Tips for Landing Your First ID Job
I taught in international schools for ten years, first in Ecuador, then Hong Kong, then Atlanta. Recruitment fairs spread this idea that you had to start with a ‘hardship posting’, aka taking a contract in a less desirable (or less safe) situation before working your way up to a better long term fit. The mentality was to ‘just get your foot in the door’. The longer I stayed, the more network connections I developed, and my options exponentially increased over time.
The same applies for career transitions. The hardest job hunt will be the first. Once you have your first official ID role, it will only get easier each time you look for work.
The lesson for transitioning teachers is to broaden your job search.
Be open to interviewing with companies you have never heard of. I had honestly never heard of Capital Group before accepting their job offer, and I am so happy I made that choice. Look for local or regional businesses. Applying only at well-known groups like Microsoft or Uber will be an uphill battle because the candidate pool will be more competitive.
Also, consider starting off with an in-office or hybrid role because those will also have less competition. I was perfectly happy coming in two days a month for the foreseeable future.
A short term pay cut or entry level job to get your foot in the door also isn’t the end of the world. You can negotiate a raise, get promoted, or move to a higher-paying organization once you have some experience in the field. My first ID job was actually a slight step-down in base salary, although the bonuses made up for that. I know this isn’t feasible for everyone, so take stock of your finances and figure out what works for you.
Don’t limit your options by going for an unattainable role at the start of your ID journey; that’s setting yourself up for disappointment. I’m only comfortable sharing this advice because I practiced what I’m preaching.
