What are you going to do this summer? Perhaps you are thinking about the summer sports you are going to take part in, or maybe the camps and workshops that you are going to attend. Or maybe this summer you have decided to take on your very first job. Having a job can be a great way to earn some extra spending money, learn new skills, and gain experience. But before you can get a job, however, you need a few things. Here is everything you need to do before getting your first job.
Create a Resume
The first thing that you need to do before getting your first job is to create a resume. A resume is a one-page document about yourself that lists your skills, accomplishments, education, and relevant experience for any job you are applying to. You should make sure to put your name and an email address on your resume, and then begin by listing previous work experience, followed by your relevant skills and accomplishments, then education, and finally any other final notes. Since you don’t have previous work experience, feel free to include information about your school accomplishments, like a great GPA or club involvement.
Make Yourself Presentable
The next thing that you need to do before getting your first job is to make yourself presentable for employers. You need to put forth an appearance as someone who is responsible and trustworthy, and that includes both your physical appearance and your online appearance. About half of employers will look at your social media accounts before hiring you. You should make sure you haven’t posted or been tagged in pictures that you wouldn’t want an employer to find. You need to protect your reputation online, once something is out there, it is out there forever.
Write a Cover Letter
The final thing that you will need to do before getting your first job is to write a cover letter to your potential future employer. Your cover letter is a brief letter you write directly to your hopeful employer about why you would be a good fit for the position. You want to make each cover letter specific to each specific employer. You should also try to stress information and details that aren’t in your resume, use this as an opportunity to share something special.
Getting your first job can feel scary, especially if you don’t know what you need to do before you can get one. But with the right help, getting your first job can be easy. Just make sure you have done these three things and you are ready to get hired.
Read this next: Crucial Financial Topics They Don’t Teach You in School