News & Insights

I want Salas O’Brien to be a place where people who care about doing meaningful work can build a lasting career, not just take a job. That means opportunity should exist for everyone who joins us, and it means we owe it to job seekers to be straightforward about what that looks like.

Every early-career professional faces the same two challenges: finding a company that fits what you actually want out of your career, and putting yourself in the best position to land the job once you’ve found it.

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to mentor and watch a lot of early-career professionals build their path at Salas O’Brien. These are the thoughts I keep coming back to.

Know what you’re looking for

Before you can evaluate any company or role, you need a clear sense of where you want to go with your whole career, not just your first job.

Don’t choose a role for salary alone. Fair pay matters, and you should be able to live well and save for your future. But growth and skill-building should carry more weight than the number on your first offer. A lower starting salary with real room to grow will usually serve you better than a higher one that leads nowhere.

Take time to think through your values, the kind of environment you work best in, and the type of work that will actually keep you engaged. That clarity will make every decision after this one easier.

Evaluate the company and the role

Once you know what you’re looking for, hold the opportunity up against it. A few things to consider:

1. Growth and training. Does the company invest in developing people? Is there a real training program, mentorship, or a path for someone new?
2. Values alignment. Does what the company says it stands for match what you saw when you talked to people there?
3. Staying power. Look at how long people tend to stay and where their careers go from there. Glassdoor and LinkedIn are good places to start.
4. Culture. Does the environment fit how you work best? Did it feel like a place you’d want to show up every day?
5. The people. How do the people come across? Who you’ll work alongside matters as much as the job description.
6. Expectations. What will be expected of you in the first two or three years, and does that match where you want to go?

Show up as the right fit

If the role and the company line up with where you want to go, the next step is showing them why you’re the right person for it.

Hiring managers are looking for two things: can you do the job, and are you likely to stay and grow in it. Companies invest real time and cost in bringing someone up to speed, so a pattern of short stints will work against you. Show that you’re someone worth that investment.

Tailor your resume to the skills the role actually requires. Going into the interview, have specific examples ready that show your work ethic, your initiative, the skills on your resume, and your willingness to keep learning. Generic answers don’t stick. Specific stories do.

Show up early, dress for the role, and be yourself. Hiring managers will remember if someone is genuine more than if they are polished.

After the interview, send a short thank you note. Reference something specific from the conversation, not a generic thank you. It shows you were paying attention and gives the interviewer a reason to remember you.

Interested in Salas O’Brien?

If this sounds like the kind of place you want to build a career, we’d like to hear from you. Visit our Early Careers page.