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11 (more) things you should do before you start your first job!
Freshly-minted graduate, eager to bag your first job? Here are a few things that you need to do.
Last week we ran this list of things you should do before you start your first job.
And you, our dear readers, added to the list.
With some of our own suggestions, we present to you ten (more) things you should be doing before you get your first job.
Let's get started, shall we?
1. Get yourself a work-worthy wardrobe
If you are in one of those industries where you can stroll in wearing a pair of Osho chappals, you probably have nothing to worry about.
If you aren't, you should urgently go shopping.
Get yourself a few pairs of formal trousers and some shirts.
And yes, don't forget a pair of Oxford shoes -- not only do they go with your everyday workwear, they also work wonderfully over a pair of jeans and a shirt.
Talking of shirts, think beyond the boring white shirt. Add some colour to your wardrobe. It won't do you harm.
Groom yourself. Just before you start, get yourself a haircut.
If you're a man, get into the habit of shaving regularly. Be presentable.
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2. Get organised
Completing your examinations is just one of the many hurdles you will have to cross before getting your first job.
Don't forget to collect your mark sheet and the degree certificate -- the latter, especially, is the only proof that you have indeed completed your education.
It might be a pain in the neck trying to get around the university system but ensure that you have these and all other relevant documents in hand and get their photocopies made.
For good measure, get a couple of sets attested too.
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3. Clean up your social media feeds
It isn't unusual for your prospective employer to check what you've been posting online. So it won't be such a bad idea to clean up your social media presence.
Before you protest about companies learning to respect personal opinions, let us tell you a harsh fact of life -- most don't.
Know that the moment they hire you, what you say on social media becomes their problem.
Willingly or unwillingly, you become a face of the company you work for.
As horrible as this sounds, it is unfortunately a fact.
Spend some time and clean up everything you think might be perceived as inappropriate.
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4. Prepare for your job interview
It isn't easy to make mistakes during a job interview, especially if it is your first.
There are a bunch of stock questions that are asked at most interviews. Prepare yourself to answer those questions.
Prepare extra to reply to the all-important one: "Tell us something about yourself!"
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5. Create a LinkedIn account
Grow beyond Facebook.
Create a LinkedIn account. Be as active there as you would be on Facebook.
Not only will it earn you a nod of approval from your seniors, but being on LinkedIn is also helpful for you!
Because it happens to be a great resource for information relevant to your job.
Which brings us to the next point...
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6. Read. Read indiscriminately
If you thought you were done with reading newspapers and magazines you couldn't be more wrong.
If you cannot keep yourself updated, you will be stagnated in your career sooner than you think.
Subscribe to a few national dailies and read them from end to end.
Know that this isn't remotely to please your employer as much as it is to keep yourself a step ahead.
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7. Prepare your CV well in advance (and not the night before you have to submit it)
And then reduce it to half its size.
No one likes to read epic CVs.
So write down everything you want to put in it and then edit it down to half the size.
That way you would have weeded out unnecessary information and your crisp, brand new CV will have only the absolute essential information.
Now how can that be a bad thing?
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8. Prepare yourself financially
Money is about to become the most important part of your life. So it makes sense to get everything related to it in order, is it not?
So start a public provident fund (PPF) account, get yourself a medical insurance and psyche yourself to save money starting right about now.
As unsexy as it sounds, this habit will hold you in good stead in the future.
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9. Make a list
Ok so this may sound cheesy but making a list will help you orient yourself towards your goals.
It will also help you work out where you see yourself five years from now.
Also know that the list isn't something written in stone.
It is just a pointer in the general direction you are heading.
Understand that most of it will (and must) change over time because you won't be the same person five years (or even one year) later.
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10. Be flexible
Life, as they say, is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans.
There is a good chance that you may never be able to achieve what you set out to at the beginning.
Know that it isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Learn to accept change. If you don't, it will be your loss and your loss alone.
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11. Be aware of your responsibilities
The regimented life of school and college is now behind you.
There are no more exam papers to be written.
No teachers and professors telling you what to and not to do.
You can no longer hold anyone responsible for what will happen to you from now on except you.
So you can either squander away all that you have trained for all these years or focus your energies into achieving something you will be proud of.
What will you choose?