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Inevitably, you'll probably screw it up the first time, so I wouldn't
stress about it. Your first job won't be your dream job, and it
certainly won't be the job from which you retire (that is, unless you
come into millions through some other source).<br>
<br>
Just don't be afraid to ask questions out of fear that you're going to
offend someone due to lack of knowledge of some secret professional
courtesies. It's business, not personal. If you find someone that is
easily offended, don't take the job. We empower the easily offended
too much in this country as it is.<br>
<br>
Also, ask to meet your boss before taking the job. If your boss has
been in his/her position for a bunch of years, and doesn't have a
history of promoting his subordinates upward, then don't take it. Your
boss will have so much to do with what people value most in a job: the
appreciation factor. If this boss isn't someone that appreciates you
as a person and a worker, then you're just going to be unhappy there.<br>
<br>
I'd ask the HR dude or dudette if you can meet the boss at least twice,
maybe even in an informal setting. Pay close attention to how the boss
treats people that have no power over him/her like a waitress,
secretary, receptionist, because that's the same category where you're
going to be. <br>
<br>
Don't worry too much about the money with your first job.
Spending/saving it wisely will have a bigger impact, and the delta of
what you might be able to negotiate for a first job will be so small
that it's probably not worth sweating. You should probably ask for
more money no matter what they offer, but don't spend hours trying to
be ideally tactful about it. Just tell them you had more in mind and
tell them to discuss it and get back to you.<br>
<br>
Oh, and remember that whatever company you are at owns your job, but
you and only you own your career. Don't waste years allowing your job
to directly your career down a dead end (think of how banks dumped all
kinds of COBOL programmers after decades of employment). If your job
starts taking you down what you view as a dead end, RUN, don't walk to
your next job.<br>
<br>
Good luck!<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">
<div style="color: rgb(36, 91, 126); font-size: 11pt;">Brian W. Neu<br>
Principal<br>
Advanced Open Systems, Inc.<br>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Technology Applied for Business</span><br>
404.452.0043 (v) <br>
404.418.6911 (f)
</div>
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<br>
<br>
James Sumners wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:ed62030a0807151338k5720403fxb5af5927c7f0ab74@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I'm going to be graduating with a B.S. in mathematics in a week or so.
So far I've only sent off one application, but I'm not really sure how
to look for a job. And when I do get an interview, I'm not sure how
that process works. What should a person fresh out of college, who has
only ever worked on campus, be asking for in terms of compensation?
Any suggestions for a newbie to the job hunt?
</pre>
</blockquote>
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