Students from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Jackson, MS, Nashville, and Washington, DC, participated in a two-day developmental workshop with Nissan employees and community leaders at the automaker’s headquarters in Nashville. Here are 10 SUPER TIPS from the event to help your teen land his/her first job.

2. In honor of Black History Month, Nissan
North America partnered with 100 Black
Men of America to host its fourth annual
Resume Challenge for African American
high school juniors and seniors recently.
“While celebrating African American
history is an integral piece of Nissan’s
Black History Month observances, helping
to prepare tomorrow’s black history
makers is equally important to us,” says
Jeffrey Webster, Nissan’s Director of
Diversity and Inclusion.
Students from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas,
Jackson, MS, Nashville, and
Washington, DC, participated in a two-
day developmental workshop with Nissan
employees and community leaders at the
automaker’s headquarters in Nashville.
Here are 10 SUPER TIPS from the event
to help your teen land his/her first job.
Follow the conversation online, #NissanDiversity!

3. The first step on the road to success is
to tap into your passion says Nissan’s
Andrew Tavi.
“Be passionate. Wake up every day and
ask yourself if you’re doing what you
want to be doing.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

4. “Build your network in person,”
advises Nissan’s Rebecca Vest. “Get
out of your computer, get off your
phone, get away from the desk and
go make a relationship with the
people you work with; because we
are not just machines. We’re people.
We’re all valuable, wonderful
creations. Having your network will
pay off huge dividends over time.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

5. Ashford Hughes, Senior Advisor for Labor
and Workforce, Metropolitan Government
of Nashville and Davidson County, says
that he lost friends to gun violence and jail,
and he encourages young Black men to
connect with positive men in their
communities.
“You have people like myself and other
men who are here for you, so reach out,”
he says. “You are worthy and you are
loved, and we need you as a part of our
community.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

6. Nissan’s Amber MacGillis and Michelle
Cook warn that your social media
footprint can hurt you when you’re
looking for a job. “After they receive your
resume, most companies search your
social media profiles,” MacGillis says.
Cook says three keys to manage your
online reputation are: 1. Think before
you post; 2. Do not feed the trolls;
and, 3. Un-tag yourself when someone
tags you in questionable posts.
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

7. Create a clean, error-free, properly
formatted resume that highlights your
education and skills. START HERE.
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

8. When you’re looking for work, you must
always show your professional side says
Nissan’s John Martin.
“The world owes you nothing; you must
make yourself a compelling hire.
Present yourself as a professional and
well-educated.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

9. Learn how to sell yourself in 60 seconds
or less, advises Nissan’s Rob Martinez.
“You must be prepared; you have to
assume that you’re going to be called.
And when you’re called, speak with
confidence.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

10. “Open your meeting with a handshake,”
says Nissan’s Cheryl Mayes.
“And make certain that you speak
clearly.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

11. After you land the job you want, you
can’t afford to slack, warns Nissan’s
Chandra Vasser.
“I did all sorts of extra things to make
sure that I was adding value, and
promotions came.
They wanted me to leave my function
in finance and go into purchasing, [and
I thought] if someone else have enough
belief in me that I could do this job,
then I had to prove them right.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity

12. “I’ve spent 20-something years, from a
junior buyer to a buyer, to a manager to a
senior manager, to a GM to an AGM,
building…and that process takes a long
time,” says Nissan’s Rebecca Vest.
“I’m not very patient, I wish it would have
happened in three years, but you’ve got
to let it happen.”
10 Super Tips to Land Your First Job by Zondra Hughes. #NissanDiversity