Choosing your first technical job: what to look for as a starter

Just graduated in a technical field? Then chances are you'll receive multiple offers; technology is one of the few fields of study where employers come to you. Which is exactly why the pitfall is not whether you find a job, but whether you choose the right one.

Choose a school of learning, not a payslip

The amount on the contract feels like the most important criterion, but the differences between starter offers are usually small: a few hundred euros gross at most. What does make the difference after five years is what you learned: the technician who got to work on everything and received training is worth more by then than someone who did the same trick for five years for slightly more gross. You'll catch up on your starting salary later without effort; missed learning years you won't.

Ask the induction question concretely

Ask concretely about the induction: who becomes your mentor, how long do you shadow, which trainings belong to the first year, and who followed that track last year? An employer who is vague about it usually doesn't have one. Also ask what you will do independently after a year; the answer shows whether you grow there or stand still. And dare to ask what happened to the previous starter: did they stay, and why (not)?

Look at the technology itself

A site with mixed old and new equipment sounds less sexy than a brand-new factory, but teaches you more: old installations force you to understand what happens under the hood, new ones teach you tomorrow's systems. The combination is gold. Look at the breadth too: an environment with mechanics, electricity and automation together gives you a foundation in two years that a specialised site takes five for. The breadth of your first years becomes the base of your whole career.

Weigh the practical sides honestly too

Shifts, standby duty and commuting distance feel like details next to a nice offer, but they define your daily life. An hour of commuting every day weighs heavier than a hundred euros extra gross, and a shift system has to suit you, premiums or not. Be honest about that in the interview: better to decline an offer now than to start over after four months.

Your first choice is not a life choice

And remember: in technology you can move easily after two to three years, certainly with a good foundation. So choose the best school of learning you can find, let the salary be the second decider, and know that we are happy to help you with that second step too.