How to get your first job: a practical step-by-step guide

Work out what you are eligible for

Before you write a single word of your resume, spend an hour mapping what you already have. First jobs do not require paid work history. Coursework, volunteer roles, internships, freelance projects, and even personal projects all count as evidence of skill.

Look at entry-level job postings in your target field and note the requirements that appear in most of them. Those are the skills employers actually screen for. If you see the same tool or qualification listed in eight out of ten postings, that is a signal worth acting on.

• List every role you have held, paid or unpaid, in the last three years
• Note tools, software, and methods you used in each one
• Identify two or three job titles that match what you have done
• Check whether any roles require a work visa or specific location and filter those out early

Build a resume that works for entry-level roles

A first resume should be one page. Recruiters at large companies spend an average of six to ten seconds on an initial scan, so every line needs to earn its place.

Lead with a two-sentence summary that names your field and your strongest relevant skill. Follow it with education, then experience, then a short skills section. If your degree is recent, put education first. If you have more project or work experience than formal education, lead with experience.

Use numbers wherever you can. Instead of 'helped with social media', write 'scheduled and published 15 posts per week across three platforms, growing followers by 40% over six months'. Specific numbers make vague claims credible.

• Use a clean single-column layout with standard fonts such as Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10 to 12 points
• Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch so the document does not look cramped or sparse
• Save and send as a PDF unless the posting asks for a Word file
• Name the file FirstnameLastname-Resume.pdf, not Resume-final-v3.pdf

Write a cover letter that adds something new

A cover letter should not repeat your resume. It should answer one question: why do you want this specific role at this specific company, and what can you bring that the resume does not fully show.

Keep it to three short paragraphs. The first names the role and gives one concrete reason you want it. The second connects one or two of your experiences to a stated requirement in the posting. The third is a brief, confident close.

Here is a template you can adapt: 'I am applying for the [role] at [company] because [specific reason tied to the company's work]. In my [experience or project], I [did X, which produced Y result]. I would welcome the chance to bring that approach to your team.' That is enough. Do not pad it.

Find roles worth applying to

Job boards are a starting point, not a strategy. LinkedIn, Indeed, Seek (Australia), and Workopolis (Canada) all list entry-level roles, but so do company career pages, which often post openings before they reach the boards.

Set up daily email alerts on two or three boards using your target job title plus 'entry level' or 'junior'. Check them every morning and apply the same day when you find a strong match. Roles at well-known companies can receive hundreds of applications within 48 hours of posting.

Networking still matters at the entry level. Reach out to people in your target field on LinkedIn with a short, specific message: name who you are, mention one thing you admire about their work, and ask one question. Do not ask for a job in the first message.

• Apply to roles where you meet at least 60 to 70 percent of the listed requirements
• Prioritise companies that use structured hiring processes, as these tend to be fairer to candidates without long work histories
• Track every application in a spreadsheet: company, role, date applied, status, and next step

Use Break-In Bad to handle the application volume

Applying to enough roles while tailoring each one is the hardest part of a first job search. Break-In Bad is an AI job application agent that reads full job postings, checks your eligibility based on location, visa status, and experience level, and scores each role so you know where to focus your time.

Omar, the platform's AI assistant, can build your resume from scratch through a conversation of up to 20 questions, which you can answer by typing or speaking. She checks every line against what you told her and keeps your original wording. From there, she writes a tailored resume and cover letter for each role using facts you confirm, then applies directly on Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, and other employer sites, sending you a screenshot as proof. Replies from employers come into one inbox with interview alerts and day-before reminders. New accounts get 50 free credits to start.

Prepare for interviews before you get one

Most first-time candidates wait until they have an interview scheduled to start preparing. That leaves too little time. Start now so the practice is already done when the call comes.

Learn the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Write out three to five stories from your experience that you can adapt to common questions. Practice saying them out loud, not just in your head. Aim for answers that run 90 seconds to two minutes.

Research the company before every interview. Read their about page, their most recent news, and any reviews on Glassdoor or Seek. Prepare two or three questions to ask the interviewer. Asking nothing signals low interest.

1. Write three STAR stories from your experience and rehearse them until they feel natural
2. Research the company: mission, recent news, and the team you would join
3. Prepare questions to ask: about the team, the role's first 90 days, or how success is measured
4. Test your audio, video, and internet connection the day before any remote interview
5. Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview, referencing one specific thing you discussed

What to do when you hear nothing back

Silence is the most common response to job applications, especially at the entry level. It does not mean your application was bad. It often means the role was filled internally, the posting was old, or the volume of applications was too high for individual replies.

If you have applied to 20 or more roles over four weeks with no responses, review your resume against current postings and look for gaps. Ask someone in your target field to read your resume and give honest feedback. Consider whether your target roles are a realistic match for your current experience, or whether a stepping-stone role would get you there faster.

A stepping-stone role is a position one level below your goal that gives you the experience and references to move up within one to two years. Many people reach their target role faster by taking a realistic first step than by holding out for the ideal position.