Welcome to the New MyFirstJob Newsletter

I’ve been giving this a ton of thought over the past few months. There are plenty of career blogs, plenty of motivational quotes, and plenty of people on the internet telling kids to “just work hard.” But here’s the truth: hard work isn’t enough if you don’t know the little skills that make you stand out from the start.

That’s why I’m reinventing this newsletter. My promise to you: every week, you’ll get:

• A soft skill spotlight for students — one skill that matters right now.
  

• A prep corner for parents — one simple way to coach at home.
  

• A brief story from my career that illustrates why this matters so much.
  

• A quick pulse on the MyFirstJob app, plus an open door to talk directly with me anytime you need to.

This is not going to be theory. This is going to be real-world advice I’ve used to hire, train, and coach people for 20+ years. Let’s kick it off with something simple, powerful, and unforgettable.

Soft Skill Spotlight (For Students)

“The Handshake Secret: How to Make a First Impression in 2 Seconds or Less”

Back when I managed restaurants, I probably interviewed more than a thousand teenagers for their first job. I never cared much about resumes, as most kids didn’t have one anyway. What mattered to me more was how they showed up on that very first day. What did they wear? How did they appear? What was their attitude and body language like? 

There’s one kid I’ll never forget, as he ended up becoming one of our greatest managers and, after attending college, landed a successful job as a financial manager. He was nervous on his first day of the interview, just like everyone else. But when I reached out my hand, he looked me in the eye, smiled, and gave me a confident, steady handshake. Two seconds — that’s all it took. My brain instantly went: This kid has it. I can trust him with customers. I can trust him with my team.

👉 Here’s how you can get the same reaction:

1. Stand tall. Straighten up before you even put your hand out.
   

2. Grip firm, not hard. Limp = unsure. Crushing = overcompensating. Find the middle ground.
   

3. Eye contact for 2–3 seconds. Long enough to show confidence, not long enough to feel creepy.
   

4. Smile small. A slight smile signals positivity without forcing it.
   

5. Say something simple. “Nice to meet you” works every single time.
   

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never worked a job in your life. If you nail this quick two-second interaction, you’ve just made yourself stand out from 90% of people your age.

Pro tip: You don’t get a second chance at a first impression.

Parent Prep Corner

“Practice First Impressions at Home — A 5-Minute Family Exercise”

Parents, here’s your role: you can create safe reps for your teen or student to practice this stuff before it matters.

Try this tonight at dinner:

1. Have each family member pretend to “arrive at an interview.”
   

2. Shake hands, introduce yourself, and make eye contact.
   

3. Give quick feedback — “Too soft,” “That felt confident,” “Try again.”

It sounds simple, but repetition is your magic. The muscle memory your teen builds now will show up later when it matters most.

And bonus: this becomes a fun family exercise where everyone laughs a little while learning something useful.

Quick Story From My Career

When I was 23, I interviewed for a management job at a major hotel. I was young, underqualified on paper, and nervous. But I shook the GM’s hand like I belonged in the room. Later, after I got the job, he told me, “You weren’t the most experienced candidate, but you came across as confident and trustworthy from the start. That mattered more.”

That’s what I want you to take away from these every week: soft skills are not “nice-to-haves.” They are the difference makers.

App Pulse

With the official launch of the MyFirstJob app behind us, here’s a rundown of what you’ll get inside:

• A resume builder designed for first-timers (no fluff, no jargon).

• Cover letter support so you don’t stare at a blank page.

• 60 soft skill lessons (like today’s handshake lesson, but deeper).

• A parent rewards store so you can motivate your teen to keep learning.

• A job matching platform that, once filled with jobs, will be your direct path to your first or second job.
  

👉 But I need your input. What else would you love to see? Reply to this email and tell me. This is your chance to help shape this newsletter and the app. 

A Note From Me

I want this to be more than a newsletter. I want it to feel like you have someone in your corner who’s been there, made mistakes, learned the hard way, and now wants to pass that on.

So here’s my open offer: if you’re a teenager nervous about your first job, or a parent unsure of how to help — reply and ask me anything. I’ll do my best to answer personally.

This is the first handshake between us. Let’s make it a good one.

— Josh Noreen
Founder, MyFirstJobLorem Ipsum!