What mods do you guys recommend I use when I play it my first time?
Since you guys are seasoned vets of it and all.. 
first you wanna get the "skyrim mod manager"
you dont have to have it, but not using it you need a good working knowledge of your folder system...backing up old files ECT ECT
it is much easier and cleaner using it....and after further inspecting(its been awhile) it is not called skyrim mod manager it is called the "Nexus Mod Manager" or NMM
here is a link
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/?at the very top of the page you will see "install NMM 0.49" thats what you want
then as you are browsing for mods most you can install with the NMM it will have a button for that...if it dont look for a different mod...
now things you want to remember....
don't get 2 mods that do the same thing....
the least amount of Mods to get what you want works the best and will give you the least amount of issues.
(although I think I had something like 75 mods with no issues except crashing once in awhile)
start out slow
the 2 mods I think are a must is
"Deadly Dragons"
"war Zones-civil unrest."
"Duel Combat realism"
Dawn Guard and Heartfire
plus the "unofficial Patches" for those 2
"Climates of Tamriel"
"Enhanced Blood"
"Sky-test realistic animal & predators"
those few make a huge difference.....
these I was using back when it first came out...not sure if better ones are out(or if they are still about)
whats cool about the NMM is that it will let you know when there is an update to the mod...and if/when there are any conflicts....
conflicts are not a deal breaker the mod loaded last over rides the mod before it,<-----you need to remember that
Do the people who work on Skyrim have Skyrim jobs?
no...I create mods just for fun.
