Make a move in the right direction. Get the right job first time

As with any new or unfamiliar activity, getting a job for the first time or after a long break can be a daunting prospect. It certainly gets better with practice, but is rarely an activity that comes easily or naturally to most people. Don't be surprised if you feel vulnerable and exposed - you are up for scrutiny and possible rejection. But, as with any difficult situation, once you identify the risks and problems you can minimise them.

Filling in the blanks

The initial stumbling block for first-timers is having no track record. Faced with a blank application form, the spaces for experience can look very large when you've nothing to put into them.

• If you have the choice, apply using a CV and covering letter. You can do more justice to yourself at this stage by concentrating on transferable skills and demonstrating how they can be applied to the job you're targeting.
  
  
• If you have to use a conventional form there's nothing to stop you using the space differently. Write a note in the experience sections explaining that this is an application for your first job, directing the reader to additional information you have enclosed that demonstrates your suitability for the post. It will show that you approach problems creatively.

Believing in yourself

Lack of self-confidence afflicts newcomers to the world of work and those returning after a break. It's easy to feel at a disadvantage when some of the terms used mean nothing to you or if you're worried that you haven't kept up with the latest technologies.

From the outside it can look as if everyone knows what they're doing and that what they're involved in is complicated and difficult to master. Once you get into an organisation you soon realise it's staffed by ordinary people doing things that are easy to learn.

Next page: moving forward

Many employers are open to the idea of a period of work shadowing. They understand the difficulties faced by those trying to enter or re-enter the labour market and are willing to help. A brief, unpaid period in the work environment you're trying to enter could do a lot for your confidence. There's nothing to lose by asking, and it's a good way of building new networks.

If things go wrong...

If your first job is not your ideal, see it as a training ground for better things to come. Just being in work makes you more confident about looking for other jobs. However, don't make the mistake of taking the first thing that comes along just to prove that someone wants you. If this experience is a bad one the negative effects can cause ripples for a long time.

Jobs that don't work out should be treated as a valuable learning experience. The early phases of a career are an experimental stage in your life. You can't know whether a job that involves shift work, lots of travel or mainly working on your own is right for you until you've tried it. Finding what does and doesn't suit you eliminates possibilities and brings you closer to finding the perfect match.