Real World: Most Important Factors in Landing First Jobs

Real Grads. Real Advice. Real Stories. Real World
Most Important Factors in Landing First Jobs

Quintessential Careers conducts ongoing research into the job-search experience of new college graduates as they enter "The Real World." Go to the Real World Home Page.

Confidence, persistence, and experience were some of the recurrent themes when we asked new grads what was the most important factor in their landing their first jobs.

"That I displayed self-motivation and could work well on a team. Also real-world experiences, such as several internships and general work experience."
-- Margaret Goodwin, management grad

"With both jobs I've had, the most important factor was persistence. Keep on calling. If you want the job make it known.
-- TV production grad

"The most important factor for me was that I know where I want to be in a few years and where it is I needed to start. I was, and still am, confident that my work ethic, skills and personality will get me where I want to be."
-- Charles L. Sano, sports administration grad

"There are two factors that stand out as keys to finding a job after graduation. The first one is planning ahead and figuring out what you want to do before you start your search. Second, students can better serve themselves by using their undergraduate summers and years to get internships in areas they are interested in. By having some experience while being a new graduate, students will have a leg up on their competitions."
-- Anonymous

"Confidence and personality set me a step ahead of the competition and won the interview process."
-- finance major

"A semester-plus internship I held my senior year of college in my field (advertising) was invaluable!"
-- Anonymous

"My boss constantly reminds me of how important it was that I said, 'I like to work when I go to work. I want to be in a professional environment, one in which people work hard and not take breaks to talk and gossip.' She says that is the comment that got me the job."
-- Anne Johnson, economics grad

"The job-hunting process went smoothly for me I think because I was willing to interview for the sake of interviewing practice. I did not think I had any interest in working for [the employer] I do now, but as I learned more about it, I realized what a great opportunity it was."
-- general-business grad

"Being flexible has been the key to my success thus far. I had to pay my dues and work my way up, but am now very happy with my current position."
-- Tarah Brown, management grad

"Being prepared for interviewing."
-- business-administration grad

"Willingness to travel."
-- Anonymous

"Experience gained in internships, summer jobs, and in extracurricular activities."
-- Lisa Wheeler, marketing grad

"I had the right qualifications and was young and motivated to learn."
-- Anonymous

"The most important factor was the contacts I had from professors at Stetson University. I wouldn't have landed the job I have now without them."
-- Brad Peska, computer information systems grad

"Persistence in contacting a potential employer, via phone or email, within a week after you have sent out your initial resume. Squeaky wheel gets the oil."
-- history grad

"To land the best job requires research, determination, and an amazing amount of charming persistence. Charming and aggressive interview skills [were the most important factor for me]."
-- Desiree Devaney, international business grad

"Having a contact in the company where I began."
-- Anonymous

"The most important factor for me was getting as much experience as I did while I was still in college."
-- wildlife and fisheries science grad

"Knowing my own value and being able to communicate that."
-- Anonymous

"Following-up after sending resumes. Keep your options open. You never know what may come along."
-- Anonymous

"Flexibility. The ability to stay dynamic with the changes in the business is key. Products change, the economy shifts, there are problems with any number of things outside your control. Keep perspective and stay flexible -- it can mean the difference between looking like someone who is cool and collected or like you're unable to change with the times."
-- Bryan Stoehs, communication studies grad

"I was relentless in my Web-based search, finally finding an opening 50 miles away."
-- education grad

"Experience and a healthy attitude."
--Anonymous

"Relationships. Knowing people who know people."
-- general business major

"My eagerness and willingness to learn."
-- Anonymous

"Patience and timing."
-- Jo Smith, psychology grad

"The most important factor was finding a job that was in my field of study. I didn't want to get a job that was not related to what I studied. I enjoy what I studied, so I want to use that knowledge in my everyday work. The second important factor was the pay. I don't want to get a job that pays very little. The reason I went to college is to get a decent job making good money so that I can build a future for myself."
-- electronic engineering technology grad

"Training and mentoring."
-- Anonymous

"Having my foot in the door. I worked for free and relatively no money in football for two and a half years. I was the first person on the list. Also, my colleagues gave me great recommendations."
-- English education grad

"The most important factor is having the experience required to perform the job and showing potential employers why you are the suitable candidate over all the other interviewees. The differentiator, I think, is the capability to market yourself and stand out as the top choice."
-- Anonymous

"The main factor in getting the job was my track record. Although the position required more responsibility then I had before, they hired me just because they were confident that if I was successful in achieving something in advertising positions before, I could do it again and even better. Besides that, I passed so many interviews within different companies and got many offers. I rejected them, because I saw that they were not the right people to work with. However, interviewing gave me confidence in myself, and after all, I realized my price on the market."
-- Anonymous

Go back to The Real World Home Page.

Maximize your career and job-search knowledge and skills! Take advantage of The Quintessential Careers Content Index, which enables site visitors to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets in 35 career, college, job-search topic areas.

Find a New Job

What:
Where:
jobs by

Job-Hunting Tools:

Career Tools:

Career Categories:

Real Grads. Real Advice. Real Stories. Real World Most Important Factors in Landing First Jobs

Quintessential Careers conducts ongoing research into the job-search experience of new college graduates as they enter "The Real World." Go to the Real World Home Page.

Go back to The Real World Home Page.

Maximize your career and job-search knowledge and skills! Take advantage of The Quintessential Careers Content Index, which enables site visitors to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets in 35 career, college, job-search topic areas.

Real Grads. Real Advice. Real Stories. Real World
Most Important Factors in Landing First Jobs