How to get that job you want and keep it. What employers look for in an ideal candidate.

Obtaining a job and keeping it are two separate subjects.

Obtaining a job as a college graduate has a lot to do with attitude and preparation. Attitude is best summed up when comparing two phrases I hear from job applicants. One job applicant will say "I am looking for a job", and what I hear is I am looking for a paycheck.

This is not too appealing because there are hundreds of people looking for a paycheck, the bigger the better. A better phrase is "I am looking for work", which can be followed with "and I have done some research and your company will provide me the opportunity to learn and extend my skills."

The old saw is to dress up, sit up straight, look the interviewer in the eye and most of all be prepared to offer value. If you are interviewing for an entry level job in accounting, be smart enough to know that excel is a tool they use a lot. In fact almost any job I interview if the college grad doesn't know basic office tools they are in an uphill struggle. Word, excel, and if they know PowerPoint great. These are all tools that can be learned with a minimum of effort and bring value to most employers day one.

So Google the place, know what their issues are, who are there competitors, how many offices, etc, something to show you cared enough about them to at least spend some time preparing.

Keeping the job is different.

Here it is a willingness to work. I know of no employer who expects a new employee not to make mistakes. But they will all watch how quickly you head for the door when the clock reaches quitting time. They will notice if you come in early. They will notice if you take long lunches or spend a lot of time on the football pool. The general rule I have always used to succeed is to always exceed my bosses expectations on items I can. So come in 10 minutes early for the coffee etc... and be working at start time. Leave 10 or 15 minutes after quitting time. Always, always, always meet deadlines by either performing, or going back in before they are due and letting the boss know you are going to miss them. When ever you go into talk to the boss bring a paper and pencil.

As you have probably noticed by now non of this has to do with any particular job or function, that is because employers are more than happy to train, and understand mistakes from an employee with the right attitude, but hate it when an employee acts like they are just there to punch a clock and get paid. At this phase of your career effort and attitude will carry you as you gain expertise, later when you have paid your dues you will be better equipped to take it easy, but by then if you are successful you will have developed the work ethic so you won't.