FIRST ROLE SETS TONE
A good early work experience can set you up for life, writes Lauren Ahwan
THE experience gained through your first job can influence the rest of your working life, with experts saying it is crucial to improving self-awareness and defining what you want from your career.
While it is beneficial to reflect on every work experience, SEEK resident psychologist Sabina Read says it is the first job that often provides the most insights.
“It is like a first love, really, and we remember it the most because it is such a big leap from not having any employment to actually having something – so there’s a huge amount of personal growth and learning,” Ms Read says.
“Often people will think, ‘That was just my first job, it doesn’t mean much’, but it’s an opportunity to reflect on what you did, what you liked, what conditions helped you to thrive and what you want to take with you to the next job.
“Even if your first job was a nightmare, you can look at what it was that didn’t work or that made you uncomfortable. Maybe you felt you had no autonomy – well, OK, that shows autonomy is important to you.”
Ms Read, whose first job was as a checkout operator at Target, says the early years of employment are often the most important in developing transferable skills, including punctuality, reliability, teamwork and communication. First jobs can also help workers define their likes and dislikes, as well as identify traits such as how they best communicate with others and what type of employment they prefer, whether customer-facing or back-of-office role or working solo instead of part of a team.
Workers that observe the learnings from these early experiences can then use them to “create a level of work satisfaction” in future roles, Ms Read says.
With workers now moving across multiple industries throughout their career, employment strategist Sue Parker suggests there are benefits in reflecting on their first role in each sector.
“The experiences and environments encountered in our first few jobs and careers can have an immeasurable impact on our future,” the founder of DARE Group Australia says.
“But this is not just something for the 18-year-olds. If you’re an experienced senior worker about to start out in your first management role then you can look at how you tend to lead your team (to determine your leadership skills and strengths).”
Given the importance of a first job, Parker advises young people to choose their initial employer wisely and avoid companies with high staff turnover or a reputation for bullying.