific industry, you should focus on gaining life skills and expanding your perspective regarding the workplace and your career.
You will be empowered to build up your professional network, learn from your co-workers and understand what you want from your career and job. Your first job will help you discern better what you want from your career in areas such as the company culture and job scope.
As you progress from full-time student to a full-time contributing member of society and the workforce, you should take the opportunity to enjoy the satisfaction that comes from learning and earning your own keep. Ultimately, the skills and lessons from your first job will always ensure that you will be better equipped than before – there is no such thing as wasted years even if you switch to a different line of work.
It’s unreasonable to place the burden of deciding on a fixed career path on yourself when you’re in your early 20s, and you should feel free to experiment, explore and grow in the process. Your first job matters, but only because it helps you develop and find your footing as a working professional.