OMG! My First Real Job: Tips for the Real Work World

By Bronagh Hanley

OMG! My First Real Job is a real-life primer for anyone just starting out in the work world. The tips cover everything from phone etiquette and introductions to the job search and your online profile. Since you'll be spending about 70% of your awake time at work, isn't it worth spending a little time to make it better? You can thank me later.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781626757097

Book preview

It?

Why OMG?

Everyone knows that the transition from school to work isn’t always smooth and can be anticlimactic. It sounds glamorous to be working at Google or Vanity Fair, right? There will be some cool projects and good times, but there is still all the other work in between. Working your butt off and not making tons of money can get you down. But you have to start somewhere, because you’re only going to keep moving up.

This guide offers realistic and practical advice for recent college grads just starting out. From what to wear to work and how to talk to your boss, OMG offers a list of tips to keep you on your toes in every type of work situation.

Let’s face it: If your table manners are bad, you’re constantly late for meetings or you’re overly familiar with the boss, you aren’t scoring points. The little things add up and turn into a big thing, and by then it’s too late.

You don’t have to change who you are. You can still be you and get the job done, right? Don’t think you have to compromise yourself to fit in at a company. You don’t. But there are some basics that will get you in the right groove.

When you’re in that groove, you can make your mark on the company (in a good way, not like tagging). Successful businesses hire a mix of people with different skills, interests and work habits. That’s a good thing. Think about it. If everyone at the company had the same personality and approached things the same way, the company wouldn’t be innovating or able to be competitive. And innovation and competition mean success and profitability. Really. They may not be successful and profitable when you are there, but that is their end goal – even nonprofits.

It’s also good to remember that the world is a small place and you never know when the same folks you worked with at your first job will be the head of your dream company down the line. The best strategy is to work hard, be yourself and give it all you’ve got. If you are smart, loyal and creative, you will succeed.

Chapter One: Landing the Job

Nobody wants to hear about your parents’ divorce or how your cat died when you were 12. And under no circumstances should you bring anyone other than yourself to an interview. Not even your mom (yes, this actually happened). Do your research, learn the names and titles of the interviewers, have a prepared response for why you are ‘right for the job’ and listen to what they are saying. It works, it really does.

The Job: Don’t know what you want to do? That’s okay. This is the time to figure it out. You may have a History degree but want to be in IT. It’s all good. First thing to do is make a list of your hobbies, passions and interests. Then make a list of your skills. What are you good at already? Then think about the jobs that exist that make good use of your skills and interests together, as well as jobs that don’t exist yet, but should. If you are going to be working at a job 50 or 60 hours a week, wouldn’t it be awesome if you were doing something you loved?

The Search: The best place to start your job search is with friends and family; send out an email asking if they know of any entry-level positions that are in your field of interest. Did you uncle used to work at Apple? Did your mom go to college with that famous writer? Then search sites that reflect your interests and passions and see if they link to any job sites. Also check out the majors like Linkedin and Indeed to see what’s out there. Reach out to alums in your field of interest and start reading the trade pubs for that industry. And post to your social media networks about your desired job. There are options out there you might not even know about!

The Resume: Your resume is a very personal thing. It should reflect your style and sensibility while making clear your job objective, your experience, and your skill set and interests. There has been a lot of discussion lately about including a picture on your resumé, but it isn’t necessary, since you should get the interview on merit and not on how you look. It is also important to keep your social profiles up-to-date with recent jobs, accomplishments and awards. Knowing you are just starting out, it is fine to include high school jobs, college internships, related school activities and things like that.

Networking: Make a list of businesspeople you know, then a list of companies you admire, and then search industry groups or organizations that support your field of interest. Come up with a master list of companies to which and contacts you can send a personal email with your custom resumé.

The Pre-Interview: Once you get an interview, it’s so important to research the company, the position you are applying for, the person interviewing you, the competitors in the marketplace and the prospective employer’s current projects. With Google at your fingertips, there is no excuse for not being well informed.

The Sales Pitch: Hone your elevator pitch—this is the three-minute story of you—and practice it in front of the mirror before you go on an interview. You need to look like you know what you are talking about. If you can’t sell yourself, why should they hire you to sell them? Not that you are going to be in sales necessarily, but you get the idea.

A Portfolio: For many prospects, it’s expected that you bring several examples of your work to an interview to show what you can do. It’s common for a number of interviews to be scheduled with several executives in the company over the course of a few hours. One of these people is going to ask you for a work sample, whether it is writing or graphics or whatever that job entails.