The First Job Podcast with Fexingo: Entry-Level Roles, New Grads, and Starting Your Career

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a growing career trend: using your first job as a launchpad for a side career, not just a side hustle. They break down the difference between earning extra cash and building a parallel professional identity, using the story of a 2022 new grad named Jordan who leveraged her entry-level marketing role at a regional bank to develop data...

In episode 78 of The First Job Podcast, hosts Lucas and Luna explore how new graduates can identify and develop transferable skills in their first job. Using the example of a recent marketing assistant at a regional retailer who leveraged data analysis and project management skills to pivot into a tech operations role, they break down a practical framework for recognizing which daily tasks build l...

Episode 77 of The First Job Podcast. Most career advice focuses on what to pursue. But Lucas and Luna argue that one of the most valuable things your first job can teach you is what you actively dislike. Lucas shares a specific framework called 'the anti-career list' — a technique where you track tasks, environments, and manager behaviors that drain you, then use that data to rule out future roles...

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how entry-level employees can develop negotiation skills even when they have little formal power. Using the example of a junior analyst at a mid-size consulting firm who successfully negotiated a 10 percent raise after eight months, they break down the preparation, timing, and framing that made it work. Lucas shares a specific techni...

In Episode 75 of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how new grads can intentionally build a professional reputation from day one. Using the case of a junior analyst at a mid-sized Chicago consulting firm who went from invisible to go-to within 18 months by owning small tasks and sharing credit, they break down practical moves like the 'two-sentence email rule,' the art of under-promisin...

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the concept of building a career portfolio in your entry-level role—not just a resume, but a curated collection of projects, skills, and results that tell a story. They use the example of a marketing coordinator at a mid-sized B2B software company who, over 18 months, turned routine tasks into a portfolio that landed her a senior rol...

Episode 73 of The First Job Podcast tackles a topic every new grad needs but few discuss openly: how to use your first real paycheck to build a financial foundation without becoming a penny-pinching spreadsheet troll. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example of a 23-year-old marketing coordinator earning $48,000 in Austin, Texas, breaking down exactly where her money goes and how she can all...

Episode 72 of The First Job Podcast: Lucas and Luna explore how entry-level employees can craft a compelling career narrative from day one — not by exaggerating, but by intentionally choosing projects that build a coherent story. They break down the concept of 'career narrative capital', using the example of a marketing coordinator who turned routine email campaigns into a data-driven growth story...

Getting rejected from a job you really wanted stings — especially when it's your first real career attempt. Lucas and Luna break down why rejection in entry-level hiring is often less about you and more about timing, fit, and the brutal math of applicant volume. They walk through a specific case: a marketing grad who applied to 40 roles, got 3 interviews, no offers, then used structured follow-up...

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how new grads and early-career professionals can build career resilience from day one. Using the example of a recent college graduate who proactively built a strong network and a portfolio of skills during her first year at a mid-sized marketing firm, they discuss practical strategies for developing adaptability, managing setbacks, a...

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how new grads can use their first job to create career optionality—the ability to pivot, diversify, or advance without starting over. They break down the concept of building a personal monopoly, drawing on examples from the tech layoff wave of 2022-2025 and the rise of AI tools. Lucas walks through a three-step framework: (1) identif...

Lucas and Luna explore the strategic art of using your first job as leverage when interviewing for your second. They break down the exact moment to bring up competing offers, what salary range you can realistically ask for based on one year of experience, and why the hiring manager actually expects you to negotiate. Lucas shares a specific example from a recruiter friend who said candidates with 1...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna tackle a common first-job dilemma: how to start a side hustle when you're already working full-time. Lucas shares the story of a marketing coordinator who built a freelance graphic design business on weekends without sacrificing her performance at her 9-to-5. They break down the specific tactics she used: setting strict time blocks, using her employer's tuition reim...

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna discuss the tricky topic of office politics for new grads. Using the example of a junior analyst at a mid-sized consulting firm who successfully navigated a tense team dynamic, they break down practical strategies: building social capital, understanding informal power structures, and staying neutral in conflicts. They also share a personal a...

Episode 65 of The First Job Podcast: Lucas and Luna discuss how entry-level employees can build a personal brand without waiting for a promotion, using specific tactics like sharing insights on LinkedIn, creating internal documentation, and speaking at team meetings. They dive into the story of a new grad who started a weekly internal newsletter that got her noticed by senior leadership. The conve...

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle a delicate challenge for new grads and early-career professionals: how to get noticed for your work without coming across as an attention-seeker or a show-off. They break down the specific strategies that make visibility feel earned, not forced — using real examples like the 'brag folder' method, sending weekly one-sentence status upd...

This episode tackles a common early-career crisis: the job you accepted turns out to be very different from what was described in the interview. Lucas and Luna discuss why this happens so often, how to tell the difference between a simple mismatch and a bait-and-switch, and practical steps to take in your first 90 days. They use the example of a recent grad who accepted a marketing role at a mid-s...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how new grads can strategically build a professional network starting from their first job, without feeling awkward or transactional. They break down the 'five-minute favor' concept, discuss how to identify key mentors within your organization, and share a specific framework for turning a single informational interview into a lasting connection. Lucas cites...

In Episode 61 of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the specific strategies that turn a summer internship into a permanent role — using real data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers showing that over 56% of 2025 interns received full-time offers. They discuss the three-phase approach: pre-internship research, mid-internship visibility tactics (like the weekly summ...

In Episode 60 of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle one of the most common yet intimidating career moves: asking someone to be your mentor. They break down why the traditional 'will you be my mentor?' ask often fails, and share a specific, low-pressure alternative modeled on a real case from a new grad at a mid-size tech firm. Lucas walks through the three-part framing—context, specific...

Episode 59 of The First Job Podcast tackles the art of asking for a job recommendation. Lucas and Luna discuss why most entry-level employees dread this ask, and share a four-step framework for making it natural and effective. They break down a real example from a marketing assistant at a mid-size agency who secured a strong LinkedIn recommendation from a busy VP by using the 'draft-and-edit' meth...

Lucas and Luna dive into the art of networking as a new grad—starting from day one without feeling fake. They break down the 5-5-5 method: five minutes a day to identify five people to meet over five months. Using concrete examples from a recent LinkedIn survey showing 85% of jobs are filled via networking, they explain how to turn a coffee chat into a mentor relationship, why asking for advice be...

Your first job is exciting, but what if your first manager is a nightmare? Lucas and Luna tackle one of the toughest early-career challenges: reporting to a boss who is clueless, micromanaging, or worse. They break down a real case from a listener named Priya, who had her confidence crushed by a manager who took credit for her work and gave zero feedback. Lucas shares three concrete strategies: do...

In this episode of The First Job Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a practical framework for identifying and building transferable career skills in your first job. They discuss the 'skill stack' concept, using a real example of a recent grad who turned a data entry role into a data analyst position by systematically documenting and expanding her skills. Lucas breaks down the three skill categories e...

Episode 55 of The First Job Podcast tackles a tricky moment every new grad faces: you've been in the role for a few months, you're on top of your tasks, but you want more. Lucas and Luna break down a specific playbook—starting with a real example from a junior analyst at a mid-size insurance firm who successfully expanded her role without annoying her manager. They cover the three-week window to p...