Okay, the big day has finally arrived! Hopefully you have followed all of our advice on what to do to prepare for your interview. You arrived 15 minutes early, well groomed, you have studied up on the company and you have gone over questions in your head... Now what?
Lets go over my 7 Commandments of Interviewing... Why 7, and not 10, you ask? Because is it that simple! you do not even need to know 10 rules for it!
1) Greet Prospective with a Handshake.
You want to appear confident and friendly starting with the first few seconds (when most impressions are formed). So, when you see the employer, do not be hesitant to go stand up and greet them with a sincere smile and a good handshake.
2) Make Eye Contact.
Again, confidence is KEY! when answering questions, look the interviewer(s) straight in the eye. Looking up, down, or around the room will give the impression that you are insecure, shy, uncomfortable, or making up answers.
3) Listen Carefully
Listening skills are important in any position. This includes everything from top level CEO positions, all the way down to the basement janitor. Everyone in any given organization needs to have great listening skills, and this is your first (and possibly your only) chance to prove yourself. You do not want to find yourself answering a question you think you heard.
4) Be Direct
If you do not know an answer, do not make up an answer. If you know an answer, be straightforward and to the point. Do not beat around the bush. Employers are smart. they will know when you are trying to cover up for your lack of knowledge, so don't even try.
5) Be Positive
You should never say anything negative in an interview. When asked about prior jobs (and trust me, you will be), you should have well thought out reasons why you left. Avoid sounding overly needy, disgruntled, picky, selfish, or pessimistic at any cost!
6) Ask Questions
At the end of almost every interview I have been in, I am asked, "Do you have any questions for us?" Even if it is a small question that you really don't care about, ask it! Asking questions shows that you care, and an employer wants an employee who cares about their job and workplace.
7) Thank Them
When the interview is over, thank your future employer. Leave with a confident smile, a handshake, and your head held high. Most of what is remembered of an interaction is in the beginning and the end, so be sure and leave them smiling.
And that is it!
Now, you get home, and you are wondering what comes next. Right?
Well... I'll tell you!
Write a thank you note the same day of the interview, and mail it no later than the following morning.
A thank you letter should be a very brief final statement. This may be your chance to tie up any loose ends or emphasize any key points from the interview, but remember to keep it simple and to the point. Here are some great links that can basically write the letter for you:
About.com
my-thank-you-site.com
ehow.com
If you do not hear back from the employer in a few days, do not be afraid to call/stop by. Many times, this will be how you set yourself apart from others. Following up in person shows that you are driven and that you really want this job. For me personally, the way that I got my current job was by following up several times with my employer. Every time i would call back to "check in" they would set up another interview, and eventually, I was on board!
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this blog, I hope you found it informative! Now get off the computer and go get yourself a job!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Preparing yourself before the interview
Congratulations, you have your foot in the door. In this economy, this is a clear sign that you are qualified for the job you are looking for and they like what they see so far. Now it's time to seal the deal. I'm going to talk to you about what preparations you need to make before setting foot in the office for an interview. There are several steps that need to be taken in order to ensure you are presenting yourself in the best light possible.
1. Do research on the company you are interviewing with and the position you are interviewing for - Go on the company's website and learn about the place you want to work. They may ask you if you know anything about them once you are in the interview chair and if you can give them a few important details, your stock will rise. If you can get information about the job you are applying for as well, that will only make you look stronger. Another good idea is going on Google or Bing and referencing stories about the company you want to work for, or if they are a subsidiary of a larger company, the parent company as well.
2. Dressing for the interview - This can be tricky. Time was, they said a man should always wear a suit and tie and a woman should wear a jacket and skirt or a dress. Now there are people who say that you should dress for the job you are looking for, that it's OK to dress business casual for certain interviews. I believe that it's always better to overdress for an interview than under dress, you can always remove your jacket, but you can't go to your car and put one on if you don't come in with one. What is more important is that your clothes should always be clean and ironed. Neatness counts, which leads to......
