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How to find a first job? This is a question you are probably asking yourself if you are about to enter the job market. Here are some useful tips on how to start your working life in the best possible way.

Refine your professional project

If it is normal that at the beginning of your studies you do not have a precise idea of the job you want to do later on, a few months before you start working, you should be able to know what you want and be able to explain it clearly to a recruiter. Normally, your project should have been refined throughout your studies, rethought or reinforced after a few periods of internships and if you are lucky enough to have benefited from specific professional integration support, as is the case at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ, you should know exactly where you stand.

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Find out about the market and identify companies that are recruiting

You could apply for a job at the drop of a hat, telling yourself that you will increase your chances of finding a job, but this is a rather random and time-consuming process. Instead, take the time to observe the market, to identify the most dynamic sectors of activity and the companies that are recruiting. Do not hesitate to contact recruiters, to ask your network or the alumni of your school to find out if there are any vacancies in their company or if they can put you in touch with other professionals.

Organising your job search

Finding a job is a job in itself, so get organised! Classify the job offers you are interested in in a table, note the different deadlines to come, the application deadlines, the follow-ups to be made, the type of contract offered (fixed-term, permanent...), etc. Do not get discouraged at the first possible failures and try to identify why you did not manage to hold the recruiter's attention. The latter sometimes agrees to give you feedback on your application to help you improve.

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Take care of your profile on professional social networks

When you respond to a published job offer or send an unsolicited application, a recruiter's first reflex will often be to consult your LinkedIn profile or to "google" you. Choose a photo that gives a serious image of you, detail the tasks you have carried out during each of your professional experiences, take care of your presentation, add elements relating to your personality without overdoing it and make recruiters want to know more about you. Beyond professional networks, it is your entire digital identity that could be scrutinised, so also consider checking the image you send out on other networks. Needless to say, certain photos from your student life or certain comments could be detrimental to your employability.

Personalise your applications

Every cover letter and CV you send should be tailored to your applications. Too many young graduates tend to apply without really personalising their application. Employers hate to read impersonal cover letters. So spend some time finding out about the hiring company, showing that you know who you are applying to. And let them know, in no uncertain terms, that you are the best candidate. If you want to get your first job, this sometimes tedious step is essential. Finally, you can sometimes fix the truth a little, by lying by omission for example, but do not cheat on your professional experience, you risk paying for it during the job interview.

Preparing for job interviews and making follow-ups

Find out all you can about the company inviting you to an interview, its activity, its current events, its competitors, its influence, etc. Insist on your interest in the company and on the opportunity for you to gain initial experience thanks to the position you are applying for. Be sure of yourself without being pretentious and you will then have all the chances on your side to get your first job. Do not hesitate to ask questions to your interviewer, especially about the rest of the recruitment process. After the interview, don't forget to thank the interviewer, including in writing, and to politely follow up if you don't get an answer.

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Making some concessions

A 2018 APEC barometer indicated that one in four young graduates did not have a first job that matched their qualifications or personal aspirations. Don't respond to just any job offer, but sometimes it's essential to be flexible. You may, for example, be working in a job that is not quite what you want but is in the sector you like. Or conversely, you can work in a job that suits you in a sector that is less attractive to you and work your way up until you find a job that is more in line with your aspirations. This is the very beginning of your career path, it's all about finding work first. So consider this first job as a possible stepping stone and keep an eye on recruitment for the functions and sectors that interest you.