When I first started out in my job search, I found it very difficult to find offers. It took a long time for me to understand how the world of work operated, and I didn’t realize how to present myself. You don’t get a vast amount of time to make a first impression, especially when handing over your resume. One click glance is often all you’ll get before it’s either thrown in the bin or they’re on the phone to you. Let’s have a look at a few ways to make sure it’s the latter of those two options.

Improve Your Resume

The first thing you’re going to want to do after leaving education is to improve your resume. This is what will get you those interviews for the jobs you desire. If your resume is filled with grammatical errors and poorly-worded phrases, you won’t be getting very far. If you have to, seek help from a professional consultant. You could even get a template from a website like https://resumegenius.com. Once you’ve got that perfect template, you should find that your chances improve.

Seek Further Education

Let’s say for a minute that you’ve decided that you want to seek a psychology-based career. Maybe you want to be a counselor? Well, you’re not going to be able to walk into that job from day one. Instead, you’re going to need a degree, as explained at https://withmydegree.org. Plenty of professions are this way, so start thinking about what you can do to get ahead. Whether it’s a degree or a brief training course in your local area, further education will help you to get the dream jobs you desire.

Volunteer

Getting your first job is always the hardest one. It’s a vicious cycle: employers want you to have experience, but they aren’t willing to give you it in the first place! At this point, you have to do whatever you can to convince them that you’d be a good fit. A great way to do this is to volunteer. I know, I know, it’s unpaid work. That sucks, but it won’t be forever. By showing that you’re willing to go out of your way to do unpaid duties, it shows that you really care about what you’re doing.

Dress To Impress

Let’s jump ahead to the interview stages for a second. We’ve already mentioned how first impressions are everything, so don’t forget this! Look as professional and smart as you possibly can be for that first meeting. Also, don’t let these standards slip if you’re simply handing in your resume. Turning up in a hoodie and baggy jeans isn’t going to do you any favors.

Go The Extra Mile

In any way you can, you’ve got to be willing to go the extra mile. You’re competing with so many other people, and they’re all trying to get the best jobs. You have to stand out in the crowd, no matter how you do that. Call and reiterate your interest, ask to come in and volunteer or do anything else that might help your chances.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links.