Job & Career Readiness

By now, we all know some of the basic requirements for getting any type of job, but how much do we truly understand these concepts for applying and getting a job in today’s society? Today, we’ll be going over steps you need to undergo in order to gain a job.

Step 1: Education: Most, if not all jobs require you to have some level of education, which may vary depending on the job type. Some jobs may allow you to bypass those educational requirements depending on your experience, skill sets and capabilities, while others require high levels of education in order to qualify for the position. At the same time, some jobs (specifically minimum wage jobs) only require a high school diploma. Meaning that it would be easy for you to qualify for the position. Whatever the case may be you need some degree of education or certification for a job, before moving to the next process.

Step 2: Your Resume: Your resume is one of the most essential aspects when applying for a job, as it basically highlights your skill sets and capabilities to potential employers. Don’t have a resume? Then what are you waiting for? Stop by the career development center at C-102 to make one; open Monday through Friday from 9:30AM to 5:00PM. Worried about not having experience? You can start to sign up for Volunteer Opportunities in order to gain some experience working with people and show future employers that you are responsible and capable of working well in a team. Keep in mind that your resume is to be updated after every new job you get, or experience you have. You might have to cut out some things from a current resume as you grow in order to keep your skills up to date with future employers.

Step 3: Applying for jobs: This is one of the most stressful parts of trying to get a job. The job application process could have some unnecessary procedures you’d have to go through just to apply, and sometimes, you may never get that job. Employers/Recruiters may take too long to respond to your application and emails, letting your expectations die out, but once you get through this process, there lies another challenge. TIP: Be sure to take advantage of your access to the Handshake jobs board as a KCC student! Sign in here with your student email address and get started!

Step 4: Interview preparation: Congratulations! You’ve made it through the first three steps to take when trying to get a job/pursuing a career. Now comes the hard part. With the way society has been recently, people struggle to speak in front of loud audiences, or people in a high position. For this, I suggest you take a public speaking class in order to try resolving this issue.

On the day of the interview, be on time; as they say, first impression leaves the best impression. You wouldn’t want to seem like you always arrive late, so make sure you’re able to beat traffic or any bus delays. Dress appropriately; you have to be in an attire suitable for the position you are applying for; a job in a professional setting would require a more formal attire, and a job in a casual setting could accept a more casual/relaxed attire. Be confident, prepare responses for common questions, ask questions, wear a nice smile. You can also refer to a previous blog from last year to obtain more information about this aspect.

Step 5: Getting the job; when you get to this point, the feeling becomes sensational. It finally feels like all your hard work has been rewarded, and indeed it has, but be prepared for the responsibilities. This becomes part of your lifestyle. It’s not something you do for a week or a month and call it quits; you have to give it your all. Just keep working hard, and keep persevering.

That’s all I have on this folks. Hope this information helps. Good luck out there.

By: Carlson Nwawuru