You invest to obtain a job that you want or to develop an idea in which you believe. Nothing simpler. But what does the first job represent for students or young graduates? Do you believe that it’s also an investment? Most likely, the response is in the affirmative. That’s why we need to have a discussion about the correct direction for investing upon which the future of the labor market, namely youth in college, can concentrate.

The principal thing that a young person allocates in his first job is time. As such, the interval of those 4, 6, 8, etc. hours spent every workday on the “labor market” needs to be productive, to achieve the duties in the time allocated, and to learn how to utilize and develop his principal aptitudes and skills—this “learning” process is an intelligent investment.

Between the ages of 18-25 your professional journey starts to take form; thus, to avoid diverse professional confusion it’s recommended to figure out before the end of this period in what direction you want to go, and your first job as well as your major in college represent two of the launching points in this sense. Thus, to assure yourself of the good investment you’re making, namely discovering, using, and developing your abilities, you need to keep in mind the following:

With the help of periods of practice, college disciplines, or implications in projects which your professors promote, you can have a good chance to discover with precision what fits your personality—perhaps you prefer a professional career full of dynamic activities, with a high level of complexity or, on the other hand, one that doesn’t ask much of you except enthusiasm.

The investment of time at work needs to give birth to certain expectations. Thus, for the first job it’s recommended for your expectations to be more connected to integration, familiarization with the organizational structure, the possibility to work in a team and to respect deadlines, and so on. Of course salary is also important, but in the first months of work or in the first year you need to make an effort and to try to orient yourself to obtain the best results you can in your work. The benefits will come in the course of your organizational evolution. Certainly, in most cases, your objectives will also gain a completely different complexity. Are you uncomfortable? Are you unsatisfied? Are you scared? That’s great! You hit yourself from the beginning with certain problems, but this helps you—through fixing them, you gain experience in managing undesired events. Thus you will develop the capacity to improvise in limited situations. Be happy that you have problems in the beginning of your career.

Integrating, familiarizing yourself with routine occupations, as well as identifying your own creative capacity, resolving problems, learning from your mistakes and acknowledging them, testing your limits, moving from one project to another, multitasking, and performing simple tasks that nonetheless require meticulous work are some of the situations upon which you will need to concentrate because they will ensure the consolidation and continual development of your potential in regards to your professional journey.