Landing that First Job: The Old Rules Still Apply

This morning, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Musbach, the managing editor at Yahoo! Hot Jobs.

Tom graciously allowed me to pick his brain a little about strategies teens and young adults might use to land that first job or summer job.

It's been a long time since I was in that position (you know, back in the Dark Ages, before the World Wide Web made it possible to download a job application from the comfort of your own home). Back then, my search consisted of walking door to door at the local mall and requesting an application to fill out. Most of the time, my encounters with store management ended right there... but occasionally, something about my appearance or personality would trigger an actual interview... and eventually, a hire.

Today, most large retailers and restaurant chains offer job applications online. This is convenient, but it's a lot harder to make a good first impression, especially when you are just starting out in the market and haven't a lot of experience.

"The first thing you have to do is make sure you've got a tight resume," Tom says.

He recognizes that lack of experience is a kind of Catch-22 for young people: How can you get the job experience until you've landed that first job?

In that case, Tom advises young people to "think outside the job experience realm" and translate their extracurricular activities, volunteer work and studies into transferable skills the prospective employer wants (i.e., communication, reliability, responsibility, and leadership).

"You need to highlight your accomplishments in a succinct way," he says.

Getting that resume into the right hands can also be a challenge.

"It's important to network," Tom says. "Speak up. Ask your parents, relatives, family friends - who do you know?"

This sounds like the same advice I was given back when I was first job hunting, 35 years ago. In fact, it's the same strategy seasoned professionals use all the time, because the best jobs are not always advertised and are often discovered through word of mouth.

Tom mentioned some of the popular social networking sites, like LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace (the latter two being the most popular among young people). However, he cautions all job hunters to be wary of the digital footprints they may be leaving behind on social networking sites and blogs.

"Recruiters DO use search engines, and if things come up, if they see an off-color remark, it can reflect poorly on the candidate," he says.

Tom reminds job hunters that "any time you apply in person, you have to think about the impression you make."

He says it's even more important when your resume is thin, because the employer has so much less to go on.

• Don't show too much skin.
• Leave ripped or torn garments at home
• Avoid t-shirts with slogans (especially if they are controversial)

"Think professionally, even if you're just there to get an application," he says. "And be aware of your demeanor and attitude. Think about all the factors that go into making a good first impression."

Finally, Tom reminds job hunters to follow up with employers after applying.

"Don't assume they're not interested if you haven't heard from them," he says. "It is within you right to call and check on the status of your application, and it communicates your interest in this job."

How’s Your Digital Footprint?

It is estimated that 1.5 million college graduates will be entering the work force this year. Due to the slowing economy, these young workers are going to need to network more than ever.

The good news is that today's graduates have a head start, thanks to online networking tools like Facebook and LinkedIn. According to a recent survey by Robert Half International, 62 percent of senior executives believe that these professional networking sites will be a key part of their companies' recruiting efforts in the next three years.

The bad news is that many college students haven't thought ahead to the kind of impression they are making with their profiles on those sites. Wall posts, blogs and photos that depict students drinking and partying can be seen by potential employers as well as trusted friends, leaving a "digital footprint" that may end up hurting their chances of getting hired after graduation.

According to the Pew Internet and Life Project, "One-in-five working American adults (20%) say their employer has a special policy about how employees present themselves online -- including what can be shared and posted on blogs and other websites."

In a recent survey of advertising and marketing executives conducted by the Creative Group staffing agency, 50% the respondents said they search for online information about prospective hires – and that 14% of them chose NOT to hire someone based upon what they found.

Fortunately, teenagers who have grown up with online social networking are a savvy bunch. Pew reports that "Teens with visible profiles make more conservative choices with respect to visibility; just 40% said their profile was visible to anyone, while 59% reported access that was restricted to friends only."

So what do you do if your online life has been an open book? How do you counter information that might turn off a prospective employer?

Creative Group executive director Bob Willmer advises job seekers that "If there is unflattering information about you online that you cannot remove, be prepared to offer an explanation to employers who might inquire about it."

Willmer also suggests that students be selective about who is allowed into their LinkedIn networks and that they make use of forums by commenting and posting information that shows off their professional involvement and qualifications.