Hey there, need a job? Fairfield native Willy Franzen is here to help you. One Day, One Job, a website Franzen created, is a viable first stop for first-time jobseekers.

Franzen grew up in Southport and graduated from Greens Farms Academy in Westport. He attended and graduated from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 2006. Then he founded this site, onedayonejob.com. In his engaging daily blog, Franzen candidly profiles a new employer every day (non-profits on the weekends), and the entry-level jobs they’re offering. The site’s clean look—his mom, a graphic artist, designed the company logo—and ease of use makes it a great place for college students (and their parents) to read about available jobs.

According to Franzen, the sooner a young grad starts looking for employment, the sooner he or she will land that first job. One Day, One Job provides in-depth profiles on jobs available, what they’re really like, how to navigate company websites, and how to apply for the jobs. There’s help for users to get started immediately.

“We have a lot of faith in what we’re doing,” said Franzen. He started his first Internet business at age 14, and has been fascinated by the Web ever since. Launched in May of 2007, One Day, One Job was born out of Franzen’s own frustrating job hunt. The 23-year-old entrepreneur decided there had to be a better way to find jobs online.

He also thought a website like the one he devised would be good for companies, as employers weren’t reaching him and others like him—the so-called Generation Y—in the right way. According to Franzen, Generation Y lives on the Web and that’s where they look for jobs and that’s where employers can best engage them. In 2008, One Day, One Job and its partner site, One Day, One Internship (see sidebar) attracted over 350,000 unique visitors—many from top schools. The site helps employers get the word out about their businesses (and also offers consulting services).

And how does he choose the businesses to profile? When it comes to finding great companies, “I cast a wide net,” Franzen said. “I’m always looking at advertising spots, billboards, job boards, blogs, and new products.”

He likes companies with a good story, whether it’s about the founders, their products, or how they got started. He encourages new grads to use their imaginations to discover job possibilities and to keep asking: Who might be hiring? For example, if you’re staying at a hotel you like, maybe they need an accountant. If you love the magazine you’re reading, see if its marketing department needs a copywriter. At college, Franzen turned his own love of fly-fishing into internships with Orvis in Manchester, Vermont. Now, that’s a dream job.

Oh, to be an intern
Find A spot that’s right for you. Check out One Day, One Internship (onedayoneinternship.com), a revealing guide to exciting and perhaps not-so-exciting internships for college students. There are plenty of employer profiles and tips on researching internships to get you headed in the right direction. An internship is a great foot in the door to a permanent position.