How long should I stay at my first job?

In most cases, experts say a year to ensure you get the most out of the experience.
Your first “real” job—the one that goes beyond just a summer gig or an internship—can feel like the foundation of the rest of your career.

First jobs are great for learning about what it means to be an employee, says Lynda Spiegel of Rising Star Resumes in New York City. Not only can you grow more knowledgeable about the company and the position you hold, but also about workplace culture and how to conduct yourself professionally.

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How to Get Off on the Right Foot on Your First Job

Here are 10 common sense guidelines that can make their journey smoother and more rewarding

1. Realize the scoreboard is operating from day one. But don't expect to conquer the world in six months.. Hit the ground running toward specific goals. Master the fundamentals. Seek out responsibility, but never take on more than you can deliver in a first-class way.

2. Work, work, work and then work some more. No substitute, no short cut will replace work. Immerse yourself in your work. This means more than working diligently from eight to five. Take work home. Never miss a deadline and deliver what your boss orders, even though you may not agree with it.

3. Arrive early and stay late. Get to work 30 minutes before the specified starting time. Take this period, before the interruptions start, to get routine chores out of the way and organize your day's work. Often you will find your boss is in early, also. (That may have something to do with his being boss.) It's a great time to get better acquainted with him. Ask for that extra information and guidance you need.

Stay at least 15 to 30 minutes after the regular hours. Clean up your work place. Make a list of actions you will take the next day.

4. Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek help when you have gone as far as you can go on a project. You are not expected to know everything. Asking for help is a sign of strength and not a sign of weakness. Seeking assistance shows you are confident and focused on the job. Find a mentor who is willing to provide coaching and share experience. (This will not be difficult to do; most people like to be asked for advice.)

5. Learn how the machinery of the organization works. Absorb the folklore. The processes may be quite different from what you read in the training and policy manuals.

6. Don't join cliques or deal in office politics; leave the gossip to others. None of these is good for your career health.

7. Respect the hierarchy. The organization is bigger and stronger than you are; you can't change it in the beginning. The sooner you accept this fact, the better. You have a boss and the chain of command is real. ­ You are not likely to "make it" as a rebel.

8. Know the business of the business--its objectives; what it does, what it sells and what values it represents. Learn how your job fits into the overall picture.

9. Adapt to the environment. Observe the style of dress and be guided by it. Is business done in an informal manner or strictly by the rules? Is the primary mode of communications by memos and formal meetings or by face-to-face discussions and chance meetings in the hallways?

10. Be loyal to the organization. Loyalty to organizations may be declining, as some say, but it is still highly valued.

These guidelines do not guarantee a pot of gold, but one thing is certain: they raise the odds for success.

Should You Accept the First Offer?

Whether you've just been laid off, feel stuck in a dead-end job or your local economy is less than booming, it's often tempting to accept the very first job offer you receive.

But smart job seekers know that they must assess all their options before making such a decision.

Money Matters

If you're taking the first offer that comes along because you're in dire financial straits, chances are, it's not more money you need. Rather, it's a better money management strategy.

People who are more financially secure are less likely to feel pressured to accept their first job offer. Many financial experts suggest that a crucial part of financial security is having at least six months' salary in the bank. This will get you through tough times and prevent you from accepting a less-than-ideal offer.

First Offer or Last Offer?

What else prompts people to accept the first job offer they receive? Typically, it's fear. Nervous job seekers will often wonder, "What if nothing better comes along?"

If you're being afflicted by this fear, evaluate your job search efforts to date. Have you done everything possible to attract all potential opportunities? Are you contacting recruiters? Is your most current resume posted on Yahoo! HotJobs? Does everyone in your network know you're looking for a new opportunity?

To truly assess all of your options, make sure you're leaving no stone unturned in your search.

Don't Settle for Second Best

Some job seekers cringe at the thought of accepting the first job they're offered because they fear their dream job is still out there. "What if something better comes along?" they worry.

You can put these worries to rest by creating a "new opportunity checklist" at the beginning of each job search. What are your must-haves? What are you nice-to-haves? Weigh your first -- and every -- job offer against your checklist. What's there? What's missing? What additional information do you need to make an informed, intelligent decision?

Also, assess your post-interview mood. Did you leave feeling excited about the possibility of working at that particular company alongside

the people you met? If you're not feeling very enthusiastic, you might be settling. And, as a result, you might find yourself searching for yet another job sooner rather than later.

The Wisdom of Rejection

An often-overlooked benefit of evaluating and rejecting a job offer is that you can discover what's really important to you.

You might notice some of your nice-to-haves are actually must-haves. You may come to learn that you don't want to change industries. You could determine that you're interested in relocating to another part of the country.

Whatever your realizations, exploring your opportunities will give you the confidence to accept or reject your first job offer. And it is confidence -- not desperation -- that drives the best decisions.

Choosing your first job

The job market is a wide world of opportunities and challenges, ready and waiting for you to make your mark. The first thing is work out what you would like to do, based on your interests and skills. Make positive decisions, and don't take the first job that comes your way if it doesn't suit you.

Chop and change
Don't worry that you are committing yourself for life when you take a job. Those days are long gone. Always keep an open mind and look for potential career development opportunities.

To make a good career choice, you need:

• A clear understanding of yourself: skills, hopes, ambitions, personality and limitations
• A good understanding of the range of career routes available
• The ability to match your skills with the opportunities out there
• Awareness of your circumstances, including debt and family pressures

Accurate self-assessment is essential in creating a convincing CV, handling job applications and interviewing well.

It's all about the experience
Everyone needs to start somewhere, so don't expect to walk straight into a management role, no matter how good your qualifications. Be prepared to work your way up the ladder, and never miss the chance to chat to colleagues and learn from them about the different opportunities on offer.

If you're not having much luck getting into the role you want, work experience and temping are great ways to get your foot in the door. Work placements are respected by potential employers as they prove that you've got initiative, and both placements and temping are no-strings attached, so it's easy to move if something bigger and better comes up.

While you're on a short-term contract, have a nose around the organisation and see the bones behind various jobs. See if you can shadow other roles to see what they're about before you commit yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised. To find out what your potential future employers are looking for speak to your HR department to see the kind of boxes they aim to tick when CVs and applications come in.

Placements can often turn into full time jobs, so make the most of the opportunity to impress. Even if your contract isn't extended, they may remember you when a position becomes available in the future.

Once you've found an industry and company that appeals to you, start searching and applying for jobs immediately. If there is nothing available, it's always worth writing prospective letters to companies to see if there are any roles available that aren't currently advertised that would be suitable for someone with your skills.

Choosing your employer – there is a choice
There are various things that differentiate employers, and not just the industry they operate in. Number of employees, office culture, ownership, management structures and staff development are all key areas you should look into when deciding your ideal employer.

Everyone is different when it comes to the type of environment they'd like to work in, so decide your criteria and check out the companies that offer a good match.

When you're searching through job adverts, measure each against these points to give you an idea of what the company is like:

• Style: Who wrote the material and why? View this as the organisational equivalent of a CV. Does it capture your attention or come across as dull?
• Depth: How much detail are you being given? Do they mention specific goals you would be working towards or just give you an overall view of your responsibilities?
• Omissions: Is there anything about the company they don't tell you? Use the Internet to find out all you can about the organisation. They rarely tell the whole story in recruitment communications.
• Frequency: Regular jobs adverts from the same company often suggest high rates of staff turnover which could be a sign that it's one to avoid.

Keep your eyes open as you search for new jobs and never miss an opportunity to chat to friends and colleagues about possible openings. You never know what might turn up.