I was contacted a few weeks ago by the great people at The Ladders. They wanted me to write a blog post with advice for those just graduating college and entering the job market for the first time.

At first, I found the request amusing because: A. I didn’t finish college and B. I’m currently looking for a new job. But that’s OK, because those two things aside, I have over 20 years of experience working, and learning, and being part of a team. And hiring. And a couple of times, with a heavy heart, letting people go.

To make this easier, for the purpose of this post, I’m going to write to you as Jamie. I chose Jamie because that could be either a man or a woman. Feel free to insert your own name. Heck, even cut and paste these words and change them to your own name. Wait, that’s maybe a bit much.

So, Jamie, if you walked into my office with your fresh diploma representing years of hard work and said you were ready to find your perfect position, here’s what I would want you to understand.

• Don’t try to be someone you’re not. I want the authentic you. And for pity’s sake, when I ask you about your weaknesses, don’t say (as a person I interviewed famously did) “I’m a perfectionist and sometimes I get frustrated when people don’t match up to my expectations.” That is, in fact, not a weakness but a humble brag and I will see right through it. Are numbers not your thing? Please tell me. Are you at your best self one on one but find big groups to be somewhat unnerving? That’s OK! Me, too! The more vulnerable you can be about where you’re not so strong, the more I will believe you about everything else.
• Do your homework. Please don’t walk in without a working knowledge of my organization and what we do. Google is lovely, isn’t it? Even if you’ve never heard of me or my organization, a simple google search will tell you lots. 
• Don’t tell me everything you know. Instead, show me what you can learn. As you’re putting together your resume, you may have trouble because you’re just starting out. But even if the only thing on there is a part-time job at Taco Bell (as was my son’s first job), tell me what you learned there. Because the team at Taco Bell is just that – a team. It’s filled with people, and a boss, and customers. I bet you learned a lot there and I want to know all about it. There are no small jobs, only small actors. Wait, that was for another post. Never mind.
• Come prepared with questions!! That part of the interview tells me a lot about who you are and where you’ll fit. Ask about where we’re headed, what our dreams and plans are, and what our leadership development culture is. Those types of questions show me that you’re invested for the long term. I’m not really interested in putting the kind of time and effort into people I hire to just have them leave in 3 months. Show me, by your questions, that this is the place you want to be
• Relax. The reality is, you’ll either fit with a particular culture or you won’t, so look at your time with me, or with any interviewer, as an amazing, free (sometimes with coffee!) learning experience. You will learn more in that one 30 minute meeting (or an hour if you’re lucky) than in an entire semester of certain classes, if you’ll allow yourself to see the lessons being taught.

I believe in you, Jamie, and even if our organization isn’t the right fit for you, I know you’ll find your place. And I may even be so impressed with you that I will help you find it, even if I can’t hire you myself. You can do this. Be humble, keep your head up, and oh, please show up at least 10 minutes early. I may make you wait, but I promise, I’ll notice you were there.

Good luck! We’ll let you know when we’ve come to a decision.