Welcome to Tips from FirstJobs
Here we’ll keep you apprised of lessons learned on the job and give you helpful hints and tips to keep in mind as you are looking for your first job, applying, and interviewing! Being prepared is the best advice we can give you, and here you’ll find everything you need to be just that.
A Social Media Internship Could Jumpstart Your Career
07/20/2010
Is your Facebook page overflowing with Mafia Wars and Farmville updates? Do you tweet so often you make Demi and Ashton seem shy in comparison? If so, you just might be ready to apply for a social media internship!
Employers in every industry — restaurants, media companies, hospitals, retail stores and others—are offering paid and unpaid internships to bright, enthusiastic, young candidates who understand social networking the way fish understand water. If you’re interested in pursuing an internship opportunity in this evolving field, here are some helpful hints.
- Be creative in your search. There are a staggering number of internships nationwide involving social media responsibilities, but there’s very little standardization in job descriptions. Try searching for variations of "Viral Marketing Intern", "Social Media Intern", "New Media Intern", "Marketing Manager Intern", "Digital Media Intern", "Public Relations Intern", "Marketing/Media Intern", or "Online Marketing Intern."
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Cast a wide net. The major job sites like Monster.com or CareerBuilder list internship opportunities, but other sites like InternshipPrograms.com and InternshipFinder.com have a tighter focus and can be more helpful. Don’t assume that all openings are listed on the search engines, either. Big corporations (think NBC, Walmart, General Electric) often list internship spots on the career section of their websites, and career centers at local colleges or universities can provide good leads as well.
- Not finding any online postings for internships in your hometown? Sometimes the best opportunity is the one you make yourself. Look for local organizations that would benefit from more exposure online, like restaurants, boutiques, and local non-profits or charities. Offer to help them with online promotions (and here’s the important part) for free. In this economy, everyone likes to get something for nothing. After your online skills have boosted sales at a few local businesses, you’ll have a growing reputation and a track record of success. Isn’t that worth more than the $7/hr you’d get from lifeguarding?
A social media internship can be the perfect opportunity to learn about an industry, and will help you build new marketing and communications skills. If you play your cards right, it can even be the launching point for an exciting career.
Balancing School and Work: A Guide to Time Management
07/07/2010
Juggling school, homework, chores, extracurricular activities, time with your friends and a first job can be quite the challenge. One of the best things about having a full schedule is that you are forced to learn crucial time management skills, and by learning these skills early you will be able to manage your time now and in the future at college and your next job.
Even though it is impossible to have more than 24 hours in a day, for those who know how to use their time wisely, it will seem as though they have added hours to their day. Follow the tips below and you may find yourself accomplishing more in less time!
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A Teenager’s Guide for Filling Out a First Job Application
06/15/2010
The job market for teens this summer doesn’t look great. But that doesn’t mean finding a first job this summer is impossible. One of the best ways to increase your chance of getting your first job is to increase the number of places you are applying—and that means filling out lots of applications.
The hiring managers at most entry level jobs use a standard application as a screening method to decide which candidates to interview. The good news is that most of these applications are similar. Some companies, particularly large chains, have started using computer terminals to collect applications, but many businesses still ask interested candidates to fill out paper forms.
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10 Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Your Job Search: High School Edition
06/09/2010
Before you even consider starting your job search, you should ask yourself the follow questions:
1. How much do I want to work?
Think about how long and how many hours you want to work. Three months during the summer? Or do you want to continue working during the school year?
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You Got the Job, Now Don’t Get Fired!
05/26/2010
You took our advice throughout the interview process and landed your first job! Congratulations!
Now that you have the job it is important to make it through the probation period. Even if your new job does not have an official probation period, your employer will be evaluating you closely in your first few months on the job and too many mistakes could cost you. But don’t fear! Follow the steps below and you will be on your way to wowing your first boss!
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Started Your Own Business? Time To Figure Out if You Owe Taxes!
05/19/2010
As we told you in our last post, starting your own business is a great way to make money doing something you enjoy and are good at. Check out some of the things these teens have done! One of the biggest responsibilities in running your own business is to pay taxes if you owe them. As a part of your research, look into the laws in your state that apply to teens who are self-employed or considered household employees.
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Can’t Find a Job? Create Your Own!
05/07/2010
Summer is right around the corner and if you have been striking out with the traditional paths to summer employment, maybe it’s time to get creative and start your own business! Starting your own lawn mowing, babysitting, dog walking, tutoring, or car washing service will allow you to do something that you are good at and enjoy while also learning valuable skills.
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Career Advisor Says: Words to Never Use in Your Resume
04/28/2010
Career advisor Liz Ryan was on “The Early Show on Saturday Morning” this past weekend with advice on how to make your resume stand out. Although her advice was directed at all job seekers, the advice is especially helpful for those of you who are looking for your first job and writing your first resume.
When writing a resume it is easy to throw in popular catch phrases or terms like “team player” or “strong work ethic.” But the problem with these phrases is that everyone else is also including them on their resume, preventing you from standing out!
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Perfect Jobs for Outgoing Teenagers
04/21/2010
In our last post, we offered suggestions for shy teenagers looking for their first job, but what if you are the opposite of shy? What if you would much rather be the center of attention and interact with different kinds of people? Well good news! We have just the jobs for you!
Server: As I’m sure you know from eating out, when you have a friendly server, you have a more enjoyable dining experience. By landing your first job as a server you will be able to use your outgoing personality to interact with customers while learning valuable skills about promptness, service and hospitality, and the importance of taking pride in your work.
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Perfect Jobs for Shy Teenagers
04/06/2010
So you don’t have the most outgoing personality and the thought of getting a first job this summer working directly with customers, making sales calls, taking people’s orders, or standing at a cash register has you wishing summer would never come. But we have some great news for you! There are plenty of first jobs that are perfect for those of you who are just a little quieter and more reserved than your outgoing peers.
If working primarily with customers isn’t high on your list of ideal assignments, here are your best bets for a first job:
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