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

Just graduated in a technical field? Then odds are you'll get several offers; technology is one of the few fields where employers come to you. Exactly why the pitfall isn't whether you find a job, but whether you pick the right one.

The amount on the contract feels like the main criterion, but differences between starter offers are usually small. What does make the difference after five years is what you've learned: the technician who got to work on everything and received training is worth more then than the one who did the same trick for five years for slightly more gross.

So ask concretely about onboarding in the interview: who will be your mentor, how long do you shadow, which trainings come with year one? An employer who is vague about it usually doesn't have any. And ask what you'll do independently after a year; the answer shows whether you'll grow or stand still.

Look at the technology itself too. A site with mixed old and new equipment sounds less sexy than a brand-new plant, but teaches you more: old installations force you to understand what happens under the hood. The breadth of your first years becomes the base of your whole career.

And remember: your first choice is not a life choice. In technology you can move easily after two to three years, certainly with a good foundation. So pick the best school you can find, and let salary be the second decider.