When is the right time to apply for your first job?

To begin, the definition of "first job" in this article referring to an actual job where you will be paid for full-time employment and not part-time, internship or freelance job.

If I could turn back time, this is what I would advise myself:



Start looking for a job on the last semester of your university

It might be too late for me to do that, but if it is not too late for you, you should start looking for a job now. That is, if you don't want to be unemployed right after graduation. If you are going to take a gap year, you should make use of the gap year on doing this...

Looking for job does not mean applying for job. Put those resumes and cover letter aside. At this moment, you need a strategic plan to look for a job that suits your passion.

First, determine the area that you want to grow in your career. You must see yourself in the next 5 years where you want to be. We are not talking about what car you want to drive or what branded watch to buy. It is about your career goal. Is there any award you want to win? Do you want to lead a team? Do you want to achieve a certain project?

Start looking for a position that can get you to your career goal. Visiting career fairs is a good start. Ask about the job scope, responsibilities, career path, and opportunities available. Don't be shy. Companies exhibiting at career fair wants to hire people like you. You can also visit the website of the company that offers this position. Call up the HR and ask about the position you are interested.

Get connected to the person who already been-there-done-that. If you want to be an eye specialist, ask around if any of your friends and families that know any eye specialist. Drop him an email and ask about his challenges in the industry. If no one is able to help you, there's always LinkedIn and Facebook to look for.

The most important part is to set the right attitude. Expect to be turned down by some people during your research. You must not be shy to ask. Be prepared to hear the bad stories, but it should not serve as a demotivation. Learn from the mistake and prepare to take up the challenge.