From University to Your First Job: How to Get Started

The First Step into Your Career

Are you already looking for an internship, a working student position or your first full-time job?

Starting your career can be exciting, but it can also come with plenty of questions. What really matters when applying for a job? Do I already need to know where I want to be in five years? And how do I figure out which company is the right fit for me?

Our HR team has put together a few tips to help you get started.

Your CV Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect, It Needs to Be Clear

Recruiters don’t spend ten minutes studying your CV at first. They want to quickly understand your experience and achievements. So make it easy for them.

Your CV should be well structured and clearly show what you have done so far. Alongside your studies and professional experience, you can also include part-time jobs, university projects, volunteering or other experiences if they highlight relevant skills.

And don’t worry if your CV doesn’t fill two pages yet. When you’re just starting your career, it’s not about the length of your CV, but about what you already bring to the table.

Apply Even If You Don’t Meet Every Requirement

You find a job posting and meet seven out of ten requirements? It can still be worth applying. Job descriptions often describe the ideal candidate. Especially for entry-level positions, your potential, motivation and willingness to learn can be just as important.

Prepare, but Don’t Memorise Your Answers

Of course, you should know which company you’re interviewing with and understand what the role is about. But you don’t need to memorise every number from the company website.

Instead, think about specific examples from your experience. When did you solve a problem as part of a team? When did you take responsibility? When did something not go according to plan, and what did you learn from it?

Examples like these usually say much more about you than a perfectly rehearsed standard answer.

Ask Questions. Really.

A job interview isn’t an exam where you’re the only one who needs to give the right answers. It’s also your opportunity to find out whether the role and the company are right for you.

Ask about the team, day-to-day work, development opportunities or what your first few months could look like. Questions about company culture and collaboration are also absolutely valid.

A good interview should ultimately help both sides answer one question: Is this the right fit?

Don’t Underestimate the Experience You Already Have

“I don’t have any real work experience yet” is something many students think. But chances are you’ve already learned more than you realise.

Group projects, presentations, part-time jobs, volunteering or university projects can all demonstrate your ability to organise, communicate, solve problems or take responsibility. What matters isn’t just where you learned something, but what you gained from the experience.

Your First Job Doesn’t Define Your Entire Career

You don’t need to know where you want to be in five or ten years when you’re just starting out. Career paths rarely go exactly according to plan. Interests change, new opportunities come up and sometimes you discover topics on the job that you didn’t even know you were interested in before.

Your first job is exactly that: your first step. Not a decision that determines the rest of your career.

Want More Insights? Listen to EmployPod

If you’d like to know what it’s like to work at Siemens Switzerland, check out the EmployPod podcast. Paula Thimet, Product Portfolio Manager Sustainability Solutions & Services, and David Gisler, Head of Talent Acquisition, share their experiences and give you a closer look at working at Siemens Switzerland.