A Millennial's guide to that first post-grad job
By
Jill Jacinto
You have a few months to go before you say Sayonara to school and
officially become a working professional. You might have taken Psych 101
but chances are you never took a class on how to get a job or what to do when you scored your dream gig.
What if you're applying for first job...ever: If you've recently graduated from a Masters, MBA
or undergraduate program your first thought will most likely be...I
have NOTHING to put on my resume. I have never worked! Except, that
isn't exactly true. List your hobbies, clubs, conferences, volunteer
experiences and activities you are a part of. Have you ever had a
leadership role (class president, yearbook editor, captain of JV Field
hockey) list it! You should also include what you learned from your
school courses; business, teamwork, computer programs, marketing skills,
public speaking, etc. All of these items should be a part of your
resume. You'll see how quickly your resume fills up after some analysis.
> Apply for an entry-level job
Conquering a job interview: Be prepared. You would never show up to class without reading an assignment and same goes for a good interview. Come armed with information about the company, your boss and your role. Sign onto LinkedIn and study the Company Page and the career trajectory of your hiring manager.
Be wary of pushy parents: Your parents will always want the best for you but there is a professional line they should never cross. Under no circumstance should your mom and dad be at the interview with you or apply for you. Think I'm kidding? A parent at my firm did just that. He didn't see anything odd about asking me to hire his daughter to be an intern and tell me how great she would be, how he'd be involved and how much he'd be "checking in."
Your parents would never take a test for you or sit in your Spanish class...I hope... same rules apply for the office. You should ask your parents to reach out to their network of co-workers, clients and friends to see if someone might know of a job opening up. After that, YOU need to be the first point of contact -- not your mom. You could also ask your parents to review your resume or help you with a mock interview. After that though, you are on your own.
When the new boss is always M.I.A.: If you only have a limited time with your boss ask your questions the first few minutes of the day. Let them know you are interested in the business and want to be the best employee for them. Have an idea? Let them know that moving the straws next to the soda cups creates efficiency.
When the office is cliquey: High school cliques annoyingly also exist off campus. Often times these mean girls will at first see you as a threat. Be as friendly as you can to them and try to learn. Make them feel like they are the BMOC. However, if they are still icy – do your best to ignore them. Don't let it get to you and focus on the job at hand.
Ready for a promotion? Before you ask make sure you deserve it. Here's a list of 4 questions you need to ask yourself:
- Are you helping the company's bottom line?
- Are you punctual and working overtime if you have last-minute client requests?
- Have you been there longer than six months?
- Have you felt that you've made your boss' life easier and are taking on more responsibilities?
If so -- go in for the ask. If not, be the best employee you can be and ask for a promotion 30 days down the line. If you are asking, make sure you come prepared with reasons why you have earned this. Have sales increased since you started? Are you able to get through your work much faster than other employers? Have you created a business website or helped with the social media strategy? Are you volunteering for projects outside your typical responsibilities?
Making a grand & graceful exit: Your employer knows that you won't be at their firm forever. Set up a meeting to chat privately. Start off the conversation by letting them know how amazing it has been to work there (even if it wasn't) and how much you have learned from them as a boss. Then let them know you'll be leaving and will give 2 weeks' notice so they have time to find someone to replace you.
Always end on good terms with a boss – you never know if you'll want the
job again down the line or which business owners your boss is friends
with in town. You'll also want to count on them for a reference.