Whether you are fresh out of college or jumping straight to working from high school, the job search can be daunting. As a young adult, transitioning to your first career from being a student is a huge leap for many.

Today, we’ll break down the steps to take when looking for your first adult job.

Step # 1 – Make a list of what you want to do

This is where you put to paper your dream of what you want to do. Realize that there may be several jobs that come before that dream.

For this step, you want to list out every type of job that interests you and aligns with your education. This step prepares you for the job search, which comes next.

Step #2 – Start searching for jobs

Now that you’ve got the list of jobs you are interested in, it’s time to start searching. Bizhired.com is a great source to get you started. Work on one type of job first, and take note of several things while reading through job descriptions:

• Keywords: you will start to notice that descriptions have similar or repeating keywords. You’ll want to save those keywords because they will be valuable to you when you’re putting your resume together.
• Requirements: job postings will have a list of requirements needed to apply for the position. Make a list of the requirements you have and the wording they use. Also, make a separate list of requirements you don’t have. You might realize that you aren’t ready for this particular career level yet, but this will help you make goals to work towards to take the next step in your career journey.
• Preferred Qualifications: these are “nice to have’s” but not required to apply for the position. Take note of these as well. Common preferred qualifications can also become tasks to complete to get you to the next level.

Continue doing this process for as many different positions and career fields you’ve listed.

Step #3 – Create your Resume

Now is the time to work on your resume! Keep your job search notes handy and refer back to them often.

Use the keywords in your resume to help make you stand out from the crowd. Focus on what requirements and qualifications you have that make you a great fit for the position.

If you are interested in more than one field, you will have to create more than one resume. Don’t get overwhelmed during this process! Work each step for each field, complete the process, and then move on as needed.

Step #4 – Apply

Now that you’ve found the job postings you want to apply for and have your resume completed, start applying! For many, this is the most nerve-wracking part.

However, don’t stress. You’ve done the steps and put a solid resume together. You have the requirements needed to do the job and are confident you can make it happen.

Here are some more things to keep in mind to help ease any jitters you have on transitioning into your FIRST career:

• According to a long-term study done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on baby boomers, the average person will have at least 11 jobs in their lifetime! Even though you are a different generation, we hope you feel at ease knowing this is just the first step to a long line of job opportunities in your future.
• This 2016 data crunch done on LinkedIn users states that the average graduate will have as many as 3 jobs within the first 5 years of graduation. Rest assured, landing your first job is just the tip of the iceberg.

Make sure you check out our article on job searching to learn more about sourcing job opportunities. And if you happen to land a phone interview (YAY YOU!), here’s our guide on how to prepare.