Episodes

  • How to Use Your First Job to Build a Career Portfolio

    How to Use Your First Job to Build a Career Portfolio
    Jun 29 2026
    Your first job is more than a paycheck — it's the raw material for a career portfolio that can unlock your next opportunity. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how to systematically collect evidence of your impact, skills, and growth from day one. They break down the concept of a career portfolio (think: a living document, not a dusty folder), share a practical framework for capturing achievements without the cringe, and walk through a real example from a first-year analyst at a midsize bank who turned routine work into a compelling narrative. You'll learn why waiting until you're job hunting is a mistake, how to separate signal from noise in your daily tasks, and what hiring managers actually look for when they review a portfolio. Whether you're three months or three years into your first role, this episode gives you a system for turning your work into currency. #CareerPortfolio #FirstJob #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #JobSearch #EntryLevel #NewGrads #SkillBuilding #CareerAdvice #WorkplaceStrategy #PersonalBrand #JobHunting #ResumeTips #InterviewPrep #CareerPlanning #CareerPodcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 mins
  • How to Use Your First Job to Build a Side Career

    How to Use Your First Job to Build a Side Career
    Jun 28 2026
    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 analytics skills, which she then used to start a freelance dashboard consulting practice on the side. By year three, Jordan's side career earned more than her day job, but she kept both for professional optionality. The hosts discuss how to identify transferable skills, set boundaries with your employer, and avoid the burnout trap. They also touch on when to disclose a side career in performance reviews and how to decide if it's time to make the leap full-time. Practical advice for new grads who want to build multiple income streams without jeopardizing their primary job. #SideCareer #FirstJob #CareerAdvice #SideHustle #NewGrad #EntryLevel #CareerOptionality #Freelance #DataAnalytics #SkillBuilding #Burnout #IncomeStreams #ProfessionalGrowth #CorporateLife #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • How to Use Your First Job to Develop Transferable Skills

    How to Use Your First Job to Develop Transferable Skills
    Jun 28 2026
    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 lasting career currency. Lucas shares a specific three-step method: audit your weekly tasks for high-leverage activities, document outcomes in a skills portfolio, and connect each skill to a target industry. Luna brings in data from a LinkedIn study showing that 45% of skills in job postings overlap across industries, debunking the myth that changing careers means starting from scratch. They also discuss how to frame skills like communication, stakeholder management, and tool proficiency on a resume without generic buzzwords. If today's episode helps you think strategically about your career trajectory, consider supporting the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. #TransferableSkills #FirstJob #CareerPivot #SkillBuilding #NewGrads #EntryLevel #CareerGrowth #JobSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerStrategy #ResumeTips #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #CareersPodcast #TheFirstJobPodcast #LucasAndLuna Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 mins
  • How to Use Your First Job to Learn What You Don't Want

    How to Use Your First Job to Learn What You Don't Want
    Jun 27 2026
    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. He cites a 2023 LinkedIn survey where 62% of new grads said they took a job that sounded good on paper but made them unhappy within six months, partly because they didn't know their own dislikes. Luna pushes back on whether 'quitting fast' is too privileged a take, and they discuss the difference between discomfort that teaches you and misery that just burns you out. They also cover how to have honest conversations with your manager about role fit without sounding entitled. Practical, unsentimental advice for anyone in their first year of work. #FirstJob #CareerAdvice #NewGrad #AntiCareerList #JobFit #WorkHappiness #EntryLevel #CareerDiscovery #ManagerRelationships #BurnoutPrevention #LinkedInSurvey #JobSatisfaction #RoleFit #Quitting #ProfessionalGrowth #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • How to Use Your First Job to Build Negotiation Skills

    How to Use Your First Job to Build Negotiation Skills
    Jun 27 2026
    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 technique called 'interest-based negotiation' and explains how to practice it in low-stakes settings like client calls or project deadlines. Luna brings in research from the Harvard Negotiation Project showing that people who negotiate their first salary earn over $1 million more over a career. They discuss common mistakes—like anchoring too low or treating negotiation as confrontation—and offer a simple three-step framework for any first-job situation. The episode ends with a reflection on how negotiation is a skill you build over time, not a single conversation. #Negotiation #FirstJob #EntryLevel #SalaryNegotiation #Careers #HarvardNegotiationProject #InterestBasedNegotiation #Lucas #Luna #Fexingo #BusinessPodcast #CareerSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #NewGrads #JobOffer #Raise #ConflictResolution #Communication Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    10 mins
  • How to Use Your First Job to Build a Professional Reputation

    How to Use Your First Job to Build a Professional Reputation
    Jun 26 2026
    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-promising and over-delivering, and why saying 'I don't know' strategically can boost credibility. They also discuss how to handle mistakes without sounding defensive, and the surprising reputational power of being the person who remembers names and follows up. No fluff—just actionable advice for anyone starting their career who wants to be known for the right reasons. #FirstJob #NewGrad #CareerAdvice #ProfessionalReputation #WorkplaceSuccess #EntryLevel #CareerGrowth #OfficeCulture #PersonalBrand #Credibility #Consulting #SelfAwareness #CommunicationSkills #Mistakes #ReputationBuilding #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • How to Use Your First Job to Build a Career Portfolio

    How to Use Your First Job to Build a Career Portfolio
    Jun 26 2026
    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 role at a competitor. The hosts discuss the three pillars of a career portfolio: measurable outcomes, skill demonstrations, and narrative coherence. They also share practical tips on documenting your work, asking for feedback, and presenting your portfolio in interviews. If you're early in your career and want to stand out, this episode offers a concrete framework to start building your career portfolio today. #CareerPortfolio #EntryLevel #FirstJob #CareerGrowth #SkillBuilding #JobSearch #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerStrategy #Mentorship #JobHunt #NewGrad #CareerAdvice #WorkplaceSuccess #PersonalBrand #B2BMarketing #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
  • How to Use Your First Job to Build a Financial Foundation

    How to Use Your First Job to Build a Financial Foundation
    Jun 25 2026
    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 allocate just 10 percent of gross income to savings, retirement, and an emergency fund without feeling deprived. They discuss the psychology of lifestyle creep, the one-number rule for rent, and why a 401(k) match is the closest thing to free money you will ever see. If you have ever wondered whether your first job can actually make you financially secure instead of just keeping you afloat, this episode offers a realistic, non-judgmental path forward. No shame, no slick budgeting apps — just a straightforward system that works on an entry-level salary. #FirstJob #EntryLevel #NewGrad #PersonalFinance #Budgeting #EmergencyFund #401k #LifestyleCreep #FinancialFoundation #Austin #MarketingCoordinator #SavingsRate #RentRule #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheFirstJobPodcast #MoneyMindset Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 mins