Interview Question: "What Was Your First Job?"

Why do employers ask about first jobs?
Employers ask about first jobs to gauge where a person started in relation to where they are now. At their first job, an individual learns how to communicate better and build professional relationships. They learn that it's not wrong to ask questions as they lead to valuable learning experiences. Individuals are often very malleable in their first job and carry their knowledge and experience into other roles. There are many new experiences involved with a first job, and the environment has a significant impact on what individuals learn from them.

For example, an individual who starts in retail learns a great deal about communication. They're exposed to most, if not all, forms of communication, such as verbal and nonverbal. These individuals learn specific cues, expressions and mannerisms and understand how to respond to them.

How an individual obtained their first job may also have relevance. In some cases, the individual applies to a multitude of roles before gaining an interview. In other scenarios, the individual earns the role through a family or friend. They may also earn their first role through a hiring event or group interview. Employers may respond to any of these answers as they see fit.

How to answer the question
Asking an individual about their first job may yield a wide range of answers. It often opens up further information, such as how they obtained the role and if they enjoyed it. Interviewers expect more information in a response than a simple one-word answer, as it's an open-ended question. Consider the following when answering this question:

1. Explain the job title
   Along with answering the base question, elaborate on the job title held. Clearly state what the title was with a brief explanation of the role. Keeping information relevant to the job title short gives more focus on answering the main question.

2. Describe the process of obtaining the role
   Briefly explain how you got the job. Examples include online listings, applying in person, receiving help from friends or family and more. If necessary, explain the next step in a concise manner. For example, if it involved a group interview, the interviewer may enjoy hearing how and why employers chose the individual over everyone else.

3. Explain skills learned during the role
   Many individuals start their first job at a young age. Often, they're also very malleable and absorb important skills and information. Let the interviewer know what those skills were, if they were easy to learn and how they were applied on the job.

4. Describe how to apply the above skills to the current role
   If applicable, explain how the skills learned during the first job may benefit the current one. This is an answer many interviews may not expect. It better answers the original question and also proves why the individual is a solid candidate for the position.

Example answers
Interviewers may ask about an individual's first job during an interview. They may even ask it as a series of questions, each one focusing on a different aspect of the first job. The steps outlined above show how to gradually move from answering the original question to offering additional, more helpful information. Below is a list of example responses:

Furniture store example: "My first job was at a furniture store called Benchmark Furniture. I was a store associate, responsible for moving furniture and upselling customers. The company actually held a group interview and presented a scenario with a customer. I was the only one that convinced the would-be customer to make a purchase. While I was there, I was exposed to many different types of people. Since I had to upsell, I quickly learned what worked and what didn't. I can do the same in this role, reading clients and understanding their wants and needs."