While landing your first job in high school or college can help you earn money in the short-term, it can also be a valuable opportunity to start shaping your future career path! If you have a dream job in mind for your future, you can start making it a reality through your first job. Here’s how to use your first job as a stepping stone to reach your dreams.

What’s the difference? Job vs. career

It’s important to understand the difference between a job and a career. At its core, a job is a role that you perform to get paid. Jobs usually help people meet more immediate financial needs. A career, on the other hand, is a long-term professional journey that involves a series of connected jobs, where one's skills, experiences, and interests align to create a path of advancement and fulfillment. While slightly different, jobs and careers are still very connected. There is no single perfect path or a guarantee of a “dream job,” but finding a career that excites you is an amazing place to start. If you want inspiration on what your dream job might be, check out these stories from professionals who have worked toward fulfilling their career dreams!

Exploring interests through first jobs

Your first job in high school or college can help you explore your potential career interests. The good news is that very few jobs or careers are forever. It’s common to change jobs many times over the course of your career as you follow your interests and advance professionally. Your first job, however, can provide you a glimpse into various industries, helping you identify what you enjoy and want to pursue further. A job at a fast food restaurant, for example, can help you decide whether you thrive in customer-facing roles, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, or have a knack for problem-solving during stressful situations.

Translating responsibilities into competencies

A crucial skill in using your first job to launch into your career is translating the everyday tasks you complete at work into professional competencies. A professional competency is more about the underlying skill or quality that it takes to complete a certain responsibility. For example, if you work as a customer service representative in a retail setting, your tasks might include stocking shelves, interacting with customers and helping them find what they need, and being a team player. These tasks translate into professional competencies such as communication skills, the ability to navigate challenging situations, and the ability to problem-solve and work on a team. As you progress through your job, be sure to write down the professional competencies you've gained and update your resume as you go!

Build your network

Building and maintaining a positive relationship with your supervisor and coworkers during your first job can help you in the future. These people can be added to your professional network and even provide references for future opportunities! 

If you're unsure about whether your first job has any connection to your future career path, that's okay! The relationships you've built and the skills you've gained still connect to most other jobs. For example, if you worked as an after-school tutor for young students in high school and are now pursuing an internship related to your engineering degree, your previous manager can speak to your work ethic, punctuality, and ability to handle responsibilities–all of which are important career skills!

Aligning college education with career interests

As you advance in your educational journey, it’s important to keep your career interests in mind. If your first job sparked an interest in marketing and social media, for example, you might consider majoring in business or marketing in college. This alignment enhances your knowledge and skill base, making you a more competitive candidate for internships, entry-level positions, and long-term career opportunities.

If you don’t know what your career interests are, that’s okay too! You can use your intro-level classes in college to do similar reflection. Additionally, counselors at your college’s career center can help you reflect on your interests and how they connect to your area of study and future career path. As you choose a major and begin brainstorming careers, lean on your passions, strengths, and curiosities!

Have any questions about landing a job? Text #Jobs to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!