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Five-Step Guide to Finding Your First Job

Whether you're about to start your first career, or you've gone back to school to pursue a new one, finding your first job in any field is a big step.

This 5-step guide can help you organize your job search, identify the best opportunities and pursue them as efficiently as possible:

1. Self-Assessment. Your degree can probably be used to pursue a variety of careers, so you need to decide which jobs will be rewarding for you. Figuring out where your passions lie and what will make you happy is key.
   
   Common mistake: Assessing the job market, identifying fields with the most opportunities, and focusing on those. Instead, ask yourself, "What skills do I have? What makes me feel successful?" Use those answers to point your job search in the right direction.



2. Start researching and get networking. The key to finding the right job is knowing where to look and how to network. Search job boards, go to trade websites in your field of interest, attend job fairs, visit company websites to look for job postings, and contact human resources departments at companies you'd like to work for.
   
   Also, don't forget to network. The people you know — and the people they know — are some of your best resources for finding a great job and gaining important industry insights.



3. Highlight Your Skills. There are lots of people who have your degree, but not all of them possess the same skills. Use your resume and cover letter to express the skills that make you marketable. Resume writing services can help you leverage your qualifications and experiences effectively.



4. Focus on benefits. Hiring managers want to know how you are going to benefit their company. Focus your resume and cover letter on what you can do for a company, instead of why you want the job. Consider working with a resume service to make sure your application documents are sending future employers the right message.



5. Determine fit. There are lots of great jobs out there, but you want to make sure they are right for you. Research prospective employers thoroughly. Look at work ethic, environment, company culture, management expectations and salary/benefits packages. Gain as much information as possible, both before the interview and during it.

For additional information on job searching, resume writing and editing services, cover letter creation, networking, and interviewing, contact the professionals at ResumeEdge today.