For those college students who are graduating this December, this is the time of year when they begin embarking on interviews for their first professional positions to ring in the new year. College students who graduated this past May and then took a summer off to travel or intern, may also still be looking for the right job opportunity as well.
There are a number of books, online web sites, university career development centers, and articles that can give new graduates more excellent interview tips than we could ever cover here. But there is one tip we rarely ever see mentioned and we learned it recently and rather unexpectantly ourselves.
Be confident, yet humble.
College4Careers had the pleasure of attending a panel presentation a few months ago that focused on the entertainment industry. We were blown away by the major power players in Hollywood who came out to speak to these upcoming graduates about the job opportunities that awaited them in the world of film and television. Over and over, stories were shared from these now top entertainment professionals of their humble beginnings. Landing a job in a movie studio’s mail room, stocking food at the craft table on film sets, delivering closely guarded scripts to cast member’s homes each day – these individuals had no shame in taking any job that got them into a situation or company that would serve as a launching pad on their climb to the eventual top of the entertainment field. Not one person spoke about landing a job as a film producer or screenwriter on day one. None of them talked about being offered a job that came with any prestige or perks those first few years. No one had a story about how easy it was to get where they are today.
What they all had in common was a willingness to start working. It didn’t matter what the job was or where it was. If it was in the entertainment business in any way, shape, or form they took it. Once they were on the inside they made contacts, they learned how their bosses got their jobs, and they listened to what others told them to do in order to be successful. They made a name for themselves as a person who could be counted on to do a good job at whatever was being requested of them but, more importantly, they became known as a person that others wanted to have on their team because they were a pleasure to work with. They were confident in their abilities to do a good job, yet humble enough to accept the fact that they had a lot to learn from others.
The industry doesn’t really matter in this example. The common thread in almost any successful person’s account of how they got where they are today often starts with the very first entry-level job they landed.
A lot of college graduates today have invested a great deal of time and money to obtain a position in a particular field. They are excited, motivated to challenge the status quo, and make their mark. They have been coached on how to present themselves in an interview, dress for success, polish their resumes, and keep their online profiles up-to-date. Their expectations for future success are high because they worked hard and got their college degrees. They complete the interview circuit and finally land a job offer. An entry-level position where any real decision-making power lies a few rungs up the ladder. No mention of company cars, expense accounts, or lavish travel plans on the corporate dime. No manager, director, or vice-president title on the business cards. What they are offered is an opportunity to grow and learn. Those who are confident that they can do a good job and rise in the ranks, see it as an opening to prove themselves and learn from the best. Others find it insulting to be offered a position at what they see as the bottom and they turn it down in hopes of finding a job better suited to their expectations. Any guesses on who generally ends up ahead?
Confidence is a great trait. Feeling good about what you have to offer and what you can do is a quality that makes you more attractive to any potential employer. But the inability to be humble, learn the ropes, and listen to others who know more than you do is a real turn-off to interviewers, coworkers, and bosses. An entry level job is just what it is – a start on a road to something greater. After you pay your dues. After you learn the basics of how things are run. After you prove yourself to be a good employee. After you convince people that they want to work with you.
As a young adult, it can be easy to get caught up in appearances. We live in a social media world where we all want to present only our best selves to the outside world. Learning to be humble in a world that values showmanship and dazzle takes a lot of work. Thinking of posting anything other than working a top job at a top company may be more stressful to a young graduate than being unemployed. The 23 year old who can embrace the honest truth that they still have a lot to learn, regardless of the diploma they recently received, can end up with far more opportunities in the future because they are willing to start climbing the ladder of success by simply putting one foot on the bottom rung today, rather than waiting for a dream job offer that most likely will never materialize.