3. Grooming for the interview: You need to pay attention to appearance from head to toe. Here are a few guidelines:
- Make sure your hair is clean and cut. Have it cut a day or two before the interview, that way you won't get any loose hairs on your jacket.
- Your shoes should be polished and clean. No open toed shoes or sandals.
- Make sure your fingernails are clean and cut. You will shake hands with everyone you meet and they will see your hands, dirty fingernails are a bad sign.
- Minimal perfume or cologne. You don't want to overpower them. On the other hand, make sure you don't have body odor.
- Clean breath and teeth. But don't eat mints or chew gum in the interview.
- Keep jewelry to a minimum.
- Cover all tattoos and remove all body piercings except for earrings in the ear for the ladies. You want to be a blank slate, you want them to remember you for your great interview, not for being the guy with a skull on your forearm or the girl with the eyebrow ring.
4. Come to the interview at least 15 minutes early. Being there a little bit early says your are conscientious. Showing up an hour early says you are needy. Showing up late says you don't care. Plot your route ahead of time. If you are there 15 minutes early, you can fill out any paperwork they ask you to do and have it done in time for the interview.
5. Practice responses to possible questions. There are many websites out there that have possible questions that you may be asked when at an interview. But when it comes to it, there are three different types of questions that you are going to be asked:
Can you do the job? - Do you have the skills and experience to handle the position? Examples include:
What aspects of your education and/or work experience do you see will help you in this position?
Tell us about a time when you were up against a tight deadline and how you succeeded.
Do you want the job? -
Why do you want to work for us?
What about the job/the company interests you?
Are you a good fit for the job or company?
What skills do you bring to the job?
What weaknesses do you bring?
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Describe a situation where you worked with a team. How did you interact with them? Were you successful?
Think about the answers to these questions before you go in. If you can, practice with someone else and get their feedback on your responses.
If you follow these guidelines, you will show up at your interview confident and ready to go.
1. Do research on the company you are interviewing with and the position you are interviewing for - Go on the company's website and learn about the place you want to work. They may ask you if you know anything about them once you are in the interview chair and if you can give them a few important details, your stock will rise. If you can get information about the job you are applying for as well, that will only make you look stronger. Another good idea is going on Google or Bing and referencing stories about the company you want to work for, or if they are a subsidiary of a larger company, the parent company as well.
2. Dressing for the interview - This can be tricky. Time was, they said a man should always wear a suit and tie and a woman should wear a jacket and skirt or a dress. Now there are people who say that you should dress for the job you are looking for, that it's OK to dress business casual for certain interviews. I believe that it's always better to overdress for an interview than under dress, you can always remove your jacket, but you can't go to your car and put one on if you don't come in with one. What is more important is that your clothes should always be clean and ironed. Neatness counts, which leads to......
3. Grooming for the interview: You need to pay attention to appearance from head to toe. Here are a few guidelines:
- Make sure your hair is clean and cut. Have it cut a day or two before the interview, that way you won't get any loose hairs on your jacket.
- Your shoes should be polished and clean. No open toed shoes or sandals.
- Make sure your fingernails are clean and cut. You will shake hands with everyone you meet and they will see your hands, dirty fingernails are a bad sign.
- Minimal perfume or cologne. You don't want to overpower them. On the other hand, make sure you don't have body odor.
- Clean breath and teeth. But don't eat mints or chew gum in the interview.
- Keep jewelry to a minimum.
- Cover all tattoos and remove all body piercings except for earrings in the ear for the ladies. You want to be a blank slate, you want them to remember you for your great interview, not for being the guy with a skull on your forearm or the girl with the eyebrow ring.
4. Come to the interview at least 15 minutes early. Being there a little bit early says your are conscientious. Showing up an hour early says you are needy. Showing up late says you don't care. Plot your route ahead of time. If you are there 15 minutes early, you can fill out any paperwork they ask you to do and have it done in time for the interview.
