How long did it take you to land on your first job?

[Shammikit]

So it been 1 year since graduation and I have worked at my dads office as a trainee for 6 months to get some experience, dont really want to call that as my first job because, hey I got taken in because its my dads company. I have included this experience, my degree, professional qualifications and other education details in my CV and posted to about 50 vacancies so far throughout last year and received zero responses. I believe I got some decent grades too in my studies, scored atleast 60-70% in every exam I have done. Is this situation 'normal'? Im depressed too for sacrificing soo much for studies, getting through them and receiving no benefits. Meanwhile some of my friends who barely made it through school are doing simple jobs with a rather good salary which sometimes made me think why I even bothered learning so hard. I got some personal goals too and at this rate I dont feel like Im getting anywhere. Looking forward to hearing your story on how you got through. Thanks 

[atxcyclist]

I walked down the street during my second year of high school, and filled out applications until I got a bagging and then cashiering job at a grocery store. Maybe two weeks?

 

I’ve worked a few jobs since then but have been at my current one for 18 years. Never finished college, always wondered what life would be like if I had...

[IAcKI]

I did a year of College here in the UK (Equivalent to Junior Year of High school I think). Decided I didn't like it and applied for an apprenticeship. Only applied for that one because I knew I was going to do everything to get it. I did.
I'm now working in a field I wanted to and the company are paying me to attend university.

I guess it depends in which field your degree is, if I'd have gone to do what I wanted I would hope I could jump onto a graduate program pretty quick.  

[Arika]

handed in my resume to an entertainment complex place (lazer tag, skate rink, go karts, paintball, minigolf etc) got a call a week later to come in for an interview got asked to start that weekend at the end of the interview.

[porina]

With a degree, generally other qualifications matter less at that point, although relevant experience helps. I don't know if it is the same worldwide, but generally people start applying for new graduate jobs around the time they finish the degree. Employers know when fresh meat is ready so open up recruiting around that time. There is less expectation of experience obviously. As you waited, you're kinda off that cycle although if the timing is right you can still try for the next one. Be prepared for questions asking what you did in the passing year though.

 

Personally, after I graduated I slacked around for around 6 months. I did nothing of note, and only did a handful of direct job applications that went nowhere. With time passing on I stepped up a gear, put my CV into a job agency that specialised in the area of my degree, and I got several interviews lined up quite quickly. Took the first offer I got and I'm still there.

 

It depends a bit on the degree also. Is it a specialised area or more general in application? Then it also comes down to job market. I went into electronic engineering which is kinda its own area.

[Shammikit]

2 hours ago, porina said:

With a degree, generally other qualifications matter less at that point, although relevant experience helps. I don't know if it is the same worldwide, but generally people start applying for new graduate jobs around the time they finish the degree. Employers know when fresh meat is ready so open up recruiting around that time. There is less expectation of experience obviously. As you waited, you're kinda off that cycle although if the timing is right you can still try for the next one. Be prepared for questions asking what you did in the passing year though.

 

Personally, after I graduated I slacked around for around 6 months. I did nothing of note, and only did a handful of direct job applications that went nowhere. With time passing on I stepped up a gear, put my CV into a job agency that specialised in the area of my degree, and I got several interviews lined up quite quickly. Took the first offer I got and I'm still there.

 

It depends a bit on the degree also. Is it a specialised area or more general in application? Then it also comes down to job market. I went into electronic engineering which is kinda its own area.

i did a computer security degree. i have studied some networking modules too so i have been trying for security and networking related jobs.

[porina]

1 minute ago, Shammikit said:

i did a computer security degree. i have studied some networking modules too so i have been trying for security and networking related jobs.

As it is not the area I'm in I can't give more specific advice. If there are agencies that specialise in that area, try going through them. Worst case you might have to look to lesser jobs in that area and work upwards, especially if it is a really competitive area.

[Shammikit]

Just now, porina said:

As it is not the area I'm in I can't give more specific advice. If there are agencies that specialise in that area, try going through them. Worst case you might have to look to lesser jobs in that area and work upwards, especially if it is a really competitive area.

by looking at vacancies what i have noticed is that almost all employers ask 2-3 years work experience on the related area. I applied for those too because of no options. no responses. And here there arent any agencies that puts u to local jobs.

