Finding A Job After High School Is Like Shopping For A New Phone
High school students approaching graduation have two choices: enter the job market or go to college. Those who choose the latter then have another decision to make in four years: enter the job market or go to graduate school. Unless you’re a career student, ultimately you have to choose a career that not only pays the bills, but also brings a sense of self-worth and belonging with it.
Finding a job after high school can be stressful and confusing, especially since people, articles and websites often give conflicting advice. But, if you look at your job search in terms you understand, like smartphones, it may help ease this transition. Consider the following:
Find Your Starting Point
Before you start looking for a job, think about your personality and what kind of career suits you. There are many different types of jobs that are catered toward certain personality types. If you are a nurturer, for instance, your personality is generally kind, considerate, service-oriented and altruistic. So, some common careers to look at might include nursing, social work or teaching. If you need help finding a good culture fit,
This may seem like a wide range of careers, but it really gives you more choices that may suit your personality. In comparison, think about the two most popular types of smartphones, Android and Apple, and how many types of people prefer them for different reasons. Market research firm NPD Group reports that these two phone types account for 68 percent of all smartphones in the U.S. Put another way, think about your personality as a starting point in your career search just like you would start with a popular smartphone.
Do What You Can
Employment firm Adecco found in a 2012 survey that 60 percent of college graduates work in a field that has nothing to do with their degrees. Your first job after graduating may just be what you can find so you can pay your bills. This is pretty normal.
Think of it as your first smartphone. It probably is a basic phone that enables you to get on the Internet, scan QR codes, text and not have to carry around a separate music player. Your starter career is probably something like the smartphone, because it does what you need it to do and is accessible to you when you’re just starting out.
Climb the Ladder
Going back to our nurturer example, working as a certified nursing aid for three years right out of high school is adequate for a while. But, you may not be satisfied in the position for your entire career. Just like you don’t want to stay with your basic smartphone as everyone else passes you by with cool new features and updated hardware and software, you don’t want to stay at the first job you get.
If you are at this point in your career, think about what the next steps are. For example, consider becoming a registered nurse or think about opening your own business. This might require you to go to school (just like you would research a new phone) or to take a risk (like breaking your phone contract to change service providers), but it will be worth it in the long run.
No matter what type of career (or smartphone) you choose, consider what it is doing to help you accomplish your goals. Whether it is a stepping stone or your lifelong dream, choose one that fits your personality and fulfills its intended purpose. This way, you can enter the job market with confidence and pizzazz.