College Students
Great Impression after the Interview: Writing a Thank You Note
01/03/2010
After you’ve made it through the interview and impressed your potential employer in person, the next step is to write a thank you note to your interviewer- preferably within 24 hours. The letter should be short and succinct, no more than three paragraphs.
While you are still at your interview, make sure to get the full name and email address of anyone who interviews you. Asking the person for their business card will be the easiest way to do this. If you forget to ask for the contact information while at the interview, your main contact for setting up the interview should be able to provide you with the information.
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How to Dress for Success
01/06/2010
Often the most stressful part of preparation for your job interview is determining what to wear. Your interviewer will likely base their first impression of you by what you are wearing and how you carry yourself. So remember, you are marketing a product – yourself – to a potential employer. Looking your best is the key to success.
When in doubt, dress conservatively. However, you should try to do a bit of investigating into your prospective employers’ dress code, so that what you wear to the interview will make you appear like you fit into the organization. (The best way to determine the employer’s dress code is by giving their Human Resources department a call and asking what they suggest.)
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To Accept or Not to Accept: Evaluating a Job Offer
01/06/2010
After putting so much effort into applying and interviewing for many jobs, you might think the most important part is over once you receive a job offer. But in reality, the decision to accept or decline a job offer is the most important decision you will make. The job that you are about to take could be yours for a long time to come and you need to make sure that it is the right one for you.
What makes a job “right for you” will vary from person to person. For some the most important factor will be salary and benefits, for others it will be the company culture or even the length of the commute. You may be able to negotiate something like salary, but the company culture, coworkers and boss are factors that can’t be negotiated.
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Mastering the Telephone Interview
01/07/2010
Sometimes an employer will choose to prescreen applicants by holding phone interviews in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will move on to in person interviews.
Even though you will be talking on the phone, you should prepare for phone interviews just as you would for an in person interview: compile a list of your strengths and weakness and prepare answers to typical interview questions.
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Jobs to Tweet About
01/08/2010
Among the social media sites, Twitter is a great new tool to help in your job search. Twitter is up-to-the-minute, useful, and unmatched in current social media. Here are a few tips to make Twitter work for you in you job hunt.
Be Careful With Your Username: When setting up your Twitter account, use your name like “JohnSmith” or “SSnyder.” Don’t name yourself “Dinosaur77” or “SuperHotDude5.” It won’t impress a future employer and will make it difficult for people to find you and your Twitter feed.
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Find Your Next Job Using Social Media
01/11/2010
Searching the Internet isn’t a new concept in job hunting, but social media is. It’s easier than ever before to search for exactly the job you want, just by utilizing social media.
Look Around: There are many social media opportunities for finding a job and using more than one in your job hunt is definitely a good idea. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Craig’s List offer a whole new mechanism for looking for your first job, both on the local and national level. As far as the web goes, don't discount blogs either, especially local ones, which not only offer great tips for getting your first job (like this site) but may also serve as a message board for new job opportunities in your town.
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A Guide to Creative Résumés
02/02/2010
In the current employment environment candidates are always looking for new and unique ways to stand out amongst the competition. Remember Elle Woods and her pink scented résumé in Legally Blonde? Printing on colored paper may not be the exact approach to take, but if you have talents in web or graphic design or another artistic field, a résumé that employs a creative use of multimedia design could certainly help. Employers in the industries of advertising, web design, or graphic design often seek candidates that have superior design skills and the ability to think outside the box.
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Before They Were In Super Bowl XLIV
02/05/2010
This Sunday the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will meet in Miami, Florida for Super Bowl XLIV. Lots of kids dream of growing up to be professional athletes and playing in championship game, but every year only a select few reach the pinnacle of football. Hard work, talent, and team work all played a role in getting these two teams to this game. It’s easy to see professional athletes as gods on a field, born with talent and set for life, but those athletes all started somewhere. Most had first job experiences that taught them some of the values that are central to team success.
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20 Questions: Things to Ask (and NOT Ask) During an Interview
02/09/2010
Going into a job interview you know the interviewer will be asking you plenty of questions, but it is just as important to ask questions of your potential employer. Remember that an interview is a two-way-street; you are not just there to answer their questions but also to find out if the company and position will be a good fit for you. Asking questions will not only help you later decide if you will accept a job offer, but also will show the interviewer you are interested in the position and the company.
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How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter
02/16/2010
Using a cover letter is important when applying for a job. A lot of young applicants believe that cover letters are only for those applying to high level positions, but they are also important when applying for a first job. Cover letters go beyond what your resume conveys, by providing prospective employers with a greater knowledge of who you are and why you will fit well within their organization. Writing a cover letter may seem like a burdensome extra step, but if you follow this simple template it should actually be fairly easy to write. After all, you’re already an expert on yourself!
