How to start your career

Are you stuck for career ideas? Or do you know what you want to do but don’t know how to get there? Here are our top tips for starting a career, so that you can begin on the right path.

To help you with how to start a career, we’ll explain why it’s good to:

• Keep an open mind
• Volunteer
• Make use of small talk
• Build up your contacts
• Learn the CV basics
• Find social media role models
• Become an expert in your interests
• Analyse your passions
• Try new things
• Ask for help

The thought of leaving university to start your career can be daunting. We get it. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how you’ll reach your goals when you’re starting from the beginning. Remember though that everyone starts somewhere.

We’re here to explain how to build a great career – whatever the industry or type of role.

Some of our tips are:

It’s OK if you don’t know what job to do. Lots of grads are unsure about which move to take next. Try to flip your uncertainty into a positive and think about the benefits of having an open mind.

Every career opportunity could lead you somewhere unexpected. The part-time job you take to build a holiday savings fund could start your dream career. Spending your Saturdays at the check-in desk at your local climbing wall might lead to you getting promoted to a full-time role which then kick-starts your career in admin. Alternatively, it might inspire you to get climbing and enter the sports industry. Every opportunity creates more opportunities, so embrace them.

It's hard to predict the direction your career will go but expect plenty of twists and turns. If you keep an open mind, you’re less likely to let chances pass you by.

Even if your heart is set on a particular career path, it’s still good to be open-minded. For example, if you want to work in marketing, you don’t have to work for a creative agency. Instead, you could become a marketing manager for a business in any sector. If you’re interested in a particular type of role, think outside of the box when it comes to the sector. Equally, if you’re desperate to be part of a particular industry, stay open-minded when it comes to individual positions.

Volunteering is a great way of gaining transferrable skills and discovering which aspects of work appeal to you.

Lots of local organisations offer exceptional opportunities. You’re not tied to an official role, but you’ll get the chance to prove yourself. If you show that you’re dedicated and a fast learner, you might get to expand your responsibilities and see more of the organisation.

Different charities will offer different opportunities. You could volunteer with animals, dress windows in a charity shop or support community events. With some organisations, you might gain exposure to their management and marketing departments. Whatever type of charity you volunteer for, you’ll learn key career skills that employers look for.

Your mission when mingling – find out about the other person’s career. Ask what they do, why they enjoy it and how they got there. You’ll discover careers you didn’t know existed.

While you don’t want your new friends to feel like you’re interviewing them, remember that people love talking about themselves. If you show genuine interest, they’ll happily share insights.

You’ll learn from what they say. Plus, you’ll make a good first impression.

You’ve probably heard the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. If you don’t know anyone in the industry you want to work in, it’s hard to hear. However, you don’t need ready-made connections to succeed. You can build up your contact list by networking.

Think about everyone you know who could help you reach your career goals. That includes those you’ll meet at university, career fairs, networking events, public lectures and even BBQs. Your family, friends and neighbours can all be great resources in your hunt for a career.

One secret to getting hired is sounding good on paper. If you write a compelling CV and an impressive cover letter, you’re off to a great start.

You’ll need to learn what employers are looking for and tailor each job application to suit the role.

For more help here, check out our graduate CV advice.

If a career idea hits you, look up people who already do the job and learn from them.

Networking doesn’t have to happen in person. Many professionals will welcome LinkedIn requests from students who want to see their posts.

Even if your role models don’t accept your requests, it’s worth viewing their public LinkedIn profiles to see how they’ve carved out their career path. While everyone’s journey is unique, it’s always useful to get an idea of how it’s possible to progress from one role to another.

Employers love passionate employees. Anyone can claim to be interested in something, but it’s tricky to prove. However, if you blog or make social media videos about your career interest, you can show your commitment to a potential employer.

Even if your content doesn’t relate to your career path, it still shows that you’re proactive.

Just remember that if you’re building up an online presence, you need to prepare for an employer to see it. So, don’t post anything that will scupper your chances of getting that dream job.

The things you love hold a lot of clues to your ideal career. Write down a list of your interests. Do you like debating, decorating or board games? Then, look for any patterns. Do all your passions involve strategy? Or do they require quick thinking? Perhaps, you thrive best with intricate problem-solving or maybe you enjoy fast-paced action. Whatever it is, it’ll help you narrow down careers that match those qualities.

Unsure what you’re good at? Visit our guide on how to recognise and develop your skills.

Once you’ve got an idea of what you like and where your skills lie, you’ll be in a better position for starting your career. You’ll be able to confidently tell potential employers why you’re the right person for the job.

Stuck on what you’d like to do and how your passions link? Check out our advice on how to choose a job you’ll love.

Sure, you’ve already got interests but what if you haven’t found your real passions yet?

Uni is the perfect time for self-discovery. Try out some activities you’ve never done before. So many societies offer interesting things. You might be surprised by what you enjoy.

Already graduated? Don’t worry. It’s never too late to learn something new. Life isn’t all about job hunting, so give yourself a break from applications to experiment with new interests. Look out for groups in your community, such as sports teams, choirs or craft clubs. You’ll meet new people, gain skills and get to know what you enjoy. If you can’t find anything local, explore online communities.

You don’t have to figure out how to start your career by yourself. There are so many people ready to help you including career advisers, lecturers and your loved ones.

An outside perspective can help you understand which career paths will suit you best. Sometimes the people around us are better at recognising our skills than we are. So, ask them for feedback on what you’re good at and their advice on what you should do next. You don’t have to do something just because other people think you should, but you might get some valuable perspectives.

And don’t forget to ask people for help during the job hunt. Tell people about the kinds of roles you’re looking for and they can let you know when they spot a relevant vacancy. If they work for a company you’re applying for, they might be able to give you a referral too. It’s always worth asking.

Starting a career can be scary. Where do you even begin? How do you build a great career from nothing? The key is to remember that everyone has to start somewhere.

If you follow our top tips on how to build a meaningful career, we’re confident that you’ll reach your work goals.

It’s important to keep an open mind as your dream job might be something you haven’t even considered. Be willing to try new things and analyse your passions to figure out what type of job you’d enjoy. If you become an expert in your interests, you’ll bring that knowledge to work with you – something employers will value.

Once you know what you want to do, make sure your CV and cover letter stand out. Always personalise it for each role. If you’ve got relevant volunteering experience to add, it’ll look even better!

Keep in mind that you don’t have to figure out how to start your career alone. Make use of small talk and build up your contact lists (in person and online). People will be happy to help you get to where you want to be, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Good luck!