How to Succeed at Your First “Real” Job

IStock_000005750863XSmall[1] You’ve pulled all nighters studying for mid-terms and finals. You’ve labored over group projects and read dozens of textbooks. Now you’re finally about to graduate and enter the real world. Prepare for your new career by learning what it takes to successfully transition from student to full-time employee.

Arrive for work on time. It sounds simple enough, but punctuality can often be a challenge for younger workers. Set yourself apart by making it a priority to always arrive at least five minutes early. You’ll also score major points by sticking around a few minutes past quitting time each day. 

Come well-rested. Gone are the days where you can roll into class bleary-eyed and half-awake. Getting enough sleep ensures you’ll be alert and ready to contribute your full potential. That means going to bed early enough each night to get at least seven to eight hours of rest.

Dress professionally. Once you start your career, your wardrobe may require a little sprucing up. Remember, a good rule of thumb is to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Take note of how leaders at your organization dress, and follow their example.

Limit your consumption of digital media. While texting and checking Facebook and Twitter are great ways to keep in touch with friends, those habits won’t help you make a good impression at a new job. While you’re at work, keep your focus on the task at hand. Resolve to only text, make personal calls, or check social networking sites during breaks or before and after work. 

Make sure you understand your role. It’s hard to succeed at something if you don’t know the purpose behind what you’re doing. Is the core of your job increasing sales, improving customer relations, or reducing expenditures? Find out why your company needs you and then focus on doing those tasks to the best of your ability. 

Be proactive about requesting additional assignments. Starting out at your new job, you may have periods where you don’t have much to do. Instead of being bored or just trying to look busy, seek out opportunities to help others and learn new things. Let co-workers or your supervisors know that you’re eager to pitch in and take on new challenges.

Be willing to serve others. When you offer your help, be prepared to give it – no matter the task. Don’t be offended if the boss asks you to do seemingly insignificant jobs like make copies or prepare coffee. Instead, consider it an opportunity to show others that you’re a team player.

Find a mentor. To learn the ropes, seek out an individual who excels within your company and ask them if they’d mind sharing a few pointers. They’ll most likely be eager to assist you – people are flattered to be asked for their advice. Co-workers who’ve been around awhile can help you get into the groove at a new job by teaching you the “unwritten rules” at your place of employment.

By preparing yourself for success, you’ll make a great first impression at your new job. Your supervisors will be wowed by your “can do” attitude and professionalism. You may even impress yourself with how much you can achieve when you put your mind to it. 

Are You a Job Hopper or a Job Shopper?

Job-shopper-1 Job hopping and job shopping – there is a debate on what these two things mean and if one is more significant than the other.

As the economy continues to show improvement, many people are either looking for first-time employment, wanting to get back into the job market, or looking to change careers. There’s no denying that the job market has changed over the years, and it’s definitely not the same one where loyalty reigned supreme or many employees spent their entire career at one company. Today it has become more acceptable to switch jobs – even several times – during one’s career.

With more employers now looking to hire top candidates, it’s a great time to know the difference between a job hopper and a job shopper, and the impressions that could be associated with each. 

A Job Hopper.
A job hopper is usually someone who doesn’t stay at job for a long time before they are on to something new and exciting. This individual has had many different jobs that aren’t necessarily related to the same field. Once considered to be something that only younger generations would do, job hopping has become a more widespread practice among all workers. After experiencing a recession where jobs were lost or where employees saw friends get let go, many have changed their mind on loyalty to an employer.

From an employee’s perspective, job hopping can have its benefits. It can allow you to gain new skills and invaluable experience in a variety of areas. It can also allow you to identify what jobs you do and do not like to do, helping you find your true career calling.

From a potential employer’s perspective, they might wonder why you’ve job hopped so much. If you’ve had several jobs in a short amount of time, an employer might be concerned about your commitment level. Also, they will probably want an explanation for all of your hopping.

So, before your next leap, take time to think about whether or not you can make your current job more challenging. And if it does turn out that you need something new, what might be a better option than a job hopper?

A Job Shopper.
According to an article on Yahoo! Finance, job shopping differs from job hopping because it is more structured and planned. Whereas a job hopper might just blindly jump into a new career without doing any research, a job shopper does the necessary homework before making a decision.

In addition, a job shopper has a direct goal in mind for what they want in a career and only transitions to new jobs that will help them achieve that goal. If you are planning to change careers, think about how a change can add to your skill set and improve the work-history story, better known as your résumé. And remember, it’s important to do your homework on your personal time rather than on your employer’s time.  

When it comes to your job search, you want to make sure that you stand out from other applicants for all the right reasons. Take time to think through what you want to do for a job and a career, and what it’s going to require to get there. Be strategic with your search. The sky’s the limit in what you can achieve.

Movin’ On Up Readership Survey

Express Employment Professionals offers our Movin' On Up blog and Job Genius newsletter to job seekers to offer career advice and discuss how we can make our work lives more rewarding financially, mentally and emotionally. As we continue to offer career advice, we would like your input on things we are doing right and things we can improve.

Your feedback is extremely important in helping us better meet your needs. Your participation in our readership survey will ensure we are covering the issues that are important to you as a job seeker. Your confidential responses will help us select new features and help us determine areas we might improve.

We appreciate your honest feedback.This survey contains 12 questions and should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you for your participation.

Take the survey now!

