Business Math in Action

Putting Your Best Traits Forward

Although it’s useful to know how to hire, train, and promote employees, your first experience in the job market is probably going to be as a worker, not a boss. If you’re just starting out, how do you convince a potential employer that you’re right for the job? With no track record of previous work, you’ll need to rely on the impression you make during your interview. Here are the traits employers are looking for when they interview young people:

Dependability. Plan on showing up early for your interview. If you’re late, the employer will assume you’ll be late for work, too.

Neatness and good grooming.

Good spelling and neat handwriting. Fill out the application and any other paperwork carefully. A few errors could cost you the job.

Friendliness. Make eye contact and smile.

A firm handshake. Some teenagers aren’t used to shaking hands. Practice on your friends or family until you can do it without feeling silly or awkward.

A positive, upbeat attitude.

Willingness to learn new things.

A convincing reason that you want to work at the company. Be as specific and as honest as you can. For instance, if you’re applying for a job at a restaurant, you might mention that you’ve always loved to eat there, or that you like the atmosphere. Or you could say that the employees seem to be happy and it looks like a good place to work. Reasons like, “I need money,” aren’t very compelling. Even if it will only be a temporary job, the boss will want to hire someone who seems genuinely enthusiastic about working there.

If you’re applying for your first job, you might consider asking a teacher to write you a letter of recommendation. Teachers can verify many of the traits employers value. Are you punctual? Are you rarely absent? Do you turn in homework assignments on time? Do you work well with other students or take a leadership role in group projects? These are all positive characteristics the teacher can write about regardless of the grade you may be getting.

When you’re sitting across from your potential employer, remember to keep eye contact and listen carefully to what he or she is saying. Ask questions about the type of work you’ll be doing, not about your pay or hours. Save those questions for the end of the interview. If all goes well, you’ll have plenty of time to find out the details when they offer you the job. And if it doesn’t go so well, it’s still valuable practice for your next job interview. The more you do, the easier they get.