Giving Grads a Fighting Chance

Drew McLellan asks us to help "give new college grads a fighting chance." Never one to back down from a fight, or a good challenge, I'm game.

Found on Flickr

4 ways Drew wanted stories about...

    * How I landed my first job (war/success story)
    * What I wish I knew when I was trying to get my first job
    * My advice for someone trying to break into the marketing/advertising business
    * Words of wisdom about careers in general

Yikes! It's been so long...and yet it seems like yesterday.

How did I land my first job?

I had some experience working while I was in college, and I got a job similar to it. Nothing I learned in college would prepare me for this first "real job," not to mention life in the Navy would not prepare me for it. The politics of working in an office, the fact that you need to dress like everyone else (at least when you first start out it's good to fit in), and the fact that as the low (wo)man on the totem pole, nobody cares much what you think.

What I wish I knew when trying to get my first job?

Resumes are important. GPA is more important.
Who you know is even MORE important. And what's most important?

Who knows YOU!

If nobody knows you, you will have a tough time getting a job. Take an interview somewhere where you already know someone on the inside that can give you a great reference. This helps more than you will ever know...ESPECIALLY for your first job.

My advice for someone trying to break into advertising or marketing is...

Practice while you're in college, read all the things you can about advertising and marketing on the web (your college textbooks are hopelessly out of date) and try to do some marketing now in the blogosphere. Find a great internship with a great team (maybe Drew or Mike Wagner are hiring??) and learn all you can. Take lots of notes, and ask LOTS of questions.

Other careers advice

Careers are tough things. Your first job is not a career.

Don't be afraid to try a few different things.

Go with what feels right, not with what makes you the most money.

If it's a little unethical, don't do it. If you sell out now, they'll sell you out later. Be morally right and do the right thing. ALWAYS!

Fail. A LOT. Ask for forgiveness, NOT permission. Take the shot!

Get to know as many people higher up the ladder than you are at work. Ask them what makes them successful.

Avoid negative people...AT ALL COSTS!

Spend your money on a comfortable pair of shoes (Allen Edmonds are particularly wonderful) because you'll stand more than you think, and walk further than you want to.

Take every chance you get to improve your communication skills, especially your verbal ones. Toastmasters is good for this.

Take all the training your company provides, even if it's on your own time. Know where the company library is and get to know the librarian. Ask for book recommendations often.

Subscribe to Audible.com and listen to 1 new book a month.

Go to the blogosphere and read everything you can about a topic that can help you get to where you want to be or what you want to learn.

And most importantly of all...HAVE FUN!

OK, second most importantly of all is have fun.

The most important piece of advice I can give is simple: Never Stop Learning!

Have any advice for college grads? Help the grads out by leaving a comment on Drew's article or trackback to his post.

[Phil Gerbyshak wishes he'd asked for more advice when he was graduating college, and he's glad guys like Drew are so kind in offering their advice.]


Technorati Tags: career, college grads, first job, graduates

Comments

[Jane Greer]

"Join Toastmasters" is great advice. It costs so little and the sky really is the limit on how much your skills can improve.

Also, although I don't believe in hiring by personality alone or trying to create a "chemistry" in a workplace, if I were hiring a new grad today I'd give grades and experience a weight of about 30 percent and attitude a weight of 70 percent. By attitude I mean the following: Is the person interested in lots of things--without seeming "flighty"? Does she seem to take direction easily? Does she ask me good questions about the business--but politely and appropriately? In other words, is she someone I can train to do things the way my company does them--as well as someone who will question things that need to be questioned (but not pout when things don't go her way)? Does it seem that she's going to be "high-maintenance"?

Taking on even the most talented newbie always slows things down before it improves them. The more a new grad can show me that the slowdown will be minimal, the faster I'd be to hire her.

[Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross]

I agree with joining toastmasters. I would also highly recommend taking the Dale Carnegie Human Relations course.

Also, your workplace should be a "No Whining" zone. If you've got a problem, solve it professionally without whining, even if your boss and co-workers are jerks. If your peers start whining. Don't join in. Better, leave the room.

Regards,

Glenn

[Buzzoodle Ron]

Bravo on taking the time to do this, Phil. I got an email about it but it would take a while to do it justic, so I have been postponing it.

You have some great advice. When I speak to college students, I tell them some of the same things:

#1 Start a blog while in school
#2 Author a book while you are still in school.
#3 If you really want to work for the Cleveland Caveliers, start creating lots of buzz for them long before you apply. They will know who you are when you arrive.

These are the kinds of things that would make me cancel the other interviews and hire you on the spot. Stand Out!

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Jane - Great points! Attitude is VITAL to success.

Glenn - a "no whining zone!" Great suggestion. Let's implement that everywhere!

Ron - you're right. Make time to do what you want to do WHILE you're in college, and it'll be much easier to transition AFTER college. I look forward to reading your answers soon!

[Drew McLellan]

Phil,

Thanks for pointing to the e-book project. I am hoping people will take the few minutes and give a little back.

We all had some help along the way. I'm all for paying it forward!

Drew