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Landing your first job after leaving high school

When you are new to the job market it can seem hard to land your first job, especially when lots of job ads seem to need experience even for junior roles. Here are some tips to help you land that all-important first job. 

Craft a professional resume



When you a going for a job against a lot of other applicants you need to have a resume that is visually appealing and helps draw the eye. You also want to keep your resume professional, so it's a good idea to try and avoid gimmicky tricks that can make you seem less professional. It can be a good idea to get someone who is experienced at looking at resumes (such as a hiring manager or resume writing service) to review your resume for readability and to offer some tips on how to make your resume pop to the person who is considering it. 

Emphasise your skills



Even if you haven't worked before you probably have some life experience that you can use to help show that you are a great potential hire. If you have worked in a volunteer capacity (such as umpiring sports games or helping out at the local animal shelter) you can show that you are able to keep to your commitments and turn up on time. You can also use your studies to show that you have developed skills in basic maths, reading and writing to show that you can follow written instructions and fill in paperwork for the job that you are applying for. 

Include references



In early career jobs, one of the most important aspects an employer will use in deciding the best person for the job is the attitude. Having a persevering, 'can-do' attitude can help to separate out similar candidates when you apply for jobs. It can be worth asking school teachers, church leaders or sports coaches to be personal references, especially if they can speak to the kind of attitude you have shown when faced with difficult circumstances. 

If you are looking to improve your resume so that you can land a first job, it can be a good idea to get help from our professional resume writing service. We can help to craft and polish your resume to perfection. 
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