How to start your career from scratch in 2026? What should you do first and how not to burn out at the start? To find out and analyze your personal mistakes at the beginning of your career, we talked to experts!
Top HR managers and recruiters from the industry talked about the real start of a career in 2026. So, take notes!
Let’s imagine that you need to start your career from scratch right now. What should you do to get off to a successful start?
Hanna, HRD WWL, Head of Recruiting WWG
The first and most important step for me would be to choose a mentor. Consciously choose a person from a large company with a good background who:
- understands real processes, can teach the basics,
- takes you on as an assistant, and doesn’t just “give advice.”
Daria Kononova, Recruiter at Traffic Squad
If you are starting your journey in traffic arbitration from scratch today, the first thing you need to do is assess the market and understand what areas exist and how they work. Choose a vertical and traffic source that really resonates with you, rather than chasing the hype.
Next, dive into learning: basic principles, case studies, analyses, communities, and chats. But don’t drag it out: as soon as you have a basic understanding of the processes, you need to get started right away. In traffic arbitrage, progress doesn’t start with perfect theory, but with practice, tests, and initial failures.
Anna, HR Traffic Jet
Invest in knowledge! Take a basic course in HR or recruiting (or better yet, a combination of both) and start practicing right away. At the same time, build your HR brand: LinkedIn, case studies, opinions, observations. Knowledge without action doesn’t work.
Alina, Founder at MUUS Recruitment Agency
Learn a lot. The threshold for entering this market is getting higher every year, but people’s perceptions of affiliate marketing have not changed. At the same time, with the growth of the market, more opportunities for learning have appeared: new podcasts, communities, free and paid courses.
It is important not just to consume content, but to apply it immediately, i.e., after taking a lesson on LinkedIn, update your profile on the same day.
The advantage always lies with those who consciously invest in their own development rather than waiting to be taught.
Tetiana Bykova, founder of Bykova Recruitment Agency
First, analyze your strengths and understand what you like to do, what gives you pleasure. Next, research different professions and start looking for courses. Courses are the foundation without which it is practically impossible to start a new profession.
An alternative is to consult a career advisor if it is difficult to understand on your own what you like and which direction to move in.
Alona, Talent Acquisition Specialist
I would start not with a resume, but with market analysis. In arbitration, those who understand the market and adapt quickly win. Therefore, the first step is to see who companies are looking for the most, what skills are in short supply, and what roles are really needed by businesses right now.
Today’s career is not about “who I want to be” but about “what value I can bring.” Once you have the answer to this question, the path becomes much clearer.
What in your actual career path turned out to be completely unnecessary and a waste of time?
Hanna, HRD WWL, Head of Recruiting WWG
Globally, no company was useless; each one gave me experience. But what really took time and energy was:
- lack of focus on the operational tasks of my department;
- micromanagement instead of building a system;
- the desire to control everything instead of delegating.
Daria Kononova, Recruiter at Traffic Squad
What took the most time at the start of my career was the belief that education, courses, and continuous learning automatically equaled real work experience. Learning is important — it is the foundation that helps you orient yourself faster and avoid obvious mistakes.
But knowledge without practice does not turn into skills. Real experience only comes when you start doing, taking responsibility, and facing real tasks, not just theory.
Anna, HR Traffic Jet
Looking back.
I came to HR from a sales position, and at first, it was more of a hindrance than a help. As long as you compare yourself to your “previous version,” you slow down your growth in your new role.
Alina, Founder at MUUS Recruitment Agency
It’s hard to name anything that was completely useless, because even the least useful experience gave me an understanding of what I don’t want. But to be honest, one course for “IT recruiters” didn’t give me much new information — however, that certificate may have been an additional argument in my favor when applying for a job. So even that wasn’t a waste of time.
Tetiana Bykova, founder of Bykova Recruitment Agency
I started my career as a waitress while studying at university, and for seven years I worked in the restaurant industry, which somewhat delayed my transition to a new field.
During this time, I grew from a waitress to a manager and honed my communication and leadership skills, as well as my stress resistance.
This experience gave me a lot and shaped my approach, according to which any screw-up is not a mistake but an experience. It was with this background that I entered the recruiting field 10 years ago, and for almost 4 years now, I have been successfully building my recruiting agency, Bykova Recruitment Agency.
Alona, Talent Acquisition Specialist
At the beginning, I deliberately went into recruiting in another field to “get my feet wet” and gain a foundation, and only then move into arbitration. This gave me a foundation, but now I realize that if I had gone into the arbitration niche right away, I would have grown much faster.
Sometimes we choose the longer path to feel more confident. But the best growth starts where it’s a little scary, and that’s where you should go right away.
