Complete Guide to Getting a Job and Keeping It

Quick Navigation:

If you are looking for a job, you can learn the best practices for each step in the process. You can choose a career or field, build the skills and experience to get a job in that industry and prepare to apply to jobs. This complete guide explains how to apply for jobs, prepare for interviews and get the job you want to keep.

Using the complete guide to getting a job

This complete guide to getting a job can help you focus your job search efforts. Some people choose a career path during grade school and follow that chosen career path until they land their first job. Others don’t find themselves particularly called to any specific roles and let their interests and abilities shape the career they choose. 

If you have a high school diploma, then you will have had a chance to learn a bit about a range of subjects. You can consider which classes you succeeded in and enjoyed, which working practices most suited your preferred style of learning and what type of job you see yourself doing. If you like working with your hands and being outdoors, then you can consider jobs with a more physically active role. Or, if you’ve always excelled at writing, there are many industries where you can use your skills, like publishing, advertising and marketing. 

If you have earned a college degree, your university may offer career services to alumni as well as current students. Or you can check if there are any career advice programs in your area that might be able to help you to identify your career path.

How to write your resume

Before you can apply for a job, you will need to create your resume by listing your skills and experience and showcasing your most relevant talents. Once you have your basic resume structure, you can start applying for jobs.

Here are the steps you can follow to get started with writing your resume:

1. First, include the facts on your resume

You can start with basic facts, listing your education and the dates you have attended that school. Include any extracurricular activities that you have participated in, especially if they include unique accomplishments and leadership roles.

2. Second, list work experience and relevant skills

If you have had any jobs or internships, then you should make the most of this section so you can show that you have experience outside of your education. Having previous work experience is important to demonstrate your employability. Resumes for those who have been in the workforce will list their employment record and the skills they developed in each role.

3. Third, consider qualifications from volunteer work

If you are applying for an entry-level role, you can consider the skills and experience you do have instead of job history. Think about tasks that you have done while volunteering. For example, if you volunteered at a charity fair, you most likely have customer-service skills and cash handling experience. Or if you have been on the organizing committee for your school dance, then you most likely have event planning experience, budget management skills and teamwork capabilities.

How to find a job you want to keep

You can follow these steps to search for jobs that interest you:

1. First, search online job posting for specific jobs that you want

Start by searching for the jobs you are most interested in and apply for those. These may be jobs that are the next level up from your existing role, or an entry-level job in your field after you finish a degree.

2. Second, search job descriptions for related keywords

You can keep a list of the keywords from the job descriptions that you like and use them to help you search for similar roles. Certain jobs will have different names in different industries and job titles can vary depending on the internal structure of an organization, so consider alternative names for the roles you want.

3. Third, search job postings in related fields

Make your search terms wide enough so that you won’t miss out on a relevant listing. Be sure to filter by elements such as location to narrow down the results to make your selection more manageable. 

4. Fourth, set up alerts for your job searches

Most job sites offer an alert service so you can receive an email update if a new listing appears based on your saved search terms. Getting an email with a job can be helpful when you are away from your computer, so you won’t miss a listing for the job you want.

How to apply for jobs

You can follow these steps to apply for the jobs you find in your search: 

1. First, make sure your resume matches the specific jobs you want to apply for

When you find a job that matches the qualifications you have, and the skills and experience they are looking for match yours, make sure your resume highlights the relevant qualifications. You should always adjust your resume to highlight the skills and experience that match the requirements mentioned in the job description. 

2. Second, write a customized cover letter

Write a cover letter that is a brief introduction of your interest and your unique skills or experience that relate to the job. Employers might only glance briefly at each application during the shortlisting process, so you want to make it easy for them to see that you have the qualifications and qualities that they are looking for.

3. Third, check the job posting for application instructions

Before you submit your application, check the job posting to see how the employer wants to receive your application and what you need to include. Most roles require a resume and cover letter, and some require additional documents like an application form or samples from your portfolio.

4. Fourth, notify your references

When you are preparing to submit your application, let your references know that you are applying for jobs in case employers contact them to ask about you and your qualifications. Notifying your references ahead of time is always important in order to give them a chance to prepare their response.

5. Fifth, keep applying for jobs

Recruitment processes can be time consuming. You will have a better chance of success if you apply to multiple jobs to find the best fit. Even if you receive a job offer, having other options could put you in a favorable position when it comes to negotiating your salary and benefits package.

6. Sixth, prepare for interviews

After you begin submitting applications, you can prepare responses for interview questions, and decide what you will wear to interviews.

Preparing for an interview

You can follow these steps to prepare for an interview:

1. First, research the company

If you are invited to an interview, you can conduct research about the company and the role you applied for. Use your research to understand the corporate culture. Explore the company’s website, particularly if they have details of expansion plans, new markets they are hoping to move into or plans to launch a new range of products. Demonstrating an interest in the business will show that you are committed to the role and understand how it contributes to the business’s goals and future plans. 

2. Second, prepare questions to ask the interviewer

Prepare a list of questions to ask at the end so that you aren’t left with a blank mind trying to come up with something. There are plenty of ideas online and industry-specific questions that can help you show that you have an understanding of the position.

3. Third, prepare examples to demonstrate your successes

 You may have sent out several versions of your resume, so check which one you used for the application and use the job description to prepare answers to standard interview questions. If the job description says that customer service is a key component of the role, think about the experience you have in that area and be prepared to talk about your relevant achievements. Similarly, if you can demonstrate proven results or specific evidence of a sought-after skill then be ready to showcase those during the interview.

4. Fourth, plan your transportation to the interview

Plan your route to the interview location and allow plenty of time in case of traffic, transportation delays and the possibility that you might get lost. It’s much better to have a few extra minutes before you go in than risk arriving late and flustered and creating the impression that you are poorly organized. 

5. Fifth, practice your best communication and interpersonal skills during the interview

Be polite and friendly to everyone, shake hands when you are introduced and smile, even if you are nervous. Always accept the offer of a drink, even if it’s only a glass of water, as you never know when you might want to take a sip while thinking about a question or want something in your hand to help calm your nerves.

Answer their questions honestly and with examples wherever you can. Don’t worry about being nervous as they will be expecting it, but do try to answer every question and ask if you can come back to one if you need a bit more time to think. Remember, they want to fill the position as much you want a job, so interview panels want to bring out the best in a candidate. If you need clarification, then ask and if you feel you might have gone off-topic during your answer, just admit it and ask them to repeat the question.

After the interview

After the interview, you can show your organizational skills by sending a brief follow-up, thanking them for their time. 

If the employer asks you to come in for a second interview or to meet the team, treat it the same as a first interview and prepare accordingly. You might not be meeting the same people, so you need to impress the panel just as much as you did the first time, and you want to build on the good impression you have already given by demonstrating the same professionalism and enthusiasm that encouraged them to bring you back in.

If you get a job offer, clarify the start date, salary and any other details such as working hours and benefits packages before confirming anything in writing. 

Many positions will have a probationary period during which your work will be under close scrutiny to determine whether you are a good fit for the role and the company. Be diligent about your duties: write things down if you are worried about forgetting them, ask questions and make a note of the answers and be proactive about learning more. If you have finished a task and your manager isn’t around, ask another team member if you can help with anything. You want to showcase your best qualities and position yourself as an asset to the business, so go the extra mile and show them that you are reliable.

Whatever your interests and however you want your career to progress, it’s a good idea to take any chances to learn and develop new skills that come your way and be proactive about seeking out the experiences you need to take you to the next level. From shadowing colleagues to volunteering your time, you can make your own opportunities if you focus on your goals.