Applying for Your First Job: Application Tips and Common Interview Questions

Time to Stop Thinking like a Teenager

Today’s job market is competitive for entry-level positions, especially once school lets out for the summer. If you are looking for a job, you are competing with potentially hundreds, even thousands, of other people for the one job. So what? You are totally cool, know everything there is to know and an employer would be crazy not to hire you, right? This is where you need to take a big bite out of the reality pie. The way you dressed, the way you talked and the way you conducted yourself in school is not going to fly very far out there in the real work world.

This author has taught interviewing and job search skills to teens and adults. The difference between the two groups is substantial. Adults already know how hard it is to get the interview and then the job. Teens think they just show up and its, “cool, you’re hired.” Forget what you think you know about getting a job and read this carefully, if you want to get as far and an interview, so that you can be considered for a job.

Having conducted many interviews for a variety of companies and job levels this author has seen all types of mistakes. This article will show you some of the most blatant and most likely to NOT get you an interview or a job. The most recent interviews conducted were for an entry-level position, like the one you want. The required skills were minimal: must be fluent in English, must be able to follow instructions and must be friendly with customers. That’s you, right? The job paid more than fast food, so there were a good number of applications.

The first place you are judged is when you go to the business to pick up or complete the application. Two of the potential applicants showed up to complete their application in sloppy attire, one wearing flip-flops and both shuffling their feet and exhibiting poor posture, like they were so tired (or board) they could hardly move. Their applications went straight into the do not consider pile. If it takes all the energy they have just to show up and fill out an application, how are they going to get any work done? They sabotaged themselves.