This industry is changing every day. And the best way to learn here is to work alongside those who are already achieving results. In arbitration, it’s not those who prepare for a long time who win, but those who learn quickly and act immediately.
What three skills or actions really open the door to your first job today, even without experience?
Hanna, HRD WWL, Head of Recruiting WWG
- Honesty and openness: speak directly about what you know and what you don’t know.
- Initiative
- The ability to plan and achieve results: set goals, break them down into steps, and execute.
Daria Kononova, Recruiter at Traffic Squad
Today, the door to your first job (even without experience) is opened not by a perfect resume, but by three things: flexibility to change, the ability to learn quickly on the job, and proactivity.
When a person doesn’t wait for instructions, but looks for solutions and takes the initiative themselves, it is immediately apparent and valued more than a formal background.
Anna, HR Traffic Jet
Of course:
- Adaptability.
- Responsibility.
- And the ability not to give up in the third stage of adaptation, when the rose-colored glasses come off and it gets tough. This is where most people drop out.
Alina, Founder at MUUS Recruitment Agency
- Create real case studies before your first job. Do a test project for yourself, analyze a real vacancy, and suggest how you would fill it. This is already a case study that you can show.
- The ability to highlight soft skills when hard skills are lacking. That’s how I got into the field; I had no idea what arbitration was. But clear cases from my previous experience showed the employer that my soft skills are my strength and a real resource for growth.
- Ability to adapt quickly. The field of affiliate marketing is constantly changing, and those who can respond flexibly to new challenges will survive here.
Tetiana Bykova, founder of Bykova Recruitment Agency
- Self-confidence
- Perseverance
- Developed soft skills
Alona, Talent Acquisition Specialist
First, the ability to learn and adapt quickly.
The industry is changing every day, so the ability to quickly absorb new information and immediately apply it in practice is especially valued.
Second is digital literacy. The ability to work with AI, spreadsheets, basic analytical tools, and online services is now a must-have in almost any role.
Third is proactivity and internal motivation. Candidates with “sparkling eyes,” good soft skills, who reach out on their own, ask questions, offer ideas, and are results-oriented always have a competitive advantage, even without experience.
What should a beginner candidate’s CV look like to get a job?
Hanna, HRD WWL, Head of Recruiting WWG
The first CV should be structured and practical, not “I’m great.” It should include:
- a clear list of hard skills;
- specific tasks that the candidate can guarantee to perform
- tools that they have already worked with or really know how to use.
Fewer general words, more benefits for the company.
Daria Kononova, Recruiter at Traffic Squad
A beginner’s first CV should not be about “who I am,” but about “what I already know and have done.” Minimum general descriptions about yourself and maximum specifics: practical experience (even educational or pet projects), what you studied, what you worked with, and what skills you have already applied in practice.
Even without commercial experience, it is important for an employer to see actions rather than theory.
Anna, HR Traffic Jet
Honestly.
No stolen screenshots, no made-up experience, no unnecessary noise. Better less — but to the point — than “beautiful” but untrue.
Alina, Founder at MUUS Recruitment Agency
A resume should be short, structured, and to the point, with an emphasis on real cases rather than abstract formulations. My team and I often share useful materials on Instagram. I recommend reading this post on the topic:
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
I have also created a detailed guide on how to write a resume for those who want to understand each element step by step — from structure to wording. You can get it by writing to us in Direct.
Tetiana Bykova, founder of Bykova Recruitment Agency
A resume must be error-free — this is a basic requirement. It is also important to clearly emphasize the position for which the candidate is applying so that the recruiter is immediately interested in the profile.
Alona, Talent Acquisition Specialist
Minimum “fluff,” maximum specifics: what you can do, what tools you use, what tasks you have already tried to solve, even in your studies or pet projects. And it is desirable to have a LinkedIn profile. In 2026, this is no longer an “extra,” but your public professional calling card, and recruiters often start their acquaintance with a candidate there.
What mistakes immediately “kill” a resume?
Hanna, HRD WWL, Head of Recruiting WWG
A CV that does not answer the main question: how will this person benefit the business? And also:
- a resume that is not tied to a specific vacancy
- a candidate who is a “jack of all trades”
- lack of information about: tools, real tasks, area of responsibility
- the phrase “everything is under NDA” without any description of the essence of the work
- constant job changes without any logic.
Daria Kononova, Recruiter at Traffic Squad
It’s simple: when the CV doesn’t match the job it was sent for.
Anna, HR Traffic Jet
Write it down and don’t do this:
- Fake experience
- General phrases without specifics
- Copying other people’s cases
- A resume that has nothing to do with the real person
Recruiters spot this very quickly.
