Getting that first “real” job — also known as an entry-level position — can be tougher than blocking lame advertisements on your MySpace pages.

To find a well-paying job of your liking, you need an action plan for yourself. It can be broken down into three manageable stages:

Deciding what kind of work you want to do

How to market yourself

Doing a targeted job hunt.

Stage 1

Do you aspire to be an astronaut or a rock star? Or maybe the creator of the next videogame sensation like DOOM? To realise your ambitions you need a starter job that would put you on the right track. Everyone has to start their career somewhere. So you should decide what exactly you want to do with your life.

If you can merge something you’re passionate about (for example, outer space, music, video gaming) with the work you end up doing, you get the best of both worlds. Check in with your school or college’s career guidance department for help on indentifying the possible occupations that might suit you.

Stage 2

Besides having a smart résumé, it can be of great use to have a transitional business card you can give out to people you meet during job-hunting. You should also clean up your online profiles so that employers who google you won’t be shocked by what they see.

Here are some ways to prepare for a successful job-hunt campaign.

Create good marketing material

Develop a résumé that highlights your achievements in school and extra-curricular activities (including volunteer work, part-time or summer jobs and others)

Get a transitional business card printed so you can give these out while networking with people face to face

Prepare for job interviews

Practise answers to the most commonly asked interview questions

Put together responses to the difficult questions you might be asked

Get a clue about salaries and benefits before you negotiate the job offer.

Stage 3

Just about anyone can find a lousy job fast. But if you want one that pays alright, has growth prospects and is challenging, is with a recognised employer and doesn’t require a two-hour commute each way, you have to focus your job search and hunker down. Good Luck!