Everyone says you have to pay your dues, that you need to work your way up from the bottom. That message is reinforced by media stories of people who started in the mailroom and now run the company. Such stories are audience pleasers: It's the reassuring Horatio Alger tale that no matter how lousy your job, you too can be a big success.

Unfortunately, "pay your dues" is bad advice. Sure, occasionally, someone rises from the pits to the palace, but those cases are anomalies—that's why the news media do stories about them. Statistically, you're wiser to make all efforts to get a first job that isn't at the bottom. That's the message of a report in the New York Times May 25 by University of Chicago economist Austan Goolsbee. He starts by criticizing Hillary Rodham Clinton's recent remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urging new graduates to pay their dues. He then cites a body of research that finds her advice to be dead wrong: "Graduates' first jobs have an inordinate impact on their career path and their future income stream. Think carefully about your first job because it can matter for the rest of your career."

Of course, thinking isn't enough. That research should be a wake-up call to go all out in finding your first serious job. Don't settle for a crummy job by rationalizing–"It's a place to start," "It's better than nothing," or "It gives me something to put on my résumé." Don't fall for "You gotta pay your dues." You may end up paying dues until you retire.

Do what it takes to land a true launchpad job: one at a solid organization, working at the elbow of a star performer with clout. That way, he has the opportunity to see you in action and, if impressed, can fast-track you.

What do you need to do to land a great launchpad job? It's all laid out for you here.

Then, in job interviews, don't just sit there and get bombarded with questions—vet that job. If your interviewers allow it–and they usually will–ask questions to help you determine if the job is likely to be a launchpad or a dead end. And certainly, when a job is offered to you, before accepting it, ask such questions as "Who will I be reporting to?" "What sorts of training opportunities will be provided?" and "Assuming I do a good job, how likely am I to be promoted? To what sort of position?" Also ask, "Would you mind if I speak with a few of my potential coworkers?"

Of course, landing a launchpad job is one thing. As we all know, some rockets take off from the launchpad and soon crash. To ensure that you don't, there are a few rules to follow.