Kick-Start Your Career With These SEVEN Tips

Are you stuck on ideas for what to do for your career? Or do you know what you want to do but don’t know how to get there? Here are seven tips to help you kick-start your career!

#1: Be Open Minded

Every career opportunity could lead you somewhere unexpected. What might seem like a way of marking time – say taking a receptionist job at your local climbing wall – might be the start of your dream career. Imagine it – a climbing instructor qualification, a friendship with a mountaineer, a trip to the Andes, filming a documentary, and finally a career as a movie director. You can expect plenty of twists and turns in your career path. If you keep an open mind, you’re less likely to let chances pass you by and kick-start your career!

#2: Volunteer Places

Volunteering helps you gain transferrable skills and discover which aspects of work appeal to you. Small, local organizations offer exceptional opportunities. You’re not tied to an official role. If you prove yourself to be dedicated and a fast learner you’ll get to expand your responsibilities and see more of the organization. While you might start off shaking a donation box or minding the charity shop, you could end up exploring your skills in management, marketing, and more.

#3: Small Talk Can Be Beneficial

Your mission when mingling – find out about the other person’s career. Ask what they do, why they enjoy it, and how they got there. You’ll discover careers you didn’t know existed.

People love talking about themselves! Your victims – ahem, conversation partners – will remember you as attentive and engaging. It’s a great first impression to make on a potential contact and kick-start your career.

#4: Contacts Are Key

As the old saying goes, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. That can be frustrating if you don’t fit neatly into the old boys’ club – but if you learn how to play the system you can still make good use of networking.

Start with the obvious – your university lecturers and professors. They can connect you with alumni who had similar skills and goals. Careers fairs, networking events, public lectures, and even family friends and neighbors are all great resources in your hunt for a career. Watch this video on how to build your network.

#5: Become A Cover Letter Expert

One secret to getting hired is sounding good on paper. If you can write a compelling CV and cover letter you’re off to a great start. You’ll need to learn the conventions and get plenty of practice. There’s information online, books to read, and CV clinics to help refine your drafts.

#6: Search For Role Models On Social Media

If a career idea hits you, find and some people who already do the job and follow them on Twitter. It’ll give you more of an insight into what they do and whether it might suit you. Once you’re sure it appeals, try replying to a few tweets. They’ll probably be happy to answer your questions.

#7: Start An Interests Blog

‘A real interest in X, Y or Z’ – it’s something employers are always looking for. And while anyone can claim that they’re fascinated by the development of programming languages, not many can point to their three years of blogging on the topic. Even if your blog doesn’t turn out to be directly relevant to your career path, it demonstrates that you’re enthusiastic and proactive.

Remember to keep your blog clean and not overly controversial. This is something an employer may read one day.