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How do you prepare for your first day at a new job?

Here are quick tips for recent graduates getting ready for their first day at a new job. 

1. Forget what the job description says.
Clinging to preconceived ideas about your job will only lead to disappointment. Economic situations change, mergers and acquisitions happen, and managers move on. Realize that your job is to do the best work you possibly can while maintaining a positive attitude and the ability to adapt with grace to those inevitable changes.   

 2. Adopt an “I want to learn” attitude.
No one expects you to know how to do everything on your first day. Managers and co-workers expect you to ask questions. Take advantage of their willingness to help you now, because in a few months you will be expected to do your job without as much friendly input.

3. Start a “before-work” ritual to get you revved up for the workday ahead.
To attain peak performance each day, your energy level must remain high. Get in the habit of eating a good breakfast, reading the online trades pertaining to your industry, and doing a bit of exercise before you start your commute to work. Do whatever enables you to clear your mind and start the day with a burst of energy. A good book about managing your energy at work is “The Corporate Athlete,” by Jack Groppel.

4. Stash a few snacks in a purse, briefcase, or shoulder bag.
Often you will be expected to meet with several people on your first day. Occasionally, your need to eat lunch will be overlooked. Be prepared for this by packing a few easy-to-eat and nutritious snacks. 

Top 20 Companies That Are Hiring

Amidst the hundreds of thousands of layoffs being announced every month, there are at least 20 companies still looking for employees (source: CNN Money). Consider these companies for internships as well. In our opinion, the best two companies to target in 2009 for business majors are PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young.

There will be a lot of competition for these jobs, so make sure your resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills are polished.   

Check out the web sites of these 20 companies or go to GradtoGreat.com for more information about companies that hire college grads. 

-Accounting-

1. KPMG 
(Positions in a wide range of areas, from administrative assistants to IT associates to tax and audit managers)

 -Consulting/Business/Professional Services-

2. Accenture 
(Specific IT skills, such as Java, J2EE, industry expertise and government secured clearances. Also hiring for corporate roles that include finance and sales development.) 

3. Booz Allen Hamilton  
(Software and systems engineers, information assurance and security engineers, and intelligence analysts with access to classified information)

4. Ernst & Young
(Looking to hire 5,000 college graduates in 2009 from campus recruiting events) 

5. PricewaterhouseCoopers 
(Looking to hire 2,000 students on campus for winter and summer ‘09 internships in firm’s three core business units) 

-Education-

6. Bright Horizons
(Center and school staff, center and school leadership positions, benefits, client services (sales), payroll, property management, information technology, marketing.)

-Finance-

7. Edward Jones
(Financial advisors and branch office administrators)  

-Healthcare-

8. Baptist Health South Florida
(Talent in all areas, especially RNs, allied health professionals and clerical/administrative staff)

9. Mayo Clinic
(Nursing, laboratories (e.g., research and lab technicians), healthcare professionals (e.g., pharmacists and therapists)). 

10. Methodist Hospital System
(Management, nursing, clinical professionals, non-clinical professionals (such as IT and HR), entry level support services (such as housekeeping and dietary) and administrative/clerical jobs) 

11. Scripps Health
(Executives, managers, staff nurses (RN), imaging techs, pharmacists, IT, and service and support people)

-Retail-

12. Publix
(People for retail grocery stores, information systems, manufacturing, distribution and other support offices)

 13. T-Mobile
( Retail sales, customer service, sales, engineering & operations, EIT, finance, product development, legal affairs, business operations, human resources, marketing, integrated customer experience, corporate communications )

14. Whole Foods Markets
( Retail and non-retail. Positions range from administrative jobs like accounting and IT to store-specific jobs in all departments) 

15. Wegmans
(Grocery store in the northeast looking to hire for in-store positions)  

-Technology-

16. Cisco Systems

17. Genentech
(People in engineering disciplines and customer advocacy)

 18. Google  
(Engineering, marketing, product management, people operations, legal, sales)

19. Microsoft
(software design engineers, financial analysts, human resources, administrative and marketing and sales talent, particularly in online ad sales) 

Other

20. Burns & McDonnell
(Engineering, architecture, construction management) 

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