If I Were 22: Very Concrete Ways to Get a Job (And Then to Keep It)

This post is part of a series in which Influencers share lessons from their youth. Read all the stories here.

When I rewind back to my life as a 22-year-old, what I needed most wasn’t vague inspiration or go-get-‘em motivation — it was concrete advice. I wish I’d had a list of foolproof instructions about how to interview for a job, and a separate list of instructions about how to keep a job once I managed to get one.

In this spirit, I chatted with our Talent team at Warby Parker to collect a list of tips. Although I’m sad that 22-year-old Neil will never be able to benefit from these tips (sorry, pal), I’m hopeful that readers will find some benefit. Knowledge is power.

WHEN YOU’RE GUNNING FOR THE JOB…

Arrive 10 minutes early for your job interview. If you're more than 10 minutes early, go sit in a coffee shop or walk around the block to relax — you don’t want to burden your interviewer with entertaining you. On the flip side, if you're not at least 5 minutes early, it sends an iffy message.

Research the company ahead of time to find out about the dress code, which can help determine what you wear to the interview. If you’re not sure, you can email your contact to find out.

Assume your interview starts the moment you walk in the door. Be kind to the receptionist and anyone you encounter.

If your interviewer offers water or coffee, always accept. Accepting a drink from someone shows a reciprocation of their kindness in offering it — like a peace offering. (Also, you’ll probably end up wanting it.)

Don’t be negative during your interview. Companies need a wide range of personalities on their teams, but no one wants to spend eight hours a day with a complainer.

Ask questions during your interview, but make them thoughtful. Don’t ask overarching questions like “What’s the culture like?” And don’t ask questions that could be answered easily with Google.

Write a thank-you email after your interview. Write it the same day, but not immediately after leaving the interview, which will make it seem like an automatic reflex. It goes without saying that you need to get the interviewer’s email address in order to do this, so make sure you have it.

ONCE YOU GET THE JOB…

Own your work. Take on responsibility regardless of whether you’re excited by a particular task or not. Make a game of it.

Don’t leave your desk messy at the end of the day. A standard amount of clutter is ok, but not a decomposing salad.

Avoid lazy conversation. Gossip is like junk food: tasty, convenient, difficult to resist, and with effects that aren’t immediately visible. Try not to build up a habit of it. Think of it in terms of opportunity cost — every gossip session is a wasted chance to have a thoughtful conversation.

Always err on the side of over-communicating.

Be mindful of your method of communication. If you have a conflict to solve — even a minor one — it’s always best to talk in person. (Or, if that’s impossible, on the phone.) Email should be the absolute last resort for anything that requires emotional heavy-lifting.

Last but not least, be on time. If work starts at 9 a.m., leave your house planning to get there at 8:50 a.m. Give yourself a window. Even if you think no one is noticing, they are.