5. Practice responses to possible questions. There are many websites out there that have possible questions that you may be asked when at an interview. But when it comes to it, there are three different types of questions that you are going to be asked:
Can you do the job? - Do you have the skills and experience to handle the position? Examples include:
What aspects of your education and/or work experience do you see will help you in this position?
Tell us about a time when you were up against a tight deadline and how you succeeded.
Do you want the job? -
Why do you want to work for us?
What about the job/the company interests you?
Are you a good fit for the job or company?
What skills do you bring to the job?
What weaknesses do you bring?
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Describe a situation where you worked with a team. How did you interact with them? Were you successful?
Think about the answers to these questions before you go in. If you can, practice with someone else and get their feedback on your responses.
If you follow these guidelines, you will show up at your interview confident and ready to go.
Cover Letter and Resume Tips
Cover Letter Tips:
1. Personal Information: You should have your name, address, phone number, and email on the top of the page centered and easy to read
2. Find the director or the individuals name who will be reviewing your information. For example, if you are applying for a teaching position you would address it to Mr. Cliff Hong.
3. Below the director or interviewers name you will list the position you are applying for and the address of the place of employment.
4. A cover letter should never be more than three paragraphs and should fit on one page. If sending it through an email there should be no scrolling and all your information should fit on the screen. Remember a cover letter is all about selling your self!
5. The Paragraphs Themselves: Use descriptive Language Ovoid Generalizations
Paragraph one - This where you introduce yourself and state your strongest skill. Also this is where you ask to be considered for the job.
Paragraph Two - Here you focus on your skills and achievements and if the job asks for a particular skill address it with your ability to accomplish their need.
Paragraph Three - State how interested you are about the job. Tell a little bit about yourself. Most importantly tell them that you will be contacting them in the future for and interview.
6. Finally have your name at the bottom typed and when printed on high quality paper sign it with your signature. Also proof read and have others review your cover letter because mistakes reflect who you are, so show them the best side of yourself.
Resume Tips:
1. Personal Information: Is the same as the cover letter, but is put on the top right of the page with your name to the left. It is important to have your information on every page because it makes it easy for the employer to contact you.
2. The Resume is not where you talk about yourself, but a place to highlight you abilities on one page and no more.
3. A resume can be broken down into five main parts.
Part One - This is your objective, meaning what position you will be filling.
Part Two - Is your education. For example, where you have been and what you have graduated with.
Part Three - This is where you briefly list your skills.
Part Four - Work Experience. Any one over fifteen should have some kind of experience from highschool, sports, clubs, taking care of kids, volunteer work and more.
Part Five - This is where you can list some of your interest if there is still room. I like this part but not many people do this anymore. Remember it is important to tailor your resume to the job you are trying to get.
4. As always proof read proof read and proof read again.
1. Personal Information: You should have your name, address, phone number, and email on the top of the page centered and easy to read
2. Find the director or the individuals name who will be reviewing your information. For example, if you are applying for a teaching position you would address it to Mr. Cliff Hong.
3. Below the director or interviewers name you will list the position you are applying for and the address of the place of employment.
4. A cover letter should never be more than three paragraphs and should fit on one page. If sending it through an email there should be no scrolling and all your information should fit on the screen. Remember a cover letter is all about selling your self!
5. The Paragraphs Themselves: Use descriptive Language Ovoid Generalizations
Paragraph one - This where you introduce yourself and state your strongest skill. Also this is where you ask to be considered for the job.
Paragraph Two - Here you focus on your skills and achievements and if the job asks for a particular skill address it with your ability to accomplish their need.
Paragraph Three - State how interested you are about the job. Tell a little bit about yourself. Most importantly tell them that you will be contacting them in the future for and interview.
6. Finally have your name at the bottom typed and when printed on high quality paper sign it with your signature. Also proof read and have others review your cover letter because mistakes reflect who you are, so show them the best side of yourself.
Resume Tips:
1. Personal Information: Is the same as the cover letter, but is put on the top right of the page with your name to the left. It is important to have your information on every page because it makes it easy for the employer to contact you.