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Perks and Benefits at Your First Job
02/23/2010
When selecting your first job, you may be willing to do literally anything to get your foot in the door. But this doesn’t mean that your first job will be without perks and benefits. In fact, sometimes a job can offer exactly what you need to balance work, life, and school—the same applies for internships. Benefits aren’t limited to health care and vacation days; benefits can range from free coffee to monthly massages and vary widely depending on the type of job. Just remember, sometimes you have to ask what those benefits are!
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Mastering Different Types of Interviews
03/02/2010
When interviewing for a job, it is very likely that you will go through a series of interviews all designed to narrow the field of candidates. The style and format of your interview will likely vary slightly and the quicker you are able to identify what kind of interview you are in, the better prepared you will be to impress the interviewer(s).
Interviews fall into four basic categories: the screening interview, the selection interview, the group interview and the panel interview. Below you will find out what to expect and how to master each type of interview.
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Using LinkedIn to Find Your First Job
03/10/2010
Founded in 2002, LinkedIn with more than 55 million registered online users. LinkedIn is the most well known and widely used professional social networking site in the world. LinkedIn has gained credibility because of its “gateway access approach” which limits your contact to people you are connected to directly or through other people.
By keeping unwanted soliciting at a minimum, the site not only allows users to search for jobs in their area, but also view profiles of the companies they might be interested in working for. While the advice below might be more applicable for college age students, students in high school may find the advice useful as well. Networking through LinkedIn can help you find a job directly, or help to keep you in contact with those you’ve met—and that may eventually lead to a job offer!
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Networking Your Way to a New Job
03/17/2010
Did you know that over 60 percent of jobs are found by networking?
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “It’s not always what you know, but who you know.” If you take that to heart, it could just help you land your first job.
You already have a built-in network—it’s called your friends, family, teachers, coaches or other people you know and look up to as mentors. Put your contacts to work for you by talking to them about your job search and asking for their advice. You may be surprised by the opportunities that turn up.
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Volunteering: Good for the Heart and Good for the Resume
03/19/2010
When you volunteer your time and hard work, you have an amazing opportunity to make a positive difference in your community. However, you may be surprised to find that volunteering can actually benefit YOU the most.
In today’s economy, many first-time job seekers are finding it difficult to get hired. It may be more productive to focus your time and energy on identifying the right volunteer opportunity and then treating that experience as a paying job.
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Don’t Let Your Social Networking Bring You Down
03/29/2010
We’ve covered how to use social networking sites to obtain your first job. However, you should be aware of the negative impact careless social networking habits can have on your employment prospects.
Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace are all great ways to update your friends on your current mood or your recent trip to San Diego. But what would a prospective employer think if she saw your pictures from that “crazy Friday night?” Employers have the same access to social networking sites that you do, and in the technological age, it’s routine for them to screen the profiles of candidates who have applied for positions.
Your potential employers aren’t trying to be overly critical of you. But they are trying to select the best possible candidate to join their team. Don’t give them a reason to doubt your judgment or your maturity.
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We Want You…To Be Our Intern
03/30/2010
The First Jobs Institute (FJI) seeks an energetic intern with a passion for exploring new ways to connect people and drive business. Being innovative and taking initiative are a crucial part of this experience.
The FJI Social Media / Networking Intern will have the opportunity to gain experience working with social media in a business and public relations setting including implementing ideas that extend the First Jobs brand through web-based marketing. The FJI internship offers you an opportunity to market our non-profit, network, and improve on the existing mission.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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.
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10 Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE Your Job Search: College Edition
08/03/2010
Before you consider starting your job search for the upcoming semester, you should ask yourself the follow questions:
What skills do I have?
Do you have any special skills or strengths that would contribute to a work place? Is your major or course of study something that Are there strengths that I have that I could contribute to a work place? How is my major or course of study in college contributing to a potential job opportunity?
What is my main goal? What do I hope to achieve with my job?
What are your main goals for a job or internship? Think of the top five things you hope to gain from a work experience. Are your goals realistic? Are they things you can achieve over the course of a semester?
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How to Ask for a Reference from your Employer
08/12/2010
One of the great things about having a first job is that you now have a previous employer to ask for a reference in the future.
You probably had to provide personal references when you applied for your first job—people who have known you and who vouched for your dependability or character. Now you will also have a professional reference who can speak to your abilities on the job and in a workplace. Before you put a former employer down as a reference here are a few things to keep in mind:
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