[The King of the Undead]

I was 9 or 10 when my grandpa offered me a job helping him remodel.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Shammikit said:

i did a computer security degree. i have studied some networking modules too so i have been trying for security and networking related jobs.

Sounds like you should maybe be applying to IT jobs. I think the military also does something with civilians if you wanted to go that route. (No bootcamp but work for army) 

 

i think the FBI also needs cyber security people. 

 

If you hack Sony, which should be trivial given its track record, you can prolly just setup your own employment with them doing whatever you want.  

[Automobili3XF]

When i was 15 i wanted to work on something and one of our local general stores had an offer, it was the very first thing i tried and i got hired pretty much on the spot, i worked there for almost 2 years.

After that i spent a whole year without any jobs at all, i couldn't get anything, until i finally got my current job (which i'm doing for 3 years now).

[Velcade]

My first job? I guess you could say it took me 13 years to get my first job.

 

My first job after finishing school? 3 months (roughly 5 interviews in that time frame)

[Anomnomnomaly]

I left school in the June, was on a training course for vocational skills within a couple of weeks and had an apprenticeship and college lined up from Sept. I left the apprenticeship/college just over 3yrs later as I found a better paying job... Then I got laid off from that and spent the next 3yrs working dead end temp jobs as I could find them... and partying a lot... I was in my early 20's by the this point, so don't judge me... it was fun. 

 

After that I kinda fell into youth and social work due to some volunteer work I'd been doing... which led to me running a children's centre and being a residential social worker for around 6yrs or so... Towards the end of that I was also doing stand up comedy and trying to break into that... getting myself into debt after I quit work to pursue it full time... Ended up getting a full time job as debts and health issues took their toll... Ended up in the IT industry for the next 10yrs which is where I truly found my niche.

 

So.. a few weeks to find a job after school... but around just over a decade to find my calling.

[SpookyCitrus]

I got my first job at Subway my junior year of highschool worked there for a year and a half until a friend offered me a job at his cheesesteak/sub shop, was a manager there for 3 years and while working there I was taking night classes for computer engineering. Was browsing Facebook one night and a job application came up(the sub shop was pretty shit so I'd been looking for a new job) for a big computer sales and service center in my state, I applied and within ten minutes had an interview scheduled with the owner and manager for the next day. I went in and met them, told them about myself and my experience (been building/repairing computers on the side for several years) was working within the next few days. I have been with this repair center for 5 years now doing what I love. You just have to keep positive, apply online or go in to the actual business and personally drop off your resume, typically when you take in a resume or application in person rather than just doing everything online you stand out more. A lot of people these days would much rather just email or electronically send in their resume or application instead of handing it in, in person. Once you apply or send in  a resume for  a job, call them and be interested in what they think, if your following up on your application and talking with the hiring manager or whoever then you stand out, you are actually interested and want the job, just waiting to hear back and not calling to follow up doesn't make you interesting and then the hiring manager won't know how interested you really are. Basically just a tldr.

Take your resume/application into the business in person and get some facetime. Call to follow up on your resume, let them know how interested you are in getting the job, make a connection. If you just turn in an application or resume and then just wait to hear back you're not standing out or making yourself known, you're just some person who applied for the same job as a few other people where as one of them might be "Jim" the nice guy who called in to see if we had time to look over his application, and the hiring manager thinks is  a good fit. If you build rapport with them during the hiring process their more likely to hire you over someone who just sent in an application and vanished.

[Volbet]

My first real job was at as an unskilled butcher at a slaughterhouse. It took me maybe two weeks of active job search to land that job. 

After that I basically traded jobs.

 

Once I graduated university I landed a job right away, since the place I worked at as a student helper hired me after I got my degree.

 

[Guest]

My first real job is my current one, took about 2-3 weeks to get from graduation. I've worked in hotels and as a gardener before, but those were casual employment, relatively easy to get, usually a response in the week or two. 

