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, business analyst, Hewitt Associates, 2000 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.
-- 2001 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, ticket sales associate, University of Miami
Hurricanes, 2001 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."
-- 1999 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, senior corporate relations coordinator, U.S. Chamber
of Commerce, 2002 economics grad from the University of Dallas
"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."
-- 1999 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, human resources supervisor, 1998 management grad
"Being prepared for interviewing."
-- 2002 business-administration grad
"Willingness to travel."
-- Anonymous
"Experience gained in internships, summer jobs, and in
extracurricular activities."
-- Lisa Wheeler, medical sales representative, Wallace
Pharmaceuticals, 1999 marketing grad
"I had the right qualifications and was young and motivated to learn."
-- 2001 grad
"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, CISSP, manager, First Consulting Group, 1999 computer
information systems grad, Stetson University
"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."
-- 1999 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, financial analyst, General Electric, 2000
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."
-- 2002 wildlife and fisheries science grad
"Knowing my own value and being able to communicate that."
-- Garrett Epps, business analyst, Hewitt Associates
"Following-up after sending resumes. Keep your options open. You
never know what may come along."
-- Colleen Holuk, marketing specialist, Stromberg, LLC, 2001 Stetson
University grad
"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, channel manager, Gartner News, Gartner, Inc., 1999
communication studies grad
"I was relentless in my Web-based search, finally finding an opening
50 miles away."
-- 2001 education grad
"Experience and a healthy attitude."
--Anonymous
"Relationships. Knowing people who know people."
-- 2001 general business major
"My eagerness and willingness to learn."
-- Anonymous
"Patience and timing."
-- Jo Smith, substitute instructor, Murray State College, 2001
psychology grad from the University of Oklahoma
"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."
-- 2003 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."
-- 2002 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."
-- 2001 grad