Three Stories to Share During Your Next Interview

Interview It’s safe to say that interviews can be stressful. In an attempt to make a great first impression, you spend time preparing your résumé, picking out your interview outfit, and practicing answers for potential questions you might be asked by a hiring manager. As you prepare, don’t forget to think about some positive work-related experiences you can share with your interviewer.
 
It’s important not to let your nerves get the best of you. When the spotlight’s on you, use your 15-minutes of fame to tell the hiring manager why you’re the best choice. Take the initiative to tell them about you. Here are three areas about relevant work experience you can share in a few minutes to help you get closer to landing the job.

1. I function well on a team.
Employers want to know you can function well as a part of their team. Describe a time in a previous job where you worked on a team to successfully complete a project. Be sure to share your role and how you contributed to the process. Each individual on a team has different skills and abilities they bring to a group, so it’s a good idea to highlight how you helped achieve the final product.

2. In my previous job, I saved my company time or money.
Talking about how you impacted a company’s bottom line helps show you are not only innovative, but also a great investment. You think outside the box rather than just do what’s always been done. Anytime you can show an employer you can help them cut costs or save time – valuable resources in today’s workforce – it’s a great way to earn extra points in an interview.

3. I am good at problem solving.
If you can recall a time where you implemented a resolution for an obstacle, briefly share about it. What was your strategy and the steps you took to solve the problem? This helps demonstrate your reasoning skills and follow through – traits which are reflective of your leadership abilities and drive to succeed.

Even though it’s an interview, you don’t have to depend on them to do all the talking. Take a few deep breaths to settle your nerves and get ready to talk about you. By sharing short stories of how you excelled in past work experiences, you can show potential employers your true value as an employee.

3 Reasons Why You May Not Be Getting Hired

Doyoucounteroffer Recruiters and employers have seen their fair share of résumés in the last few years due to a highly competitive job market. So, do you feel like you’re working 8 to 5 trying to land an interview?

Employers are taking numerous factors into consideration when considering job applicants. Let’s take time to focus on three small ways you can improve your chances of getting a job.

Update your contact information. Do you have your most recent contact information listed on your résumé? Yes, it’s a small detail, but without the correct information, it can wreak havoc on your job search. It’s frustrating for a potential employer to try to reach you when the number you gave them doesn’t work. They won’t be able to contact you. So, be sure to include a working phone number on your résumé or job application because a call about a job offer is one that you definitely don’t want to miss.

Give an appropriate email address. You might not think that a potential employer will pass you over for a job because of your email address, but they might. A manager wants to know that you’re professional, and an e-mail address like partyharty@emailaddress.com may not present you in the best light. Ere on the side of caution and choose a safe email address that includes your name – for example, first name.last name@emailaddress.com. 
  
Share your relevant skills. In order to decide if you would be a good fit for a job, a hiring manager needs to know about your work experience. What are your skills and areas of expertise? Employers don’t want to just receive an email from you with your name and a brief paragraph outlining how you’re interested in the job. They want to know what you can bring to their business, so be sure to include your skills that are relevant to the job opening.

It’s important to keep in mind that employers are looking through job applications with a fine tooth comb. Be sure that your information passes the test and gets you through the company’s doors and into the interview seat. Knowing that even the smallest of details are being considered will help you be better prepared with your career search.

The Stress Test

In the last year, stress has become a top concern for businesses, employees, and job seekers worldwide. In the U.S., 75% of people say they’re stressed out, according to a survey released by the American Psychological Association. And a national health survey in Canada revealed stress levels were up by 30% in 2010.
 
Stress not only impacts productivity and concentration, but it’s also linked to health- related issues like heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. today. February is American Heart Month and we want to know if all this stress is having an effect on your life.

From a Hiring Manager’s Perspective: What Are They Thinking After Your Interview?

Interview After you interview for a job, the ever-fun waiting game begins. Will you get a second interview or a call saying, “Thanks for interviewing, but…?”  Whether or not you advance in the interview process is now in the hands of the hiring manager. It’s time for the interviewer to process what they’ve learned about you.

So, what could make or break the deal? In deciding whether or not you get a call back for a second interview, here’s an inside look at two questions an interviewer is sure to ask themselves about you.

Do I like the candidate’s personality?

Can this interviewer see you getting along with the team? Would you fit in well with the company culture? On your résumé, you might be a great fit, but there’s a lot that a hiring manager can learn about you during – and after – you interview. Not only will a potential employer evaluate the answers you gave during an interview, but they will take into consideration your nonverbal communication skills, investigate your online personal brand (a.k.a. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), and check your references. All of these items are taken into consideration when a potential employer is debating hiring you to their team.

Is this person driven?

Are you self motivated and eager to learn and take on new projects? Right now, with the continued uncertainty about the economy and tight budgets, companies are still playing it safe when it comes to hiring. With fewer workers and heavier workloads, employers are looking for hard-working, motivated individuals who can stand the test of time.

To determine if you’re the employee for them, hiring managers will be taking all things about you into consideration when making a decision – your work history, your interview responses, and your references’ feedback. To put your best foot forward during the interview, make sure your résumé is up-to-date, research the company, brush up on some potential interview questions, and dress to impress. Also, contact your references so they can be prepared to give you a recommendation. The day of your interview, it’s your day to shine. Your goal is to make a lasting, positive impression that makes the hiring manager want to hire YOU!