Congratulations you finally have your first job! You’ve made it in life. Wrong. There are many mistakes that people starting out on their first job make. They pay little attention to their budget and end up overspending.
Your first job should be like that moment you start a new relationship with that hottie you have been crushing on for months. Although you’re super excited, you should ease into it and take it slow at first. Of course, in the beginning, you will make a few minor mistakes, like underestimating the time it take to get to work and arriving late on the first day. Learn from all your mistakes and decide that you will put in your A game. If you do, you will never know what opportunities might present themselves.
So, to help you out, here is what you’ll need when you start your first job.
Good attitude in the workplace
As a junior, you’re starting at the bottom and you may feel like you know it all, but you don’t. You have to be like a sponge and try and absorb as much information about your job as you can. Take constructive criticism and use it to harness your skillsets. The more you learn, the more equipped you will be. Rome wasn’t built in a day, do not expect to know everything at once. Having a positive attitude will not only benefit you but those around you too. A negative attitude can get you fired in a heartbeat. Don’t bring your personal problems to work, that’s what you have your friends for. Be professional when at the office
Accommodation
Because you’re starting out, it may be hard to find affordable accommodation that is ideal. Sometimes accommodation can be really expensive in the city and it’s better to look in the urban areas. There are plenty of people that have turned their houses into communes. Find one where you can share with someone, which will make it cheaper for you. Research an area and find out if it will be convenient for you to commute every day to work and you’ll be able to get there on time.
Forget the size. Whether you are sharing with someone, or you have your own one bedroom apartment, size shouldn’t be a priority to you at this point in time. Rather focus on finding a place that will be within your budget. If it’s not, you may find yourself struggling to make ends meet. And instead of being the independent go-getter you set out to be, you may find yourself relying on your parents more than you actually want to.
Choose an apartment that is close to a shopping complex and you’re able to travel to and from work each day. If you take public transport, a place that is within close proximity to the station or the taxi rank is ideal. Otherwise, you may find yourself spending time walking around, which is very time-consuming. Put your safety first, make sure that the area is secure.
Vehicle
If you can afford to buy a car. Explore all markets for a vehicle you can afford, whether it’s a used car from Gauteng or a brand new one from the Limpopo. Make sure you are satisfied and will be able to pay all those installments.
Buy a secondhand car from a trusted family member or the dealership.
Choose a small car, so you can save on petrol. You’ll be driving to work every day and you need to save as much on petrol as possible.
Bring lunch to work
That mouth-watering hamburger and those tasty, crunchy fried chips might look good on the pamphlet but stay away. Advertisements are meant to entice your taste buds. It might seem like a good idea at the time, but if you’re in the middle of the month and find that you’re broke, you’re in trouble. Rather spoil yourself every now and again. Make sandwiches at home and this will save you money.
Bad credit
You finally qualify to open store accounts. It’s tempting to wear the latest sneakers and keep up with the trends. But if you have to find yourself dodging phone calls or setting a different ringtone for debt collectors, then you won’t have fun in your first year. In fact, it will be one extremely long year. If you are buying on credit you probably can’t afford those items. And if you have four or five accounts and your salary is low, you will get into debt. Bad credit might affect your chances of a future job.
When you’re starting out, it’s tempting to go crazy because you finally have the freedom that you’ve longed for and a salary to back it up. But you are still at a stage where you are earning enough to cut the umbilical cord from your parents, but not enough to live lavishly.