|
Positive thinking
Start your preparation for work now, by
developing a positive attitude to life. Be
willing to try out new ideas, maintain high
standards and pay attention to detail. Do more
than expected, treat other people fairly and be
optimistic about the future. Progress throughout
your career will depend largely on how you
develop these personal qualities.
Vacation and part-time work
Get work experience in your vacations, or by
working on a part-time basis. The experience
will stand you in good stead, as employers
prefer someone who has positive work experience
already. Don't wait for these jobs to be
advertised; write to employers and tell them why
you want to work for them. E.g. 'That you want
to make a career in design and would find a
vacation job working in their fabric printing
works both interesting and valuable experience'.
At the end of each job ask the person, for whom
you were working, to write you a short reference
- you may be embarrassed to ask, but will rarely
be refused. File your references for future use.
In your letter of application for your full-time
job, mention your vacation and part-time work
experience.
Leisure interests
Interests outside your studies are an
important element in presenting yourself in a
positive way. Since you have no previous
full-time work experience, this is one of the
yardsticks, which an employer has of judging
your initiative and your ability to get along
with people. Particularly valuable are those
activities in which you have some organising
function, or where you have to get along with
and work with others. Activities connected with
the following are particularly useful - sports
team, debating society, drama society, language
club, youth groups, voluntary service,
publishing a magazine, playing in an orchestra,
etc.
Starting now
Don't leave preparing for work until your
final year; start looking now. Obtain
literature, read books giving career advice,
find out who your local employers are. If you
are thinking of joining an organisation like the
police, the armed services, government
departments, etc., find out now the minimum
requirements, when new people are taken on and
whom you should contact locally.
Your filing system
Get a file for your job-hunting material.
This file will enable you to make use of
previous experience and learn from your
mistakes. Include the following:
 |
References
|
|
|
Personal History
File |
|
|
Advertisements
|
|
|
Strong/weak points
|
|
|
Copies of letters
|
|
|
Career objectives
|
|
|
Your five key
points |
|
|
CV/Resume
|
Your future career
You should think out your long term aims,
not only so that you can progress in the right
direction, but also as this is likely to be a
recurring question at job interviews throughout
your working life. However, you should always
stress that your primary objective is to do your
present work well.
|
