The Myth of the Perfect First Job

Welcome back to my LinkedIn newsletter where I share tips, ideas, and strategies to help you become more effective in business and life.

If we haven't been acquainted yet, I’m a professor of organizational and cross-cultural psychology, the author of?Global Dexterity ?and?Reach , and an HBR contributor and consultant.?I also work closely with coaches, trainers, consultants and teachers to certify them in my?Global Dexterity Method .

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I hope you enjoy today's newsletter?about a topic?I'm passionate about: Helping young professionals with early career success.

Everyone wants that perfect first job: the stepping-stone to your future… the job your parents can proudly boast about to friends and family.

But the perfect first job is a myth—and a dangerous one at that. The very idea of it makes many young professionals anxious —and, ironically, focused on the exact wrong things.

Your task as a young professional isn't to find the perfect job. It's to make the most of that imperfect first job you’ll inevitably find yourself in.

Here are my top three tips for making that happen.

1. Build your skills.?Even if you don’t love your first job, it can be an great opportunity to develop as a professional. Be a careful and thoughtful observer of what’s around you. Experiment. Step outside your comfort zone. Learn to speak up at meetings; to ask great questions; to receive and give feedback; to stay organized; and to make yourself a valued and helpful resource for solving problems on your team.

2. Build your brand.?Your brand is the impression you create: your reputation; your track record; what people can expect from working with you. And you can start building your brand this right out of the gate—even with very little experience, and even in a job you don't exactly love. For example, you'll notice that people will often mention an idea at a meeting—for additional research or data collection, for example - but no one necessarily raises their hand to do the extra work.

You can be that person. You can grab that opportunity to start building a reputation as a hard, reliable worker and key contributor to the team. You can even perhaps volunteer to report back results at the next meeting, showcasing your intellect and poise in front of a potentially influential set of people.

You don't need an advanced degree or decades of experience to start building a reputation. It's yours for the taking if you're willing to put in the work.

3. Build your network.?Here are a few tips for successful networking at your first job, even if it’s not the ideal one: Create a professional-style profile on LinkedIn that highlights your strengths and experiences, and where people can go to learn more about you—and to connect. Have lots of lunches, coffee dates, and drinks. Use these opportunities to meet people who interest you – to learn about their jobs and industries; how they got these jobs; and whether what they’re doing seems interesting to you.

And follow up: connect with them on LinkedIn. Send them a thank you note; ask them if they know other people you might meet with. You never know what someone might mention in an off-hand conversation that could spark your interest and lead you on the next path in your career journey.

In the end, your task isn't to love your first job; instead, it’s to gain valuable learning experiences and to develop yourself so you can make the best of the next exciting opportunities that will inevitably come your way.