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First Job Interview (Post College)

Dex

By Dex,
in Huddle Lounge

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KendrickPanther Apprentice

KendrickPanther

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When I first started out after college it was a very surreal thing. Some people are in dead end positions, they are jaded and bitter. They will hate you for moving up the ladder. Other people will look at you with nostalgia about their professional careers, men making 5 times your salary will envy your youth and help you as they were once helped.

 

If I can suggest anything it would be to treat your career as the 2nd most important thing behind your family. If someone ever asks you to do something, never answer "no". Take advantage of your youth, master every piece of new technology, learn every new skill. Make your boss groan when you put in for vacation because his business suffers without you. And don't ever burn a bridge.

 

Don't look at your job as low paying or bad hours. The biggest mistake young people make is expect good hours and high pay in their 20s. You should view it more as an extension of college. Every day will be a test. You put in the work to build a reputation and relationships then use that equity to move up.

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Captroop Veteran

Captroop

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An interview is a two-way street. Come prepared with your own questions. Ask what the career ladder is for your position. Ask what their 5-year plan is, and the direction they see the station going. Going in only prepared to answer questions makes it look like you're desperate to take any offer. When it comes to the questions they ask you, don't BS, answer confidently, and don't just hit them with rehearsed, boilerplate responses to common questions from the LinkedIn home page. He likes your personality already, so be genuine.

 

If someone ever asks you to do something, never answer "no".

 

Good advice generally, but I disagree here.

Be willing to help our and put in extra time, of course. But first, know your limits. Take on too much, and you won't be able to meet your deadline, or you will deliver a half-assed product, or, since you are working in TV, the area in which you were hired to work will suffer. Fug up, then no one remembers you were the "take-on-all-comers dynamo who always is willing to pitch in," you're just the guy who fugged up. I used to be the dynamo, then my manager told me that when they were asking in a meeting for someone to volunteer to do a task and I volunteered, they weren't really looking for a young gun to step up to the plate, they wanted a guy who was slacking to actually do his job, and I was taking on too much and needed to work on what he hired me to do. It was good advice.

 

Know what you need to accomplish, and do it to the best of your ability. The best motivation I ever got was the first time I got to work on a $100+ Million proposal. The last two days, I was in charge of production; actually printing, organizing, assembling the proposal documents, and ensuring they were delivered to the client on time. My manager came up to me, and said, "I know you'll do a good job...Fug this up and you're fired."

 

And that's pretty much how I approach every job now. I do a the best job I can do, because if I fug up, I'll probably get fired. So don't fug up.

 

 

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KendrickPanther Apprentice

KendrickPanther

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I didn't say take on more work than you can handle. Just never answer "no". And in the same vein never answer a question "I don't know." If there is a reason you cannot take on additional work or hours, explain why, be polite but direct. If someone asks you a question and you do not have the answer say "I don't know, but I will find out and get back to you asap".

 


 

Good advice generally, but I disagree here.

Be willing to help our and put in extra time, of course. But first, know your limits. Take on too much, and you won't be able to meet your deadline, or you will deliver a half-assed product, or, since you are working in TV, the area in which you were hired to work will suffer. Fug up, then no one remembers you were the "take-on-all-comers dynamo who always is willing to pitch in," you're just the guy who fugged up. I used to be the dynamo, then my manager told me that when they were asking in a meeting for someone to volunteer to do a task and I volunteered, they weren't really looking for a young gun to step up to the plate, they wanted a guy who was slacking to actually do his job, and I was taking on too much and needed to work on what he hired me to do. It was good advice.

 

Know what you need to accomplish, and do it to the best of your ability. The best motivation I ever got was the first time I got to work on a $100+ Million proposal. The last two days, I was in charge of production; actually printing, organizing, assembling the proposal documents, and ensuring they were delivered to the client on time. My manager came up to me, and said, "I know you'll do a good job...Fug this up and you're fired."

 

And that's pretty much how I approach every job now. I do a the best job I can do, because if I fug up, I'll probably get fired. So don't fug up.

 

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thefuzz Mentor

thefuzz

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Be yourself, stay calm, and don't BS.

 

Also, lots of folks tend to over talk in these settings, you need to just have a normal back and forth.

 

Every job interview I have ever gone on I walk in there "knowing" that I will get an offer.

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TheRumGone Grand Master

TheRumGone

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Like KP said: work so hard that when you schedule vacations it's painful for your boss. Be the "go to" guy that boss can rely on for anything.


My first post college interview my boss said it best "I want people that want my job." I used that statement throughout my career and let my other bosses know that. Not in a competitive way but that I wanna learn everything available to me.

As for the interview: learn about the company, have good questions ready to ask, and dress for success. The best question you can ask is "how can I make this department better. What are you looking for to improve on?" when they answer that question, reply with skills that you have that can help that company improve based on his answer.

The beginnings of interviews are always the most nerve racking. Shake the interviewers hand, look them directly in the eye and look genuinely happy to be given the opportunity to sit down and talk with them. Be confident that this job is yours and you just wanna know if it's a good fit for you and ask questions accordingly.

 

you're gonna be fine Dex, just remember millions upon millions of people have been in the same boat as you right now. If you botch it, there will be plenty more so don't freak out.

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Jase Apprentice

Jase

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Mirroring. Copy your interviewer's subtle mannerisms, pace of speech, tone of voice.

I do this all the time with people I meet in business. It's highly influential, because it gives the other person a false sense of agreement and friendship.

Sent from my iPhone while admiring feet using CarolinaHuddle

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