Planning for the First Time Job as a Means to Get the Ideal Job

First off, my apologies for the length of time that I allowed to elapse between posts. As we all know, life happens and time got away from me. However, as my second semester has comes to a close, there have been som incredily value lessons learned that I would love to share.

The idea behind it all is planning.

Sure, everyone plans for something unless you are a 100% spontaneous individual. If so, I envy your ability to be so free and willing!  But for the vast majority of us, we are planners. Even if you don't think you are, you may be.

One thing we have been encourage to do as LIS students in Wayne State's program is to plan for the future in order to allow ourselves to know what is needed to be done in the present. Major concepts here include networking, job website monitoring, joining professional associations, volunteering, and interning.  While not professionally employed, I would like to add my two sense in here and say I totally agree.

However, there was a very valuable exercise/assignment I did this semester that I think provided even more insight. In order to get that dream job, you need to get that first job, e.g. the job you would be applying for right out of grad school, which is the one that will place your feet on the correct path leading towards your ideal job. I hadn't really thought about that previously because every other assignment was focused on the dream job!

Because of this, I started thinking a bit differently and started planning for what the first job would be. Let me tell you, it has made such a difference! Before, I felt a bit lost because any ideal job would have requires of several years experience with this or that and I wasn't sure how to go about getting those years of experience. Now, I have more of a direction! I looked at it as a mission statement for myself, which as both long term and short term goals, essentially.

If this is something you are struggling with, as well, then I urge you to do the same. Take that ideal job and strip it back to see what is the first job you would need. Then, simply go from there!

Anyway, I know this has been short, but I hope it has also been helpful.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday.