Here are the tips for landing your first job and forming good money habits

My dad taught me a lot of cool stuff like how to ride a purple banana bike and how to make a big dream.

He would say, “You have to dream of getting there.” He would prompt me to “find ‘I can’t’ instead of’ I can’t.”

His advice still guided me.

As a finance columnist and writer, I now have my own advice that can be offered as this year’s graduates enter the real world and job market.

Send a wide net. There is more entry-level job competition, according to data from the online work platform handshake. The number of applications per job increased by 30%. More than half of college graduates this year are pessimistic about their career development in the current economy.

Don't be distracted by noise. Focus on what you have to offer. Find jobs that can steadily build your skills and professional network and satisfy your curiosity.

Be a dreamer. Which companies or nonprofits are doing work that aligns with what you value? What kind of job will attract you?

Consider the fun, hobby, or exercise you like to do. These activities reveal what kind of careers excite you. In turn, they also reveal a skill that can be translated into the work you can do. Your enthusiasm for chess or tennis tells you what you are saying?

Saying sailing is your passion. Sailing involves the ability to make continuous decisions and solve problems, and if the weather shifts, the ability to make last-minute movements under pressure. This is a hint about you inspiring your excitement and can help you connect with the connections you want to find at work.

Consider the fun, hobby, or exercise you like to do. These activities reveal what kind of careers excite you. (Getty Creative) · Tim Platt by Getty Images

Build your network. Develop the habit of staying in touch with classmates and former colleagues who work in summer, internships, and every job that goes on the way. If you are in the same city, all it needs is quick attention, phone or coffee date. You never know when you can promote them through their job searches and vice versa.

Invest in yourself. Leave time and money to add certification and new skills. If you think of a work project to consider, ask if it can be played out in it. If you have a workplace training program, raise your hand. Attend industry conferences and connect with people in your field. Find a mentor or mentor to learn who can shape your career path.

Create your task statement. Executive Career Coach and “Author of “Beverly Jones, who thinks like an entrepreneur, is more likely to love your job than just a salary,” Beverly Jones told me. “Even a boring job can feel good if you have a good reason to do your job.”

Your task statement may change over time, but its purpose is to be a guardrail for making decisions about your work life. My Mission Statement: Inspire people to find happiness at work and create financial security.

Your statement should be 25 or less. Make it active. Use words like push, inspire, and lead.

Feedback. Go to your head and to the world. Doing something for someone else will always make you feel better, especially if job searching makes you feel anxious. Volunteering can open up network opportunities while enhancing your skills and adding new skills.

Take control of your financial life. The first step is to develop a budget that balances the paycheck after tax with expenses on rent, utilities, food, transportation and student loans. This will let you know how much money is left to spend on discretionary expenses.

Track your spending. (Please don't look at it.) This allows you to see where your money is and where you can pull it back. Try a budget tool to track spending and set up your budget.

My money is a free personal finance tool for Yahoo Finance. It provides a snapshot of your entire financial life, from your credit score to your monthly cash flow.

Save for retirement. While retirement savings may be low on your priority list right now, consider a way to save lives rather than retirement.

Take advantage of the employer's 401(k) or similar retirement plan. The sooner you start saving, the more money will increase and grow for you. At least, if possible, set aside enough eligibility to get the employer’s full matching fund.

Don't cash out when you switch jobs. You can put this money in an old employer’s plan, roll it into a new employer’s 401(k) plan, or roll it into a single retirement account (IRA). Don't lose track.

Read more: How much can you contribute to 401(k) in 2025?

Save and invest in retirement plans. The best way to motivate yourself to save is to imagine what you want to save - like a house, a car, or a trip.

Cut images from magazines or printed photos and tape them to the wall so you can see them regularly. Or, create a vision board on your computer to help you focus on your goals. These visual reminders can keep you focused on the “why” you saved. Delayed satisfaction is not something most of us work hard on.

Build your emergency fund. Most financial advisers recommend that you reserve six months of living expenses for emergencies. But if you can gradually increase the value of a year over time, do it. Money Market Mutual Funds or High Yield Savings Accounts are a smart, safe place to fix this money.

Read more: Four best (and worst) places to keep emergency funds

Any questions about retirement? Personal finance? Is there anything related to career? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon's notes.

Burren, Ireland - June 18, 2024: Moher's cliff is a sea cliff located on the southwest edge of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland. They ran about 14 kilometers
Moher's cliff is a sea cliff located on the southwest edge of the Burlon region in County Claire, Ireland. (Getty Creative) · WIRESTOCK via Getty Image

Explore the world. I'm not kidding when I say I want to include travel expenses in your budget. During my college summer, I went to a month-long trip to Europe.

I used the money I saved from my summer job and got my graduation check from my parents to buy my airline tickets and European passes.

The itinerary is accurate. I slept on the train, at the homes of my family and friends from Dublin to Paris to Venice, Cologne and London. I had a lot of cheese and bread.

I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower and sang with other world travelers, gathering on the steps of Montmatt in Saint Chapter. I stood quietly on a row of white crosses across the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial above Omaha Beach. I sat on the edge of the Moher cliff in Ireland, listening to the wave of the Atlantic crash.

That journey changed my 21-year-old self. It gives me confidence and miracle to the kindness of the world and strangers. It instills a love of exploring my comfort zone.

Read more: Best Travel Credit Cards in 2025

Your journey doesn't have to be a country trip. A weekend to a place you’ve never been before, and only a few hours from your base, it’s hard to squeeze into your budget.

You will learn about the new area, but I promise that this will also make you a more comprehensive, curious and understanding person, as well as potential new employees.

Return on investment: Priceless.

Kerry Hannon is a senior columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a professional and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the upcoming “Retirement Bites: X Gen X’s Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,“ “In control over 50: How to succeed in the new world of work” and “never be too old to get rich”. Follow her Brusky.

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