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How To Choose Your First Job

Estimated reading time ~ 4 min
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At Jopwell, we think a lot about how people end up pursuing particular jobs or career paths. For me, I studied business in college, and the internship opportunities I landed early on tracked me to continue working on Wall Street upon graduation. That is, until I met Porter Braswell on the trading floor, and we decided to leave our finance jobs to start Jopwell, a platform connecting underrepresented ethnic minority professionals to career opportunities.

We’re all influenced by various people and circumstances in our lives, but that doesn’t necessarily make it easy to understand what opportunities are available or decide which to pursue. If the experiences of the Jopwell team are any indication, everyone brings unique paths, backgrounds, and perspectives to the workplace. Here, a few members of our squad share their own experiences navigating the job search fresh out of college and speak to why everyone should take their first gig as a learning experience.

Carlton

Carlton, supplier diversity partnerships

First job: Middle School Faculty Fellow at Wesleyan School

“Don't be afraid to take a job as a means to get experience. We’re sometimes so interested in finding the “perfect” job on day one that we forget about the value of giving ourselves the chance to learn what we do and don’t like. I chose my first job out of college based on certain skills and industries that I loved. Teaching at a middle school taught me that I liked communicating and presenting much more than I liked being in a school environment. That helped lead me to my next role at a health insurance company, where I discovered my interests in business and account management. Figuring out what roles and responsibilities you really don't like can be as valuable as understanding what you do like.”

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Maddy, product

First job: Consumer insights analyst at Warby Parker

Prioritize culture early on. When I walked into the Warby Parker office, I immediately felt like I could be myself. After meeting a few different employees, it was clear that I would be surrounded by people who would encourage and empower me to grow in ways that fit my character and career goals. That emphasis on culture has set the tone for my career. Take the time and energy to determine what types of people you like working with and what company cultures inspire you to do your best work.”

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Meg, account management

First job: Assistant manager at USA Hostels

Seek out opportunities that align with your values. And start early! College campuses are laboratories for professional exploration. I was able to participate in a multitude of opportunities that engaged my goals and interests, including: finding valuable mentorship, engaging internship experiences and participation in student organizations that enhanced my coursework. There are so many resources and programs at your fingertips. Narrow in on what makes you tick, then get involved. From my internships working closely with refugee resettlement in Southern California, I realized how much value working with mission-based companies with strong visions – ones that facilitate impactful connections and are directly focused on equalizing access to opportunity.”

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Tani, partnerships

First job: Account coordinator at Google

Give and take. When I graduated from college with no job lined up, I knew that I was interested in the tech industry, but I didn't know what that meant. I got my foot in the door as a coordinator and focused on shadowing and learning from people who had more experience. Take advantage of those opportunities to soak up knowledge, and then think of ways to reciprocate gratitude and assistance to those who assist you. A lot of students expect to receive help without spending much effort thinking about what they can do for others. Always strive to be known as someone who gives, because it's not who you know. It's who knows you.”

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Katie, content & communications

First job: Editorial assistant at Vanity Fair

“Be okay with a change of plans. We talk about career “paths,” but there’s rarely a single track to get to where you think you want to go. Toward the end of my internship at Vanity Fair the summer after my junior year of college, I filled in for an editorial associate who had just left to get his PhD. A few days of assisting the magazine’s longest-standing editor turned into many months, and I ended up taking off the fall semester of my senior year to stay on. That was an incredibly formative experience. Do something that’s a little quirky or out of the ordinary when you can. When you worry less about checking boxes and more about building relationships and gaining skills, great things can happen.”

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Shane, partnerships

First job: Wealth management analyst at UBS

“Take your job search seriously. Industries are complex, and there tend to be more opportunities than many new grads realize. In thinking about my skillset, strengths, and weaknesses, I ended up better positioned to precisely target the path I wanted to pursue. Do your research so you can pinpoint that ideal role for you. Procrastinate later – searching for a job is a full-time job.”

This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.

Images by Yemi Adewunmi

Jopwell helps America's leading companies connect with and recruit Black, Latinx, and Native American professionals and students at scale. Sign up to find your dream job.