 

Here are a few tips

- Get what job you can, it probably wont revolve around your degree

- You will get entry pay anyway if you haven't got any experience

- Networking is essential for a real job (like in commerce, health etc)

[Mira Yurizaki]

The first job where I worked for a paycheck I got through my school's student-work program. The entity I was working for then hired me outright because technically I worked for the school rather than them. The first job that was relevant to the career I was aiming for I got basically right out of college because I had an internship with the company. Said internship was treated more like an extended job interview. I got the internship through one of the people I was with in a group project.

 

Everything else after that I attained, except one position I had, was basically because I knew someone who could get my foot in the door.

[RonnieOP]

Saw a help wanted sign. Walked in and talked to the manager and started two days later.

 

Its your first job...doesnt have to be your dream job. Having a good work history will help even if its not in the field you eventually want to go to.

 

My prep cook was working at a tire shop before he worked for me. His boss had nothing but good things to say about him, he had a great track record for not calling out and working hard. So i had no issue taking a risk and training him for a job hes never done before. 2 years later and I could easily see him eventually running his own restaurant.

 

Your young. Get some work experience and references worked on and then go from there.

 

Hell you might end up in a good paying job nowhere near the field you studied for and be happy. Never know.

[Riddler356]

first job, started applying to every opening in town i could find as soon as i was 16, all the way till just before 20 when my friend who worked at Burger King put in a good word and finally got one. a real PITA for me. But you shouldn't expect the same length I'm most likely just an anomaly. Just apply and even with a online application talk to the hiring manager in person and show interest which also puts your name in their mind while going through applications and give you a better chance than just applying. If you have any friends who didn't screw up at said job ask your friend to mention you or something.

[Anjelllo]

18 hours ago, Shammikit said:

So it been 1 year since graduation and I have worked at my dads office as a trainee for 6 months to get some experience, dont really want to call that as my first job because, hey I got taken in because its my dads company. I have included this experience, my degree, professional qualifications and other education details in my CV and posted to about 50 vacancies so far throughout last year and received zero responses. I believe I got some decent grades too in my studies, scored atleast 60-70% in every exam I have done. Is this situation 'normal'? Im depressed too for sacrificing soo much for studies, getting through them and receiving no benefits. Meanwhile some of my friends who barely made it through school are doing simple jobs with a rather good salary which sometimes made me think why I even bothered learning so hard. I got some personal goals too and at this rate I dont feel like Im getting anywhere. Looking forward to hearing your story on how you got through. Thanks 

Make some side projects and do things to buff your resume. I don’t know where you live but most people I know (In the US) that studied cs for a bachelors had offers before they graduated. R/cscareerquestions is very helpful 

[wasab]

My first job was like what? I don't even remember. Pretty sure it was working for a none profit. My 2nd job was working at a government office when I was 16. Got that job by applying on government websites. I thank the new York city government for providing paid summer jobs to youths. 

[wasab]

21 hours ago, Shammikit said:

So it been 1 year since graduation and I have worked at my dads office as a trainee for 6 months to get some experience, dont really want to call that as my first job because, hey I got taken in because its my dads company. 

What's wrong with that? Let's say you have a company and need to hire someone. You have a nephew who just graduated with a degree in the industry that this job position required. You know him since his childhood that he is a hardworking and bright lad. Wouldnt you just hire him instead of spending resources to interview, do background checks, qualification verifications, ect for total strangers who you do not know? 

[PlayStation 2]

Applied to the local Cracker Barrel as a seasonal part-time retail employee in in October 2018, was able to keep my job and am holding onto it for the time being as I'm truly uncertain as to what my future holds for me.

[Mr.Meerkat]

On 1/3/2020 at 10:46 AM, porina said:

I don't know if it is the same worldwide, but generally people start applying for new graduate jobs around the time they finish the degree.

I mean a country might have their students start job hunting at the end of their second year/mid-way through their third-year so for most, they already have a conditional job offer (either actually obtaining the degree or must achieving a specific classification)...

*glares at Japan* 

Wait, what? 

[Beef Boss]

I think what makes it harder for employers to hire you is that you don't have any work experience other than the internship. Having experience regardless of what it field it was in helps.

And working during high school is great experience for balancing life and work. So.