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Landing Your First Real Job

Earning an income is awesome, and not just because it puts money in your pocket. It also gives you a say in where you live and what you do—the perks of being an adult.

It doesn’t matter if you’re finishing school, leaving home, or leaving government care. Your first real job will give you a chance to see what your life could look like. These days, people rarely stay in one job their whole career, so you won’t end up doing the same job forever. But your first job is a gateway—it gives you a chance to learn what you like and what you’re good at while starting to build your resumé.

First things first

Before you start your work search, you should:

Not sure how to handle any of the items on this list? Enrol in a job and employment readiness program in the next section.

Job and employment programs

These programs will show you how and where to look for work and how to succeed once you’re hired:

Additional supports

Give yourself some time to explore the work search information available here on alis:

Create your own job

If you’re motivated and open to risk, you may want to be self-employed or an entrepreneur. As a young self-starter, you have access to lots of support and funding. The Lean Startup Challenges are an especially good way to check out whether your business idea will work.

Once you’ve found work

First off, congratulations! You’ve taken a big step. Now that you have a job, it’s important to get oriented and make a good impression.

To stay successful, keep these points in mind:

  • Your social life will change. You now need to commit your time to earning an income. You can’t drop everything for an invitation or stay out all night with friends if you’re due at work the next morning.
  • Look after yourself. Eat well, get enough sleep, and find healthy ways to relax. You’ll be able to face any challenges at work if you’re feeling good.
  • Mind your money. Just because you have an income now doesn’t meant you have to spend it all. Set some aside to pay off student debt or for a fund for travel or better housing. Discover more about learning managing your money.
  • Challenges are a chance to learn something new. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, you’re not alone. Ask for help and see if you can develop a new skill or accomplishment.

Landing a first job that you like and can learn from is a great start to building a successful career.

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