How to Land Your First Real Job
December 13th, 2007 Posted in Work, CareerLooking for that first real job? College was fun, but now you’re ready to get paid! We know you’re tired of hearing about not having any experience, so use these great tips to bypass that little fact and join the real world.
Hopefully this video helped you get ready to snag your first “real” job, but we’re not going to leave you hanging. Watch these videos on How to Ace a Job Interview, then learn how to survive the daily grind of 9-5.
Hi, I’m Nikki Key and you’re watching the Daily Idea. Today’s episode is especially for our recent college graduate viewers looking to land that first real job out of college. As always, we’re here to help.
Daily Idea viewers, meet “Chet.”
[Screen reads Chet Simpson, 2007 College Graduate]
Chet’s a Taurus, he enjoys fantasy football and Fall Out Boy, he just graduated and he’s looking for a job. Chet’s resume has next to nothing on it and he only has a few “references.”
This scene can be shot outside “Man on the Street” type interviews:
[Screen reads Mr. McElroy, Chet’s Advisor]
Teacher: “Chet’s a bright guy when he applies himself. First four years…didn’t apply himself. Last three years…he did a little better.”
Chet’s Brother
David, Chet’s Old, Smarter Brother
: “I think he partied a little too much…(pause)…A lot too much.”
Ok, so maybe Chet’s references need work. The important thing is he graduated and he’s ready to enter the work force. Unless, of course, his parents are willing to pay for grad school.
Chet’s Brother: “Grad school? Chet’s going to grad school?!?! Dad!!!”
Ok, so grad school’s off the table. Chet and his History degree now find themselves in a position familiar to a lot of college grads – finding a job without any real-world experience.
This scene can be at someone’s house/apartment:
[Chet is in bed in his apartment.]
Alarm sounds, reads 7 am, Chet hits snooze and rolls over.
Alarm sounds, reads 8 am, Chet hits snooze and rolls over.Alarm sounds, reads 9 am, Chet hits snooze and rolls over.
Chet: (alarm sounds again, reads 10 am) “Gaaah! Fine, I’m gettin’ up. I’m up. (exasperated) How am I supposed to find a job this early in the morning?”
Don’t psych yourself out before you even get started. It’s a great time to be job hunting. Especially if you’re willing to relocate to Idaho, where the state unemployment rate is only 2.4%. You may want to avoid Michigan. The Wolverine State’s unemployment rate is a whopping 7.4%! Most of that is believed to be Eminem’s entourage. But, c’mon, that job’s not going to find itself.
[Chet is reading from the classified ads in the newspaper.]
Chet: Truck driving…H-VAC…telemarketing…car salesman…pyramid scheme…sports marketing…pyramid scheme…nursing…pyramid scheme.
Hey, it doesn’t have to be this hard. You don’t have to settle for selling steak knives or suckering in two of your friends. It will never be easier to get help finding your first job. Right now you don’t have unrealistic salary expectations and lots of people can direct you to entry level positions with room for growth. Start by creating a list of 100 people that can give you a lead. This can be just about anyone.
[Chet sitting at a laptop. As he’s typing he’s voicing-over his own letter.]
Chet: “Dear Coach Pitts, My name is Chet Simpson. You may not remember me. I had you for eighth grade gym. You used to make me run laps because I couldn’t do a pull up. You gave me the smallest uniform you could find and my gym shorts fit like speedos. You called me Shirley until my mom called the school board. Ahhhh, good times, good times. Anyway, I just graduated from college and I wanted to ask for your help finding a job, preferably in a non-sports related field.”
Ok, well almost anyone can help. College professors, high school teachers, people from your church, your friends’ parents, anyone you’ve done work for. You’ll be up to a hundred before you know it. Sit down and write each of them a letter. Type it up, sign the bottom and snail mail it along with your one-page résumé. Remember to personalize each letter so the recipient knows it’s not just a form letter. Don’t just send out a bunch of emails. Technology will have some role in your job search. Start with LinkedIn.
[Show LinkedIn. ]
Host V/O: It’s a free networking site that reaches millions of professionals. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can build your network of business friends. Set up only takes about half an hour and as your network grows, so will your chances to land the right job.
George Bernand Shaw said “Youth is wasted on the young.” While this may be true, you’re young and it’s time to use it to your advantage. Good businesses need energy and enthusiasm. Young people provide both with lower salary requirements. Be careful, though. Some businesses are a little too dependent on young people. They work young people to death for six months and then go get new ones. Avoid these businesses, otherwise you’ll be right back where you started in less than a year.
[Chet is in an interview with someone who wants him to sell something ridiculous for commission only.]
Swarthy Interviewer (looking at resume): “Chet, I’m not going to lie. I like what I see here. I’d like to make you a member of the Pyramid Financial Team. All I need from you in just a small investment to get your training started and I need you to find three friends who share your enthusiasm.”
Chet: “Three friends? I thought you said two friends before.”
Interviewer: “Chet, I’m not going to lie to you. We need a lot of enthusiastic people like yourself and we need ‘em now, Chet. We need young enthusiastic people with two thousand dollars, Chet.
(sound of sirens)
Interviewer: “Chet, I’m going to be out of the office for a while. Here’s my card. Call me on my cell when you have the money.” (quickly exits)
Chet turns to look at camera.
Obviously you’ll want to avoid bad interviews. It’s a good idea to find networking events in your area. You’re unemployed, so you should have plenty of time to find a good job fair or business expo once a week or so. Don’t forget your college’s career services center. It’s their job to help you, but the perfect job probably won’t just fall in your lap on day one. There’s no shame in taking or keeping a part time job until you’re ready to give into the man and work nine to five. You can always wait tables or tend bar. It’s not the end of the world as long as you don’t stay there forever. Just stay with it. Throughout your career you’re going to need lots of determination and perseverance. Now is as good a time as any to start showing it!
And that’s another Daily Idea.
