Careers and Income
A Career is how you make your living. By choosing something that you enjoy and investing time into it, to make it viable as an income source, you have the opportunity to experience more of the world around you and live a more fulfilling life.
Getting Your First Job
You may have just turned 16 or been itching to get a job for a while but just wanted to wait until you were done with school. Whatever the circumstances understanding the steps you can take when you get your first job is very important when thinking about career pathways and income.
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This page will go over a few things to think about when getting your first job or looking for a new one end, in addition, will provide resources that help you set up the perfect resume and find the job that's right for you.
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The first thing you need to think about when getting a new job he's why you want the job in the first place. Is this going to be the main source of income for you that is going to kick off your career or is it just a job for you to make some extra cash? Once you figure out why you want a job you can begin to determine what type of job you want to get.
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So do yourself a favor take some time and brainstorm about why you want to get your first job once you have finished with that let's move on to the next step!
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Make A Resume
If you want a job you need a resume. I would bet in 99% of situations you are going to need a resume in order to get a position but what is a resume and what type of things should you put on it?
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The first thing you want on your resume is going to be your name and contact information. This information gives your prospective employer an opportunity to contact you if they find you an intriguing candidate. Next is going to be your previous work experience. Now, if this is your first job you may not have any previous work experience but that is okay you still want to do your best to fill up the section as it is vital to show that you have skills a company can utilize when hiring you for a position. Put previous volunteer work, positions in school leadership, or any extracurricular clubs and activities that you have participated in that have had a meaningful impact on your life. All of these examples are great things to put on a resume and will make you seem like a good hire.
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Additional things you can put on your resume are any skills you have or awards you may have received. Things like good at teamwork and communication or that you are a member of the National Honor Society and an Eagle Scout. These additions to your resume can be more appealing to a future employer.
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With this great resume, you may have gotten yourself in an interview! This comes with its own stresses and there are resources down below with great tips on making your way through an interview. The main thing I want to talk about though is knowing what you're worth. So, let's keep going
Know What You Are Worth
So what does it mean to know what you are worth and why is this important when getting your first job? While it may seem counterintuitive to ask for more money before you haven't even been hired this is actually a very valuable skill that you should carry with you for the rest of your life. Especially when applying for a second position, but even when you are getting your first job the easiest way to make more money is to ask for a raise before you're even hired.
Take the time to negotiate your pay. Have a set pay in mind when going into your interview, say ideally $15 an hour, and have parameters of how much you want to be paid, from $13-$15. Don't be afraid to hold your ground because in the end, whether or not you get hired, it is extremely important to value yourself. If you don't it is likely your employer will not either.
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I am not trying to say that you should ask for $20 an hour at your first fast-food job. I am also not trying to say that you should refuse a position that you need just because it isn't paying the amount that you would like. The purpose of knowing your worth is to build self-confidence in getting what you want. If you let yourself be pushed around when getting your first job and always let your employer set your wage without having a conversation it's possible you will never develop the ability to have conversations like this. Remember in financial literacy communication is key whether that be with your parent’s partner or employer talking about money is important to make you happier!
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So now that you understand what to do when you are looking for your first job, why it's important to have a resume, and how to Value yourself lats talk about where to start. Down below you will find resources on making your own resume looking for your first job and making your way through an interview. Good luck!
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