Although it probably won’t seem like it at the time, the first job you land in Trinidad and Tobago could be the most important decision you make in your career. Obviously, we are referring to your first role in the professional marketplace after graduation. We are not talking about the part-time jobs you take in a café or bar while in college or as a teenager.
Why is the first job important in Trinidad and Tobago?
First and foremost, setting foot in the full-time workforce is a difficult transition. Besides that sometimes finding a job might be difficult, writing a resume without job experience could be challenging. In some cases, you might feel challenged when going through the process of getting a job in Trinidad
For most people, it means moving from carefree college days to a steady 35+ hour week with real responsibilities and targets. You’ll learn an incredible amount about what you need to do to enjoy a successful career, and hopefully, this knowledge will ensure you avoid complacency. Keep reading to discover 5 reasons why your first job experience could set the scene for the rest of your career.
1 – YOU COULD MEET IMPORTANT PEOPLE
In a way, your first job is kind of like a large networking seminar insofar as you have the opportunity to expand your professional network. During your first role, try to meet as many people as possible within the organization. Do your utmost to impress your manager and view the job as a tremendous opportunity for personal growth.
Of course, you should also treat colleagues with respect. For all you know, the person sitting next to you could become a manager one day. The more allies you have at work, the easier it is to gain important internal information regarding promotion opportunities or exciting projects. The people you meet in job #1 could become contacts for the rest of your career.
2 – The ability to make mistakes but learning from them
No one likes making mistakes but if you’re ever going to mess things up and ‘get away with it,’ it is at your first job. Use your ‘newbie’ status to ask questions and take chances. In many cases, you’ll learn a lot from your errors, but you’ll have less leeway later in your career.
You can iron out any flaws you have in your first job and use the knowledge and skills you gain to be a much better employee in your second role. Even if you begin your career away from the industry you desire, you should learn several new skills that impress future bosses. If you have already identified the next job you want, find out the skills you need and learn them.
3 – YOU CAN GAIN SALARY NEGOTIATION SKILLS
There are still far too many employees with no real idea of what they are ‘worth’ to an organization. Most people are too scared to bring up the topic of money because they’re afraid the company will reject their request out of hand. Use your first job to eliminate this fear and sharpen your negotiation skills. While you obviously don’t have a great deal of leverage as a new professional straight out of college, don’t be intimidated by the challenge; embrace it!
The worst thing a hiring manager can say is ‘no’, and more than a few will be secretly impressed that you have the wherewithal to ask. Look at your first salary as an investment in your career. The higher the salary, the more you can save and of course, the more you can earn at a later date. According to research conducted jointly by Temple University and George Mason University in America, employees that earned $50,000 a year but successfully negotiated a $55,000 salary earned $600,000 more over the course of their careers.
4 – YOU LEARN WHAT LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD IS LIKE
If you’re coming fresh out of college and have never worked in a corporate environment, your first job will quickly let you know what the workplace is all about. As well as dressing professionally, you learn responsibility both in terms of how to conduct yourself and also regarding meeting deadlines.
You will be subject to criticism, and unlike before, you can’t bury your head in the sand as you have to face colleagues and managers each day. While it is okay and understandable to get angry if your boss reads you the riot act, you have to maintain a professional attitude at all times; no sulking or shouting! You’ll encounter the kind of obstacles you’ve never faced before and must learn to take it all in your stride. Your first job will be very much a ‘sink or swim’ experience so get mentally prepared before you head into the real world.
5 – YOU DISCOVER IF YOU’RE ON THE RIGHT PATH
It isn’t easy to transition from lazy days in college or at home into a steady job where you work at least 5 days a week and 35+ hours. You’ll spend over one-third of your waking hours at work, so it is crucial that you enjoy what you do. In your first job, you can determine whether or not you like the industry you’re in.
There is a big difference between hating the company and the industry so if you don’t like your job, make sure you differentiate between the two. If it is merely the company, find a new job. Otherwise, it could be that you simply don’t like your industry. In that case, it is not too late to get out and find something you really like.
THE FIRST JOB, The IDEAL opportunity for you to learn
Your first job is an exciting time in your life, but it is also likely to fill you with nerves. Rather than seeing it as a chore, embrace it as an opportunity to learn what you want to do with your life. As well as meeting new professionals, enhancing your skills, learning not to fear salary talk and getting a taste of real life, your first job lets you know if you are heading in the right direction.