Alina, Founder at MUUS Recruitment Agency
- Assessing your hard skills using diagrams, dots, etc. I don’t recommend doing this; it’s better to just list them.
- A CV that is not tailored to the vacancy. For example, you are applying for a media buyer position, but your header says “Front-end Developer.”
- Fictitious experience that you cannot confirm during an interview or while working.
Tetiana Bykova, founder of Bykova Recruitment Agency
Grammatical errors in the resume, a long resume of 5+ pages when a person makes 1 resume for 3+ professions at the same time.
Alona, Talent Acquisition Specialist
- Templates. Identical phrases without understanding who the candidate really is. Your resume should reflect your own path, not a typical template from the internet.
- Lack of specifics and results. Simply listing responsibilities does not give an idea of the level of expertise. For example, for a Media Buyer, it is important to indicate the geography, purchasing models, average spending, profit, ROI, approaches to launches, services and tools used, etc. It is also important to indicate the names of companies and clear periods of employment, if this is not under NDA.
- And inattention to detail: errors in the text, chaotic design, lack of structure.
As a beginner in 2026, how can I use AI to help my career rather than harm it?
Hanna, HRD WWL, Head of Recruiting WWG
The right approach is to use AI for structuring, analysis, and preparation, but to think, decide, and respond independently. AI should not replace the brain; it should enhance it.
Daria Kononova, Recruiter at Traffic Squad
In 2026, newbies should use AI as a tool for learning and preparation: to quickly understand topics, structure knowledge, and prepare for tasks and interviews. But not as a replacement for their own thinking, because AI should enhance skills, not replace them.
Anna, HR Traffic Jet
AI is an assistant. Use it for structure, ideas, and wording, but don’t give it your mind. When a candidate doesn’t understand what is written in their own CV, it’s an immediate minus.
Alina, Founder at MUUS Recruitment Agency
It’s important to remember that AI is just an additional reinforcement, not a replacement for your thoughts.
Use it to analyze vacancies and adapt resumes to specific positions, prepare for interviews (simulate questions), and generate ideas for projects. But don’t let AI write cover letters entirely — they turn out to be formulaic, and experienced recruiters see this immediately.
Tetiana Bykova, founder of Bykova Recruitment Agency
AI should be used as a tool: analyze the information it provides, rather than blindly copying it. It is important to draw your own conclusions and adapt the material to suit your needs.
Alona, Talent Acquisition Specialist
AI is not “do it for me,” but “help me do it faster.” I recommend using it for structure, analysis, and idea generation, but always add your own voice. Because when everyone uses AI, it’s not the text that has value, but the personality behind it.
The final decision and responsibility always lie with the person. And that is what distinguishes a strong specialist today.
It is also important to understand how the tools work, not just press a button.
What is the main mistake you see most often when starting a career, and how can it be avoided?
Hanna, HRD WWL, Head of Recruiting WWG
I have seen hundreds of times how people enter a niche knowing only one thing: “there is money here.” At the start, it is important to assess the complexity of the business, understand its scale, and honestly answer the question: do I want to develop in this field and devote maximum effort in the long run? Or is it just dollars in my head?
A career is not about quick money. It is a conscious choice, focus, and willingness to go through difficult stages, not just look at the result.
Daria Kononova, Recruiter at Traffic Squad
The main mistake at the start is waiting for the perfect job. At the beginning of your career, growth and tasks are more important than a fancy job title or a set of perks.
Anna, HR Traffic Jet
Expecting quick results without systematic work. A career is not a sprint. It is consistency, responsibility, and a willingness to go through different periods: from difficult and unclear to rewarding.
Alina, Founder at MUUS Recruitment Agency
Expecting the perfect first job. Your first job is your foundation. Even if it’s not the company you dreamed of, the experience you gain there will be your ticket to future opportunities. It’s better to start at a company with a good culture and opportunities for growth than to wait six months or a year for the “perfect” option and end up with no practical skills.
The main thing at the start is your growth as a professional. The faster you accumulate practical knowledge, the closer you will be to your dream team.
Tetiana Bykova, founder of Bykova Recruitment Agency
The most common mistake: when a person has not decided on a profession and applies for all vacancies in a row. In this case, there will usually be no result. To avoid this, it is important to clearly choose a direction and focus on it.
Alona, Talent Acquisition Specialist
Most often, beginners wait for the “perfect” first job: highly paid, with a high position, bonuses, and all kinds of “perks” from the company. But in reality, the first position is an entry point, the very “door” to the industry.
As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, I always advise: it is important to just get in, and then the speed of growth and opportunities depend only on you.