2. The Resume is not where you talk about yourself, but a place to highlight you abilities on one page and no more.
3. A resume can be broken down into five main parts.
Part One - This is your objective, meaning what position you will be filling.
Part Two - Is your education. For example, where you have been and what you have graduated with.
Part Three - This is where you briefly list your skills.
Part Four - Work Experience. Any one over fifteen should have some kind of experience from highschool, sports, clubs, taking care of kids, volunteer work and more.
Part Five - This is where you can list some of your interest if there is still room. I like this part but not many people do this anymore. Remember it is important to tailor your resume to the job you are trying to get.
4. As always proof read proof read and proof read again.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
5 Great Ways to Look for a Job
1) Go to a career fair. Attending career fairs is a great because you can directly approach a great number of employers in a day. You can send out resumes to hiring staffs, instead of having to complete applications one by one. Hiring managers also attend these fairs, so you could personally meet the one responsible for hiring you. If you are still in school, you may be able to go to career fairs sponsored by your school - contact your career center and it may be able to help locate jobs for both current students and graduates.
2) Look for job websites online. Many employers are posting employment opportunities on-line – check out our “top job search engine links” for resources. If you already have a company in mind, most companies provide online job applications or contact information on their websites.
3) Network! Tell your friends and family that you are looking for a job. They may know of some openings at their workplaces, or know someone who is looking to hire an employee with your skills.
4) Go to your city's Human Resources office. Most cities have human resources offices that can help you find employment within city government or at local companies. Be sure to make use of their resources which are for people looking for jobs like you. Another city source can be local city colleges, there are a variety of positions, good pay, and often benefits.
5) Remember the printing press is still in use. The Internet makes it easier to contact employers, but you also have other resources such as newspapers and magazines. Look for jobs the traditional way, perusing classified ads printed in the newspapers. There are career magazines that post ads from employers looking to hire.
These are just a few suggestions for your job search, if you have any more please comment!
2) Look for job websites online. Many employers are posting employment opportunities on-line – check out our “top job search engine links” for resources. If you already have a company in mind, most companies provide online job applications or contact information on their websites.
3) Network! Tell your friends and family that you are looking for a job. They may know of some openings at their workplaces, or know someone who is looking to hire an employee with your skills.
4) Go to your city's Human Resources office. Most cities have human resources offices that can help you find employment within city government or at local companies. Be sure to make use of their resources which are for people looking for jobs like you. Another city source can be local city colleges, there are a variety of positions, good pay, and often benefits.
5) Remember the printing press is still in use. The Internet makes it easier to contact employers, but you also have other resources such as newspapers and magazines. Look for jobs the traditional way, perusing classified ads printed in the newspapers. There are career magazines that post ads from employers looking to hire.
These are just a few suggestions for your job search, if you have any more please comment!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Welcome to our site
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 12 months, you know that California is going through its worst period of unemployment in the last seventy years (12.5% according to the San Francisco Chronicle on 11/20/09). I,myself was laid off five times in a span of two years before I decided to go back to school and finish my degree. Now that I am graduating and about to enter the job market again, I am going to have to use all of the tricks and lessons that I developed over the last 20 years in the business world to find employment. And I, along with my cohorts, want to pass our collective knowledge on to you to find your own job. Think about it, I got laid off five times, but that means I was able to immediately find a job four times in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
By creating this blog, we are looking to give you sensible advice that will help you on your job search. Now, more than ever, you need to go that extra mile in order to make an impression with the people who are hiring and make them want to hire you. We're not saying that you are immediately going to get a job if you follow our rules, but your chances should improve exponentially.
Starting soon, we are going to give you advice on where to look for a job, how to compose a resume and cover letter, what to do before your interview, including how to dress and how to research the company you are interviewing with, how to act during your interview and following up with them after you meet.
We welcome all feedback and hope that you not only ask questions, but fell free to post any advice that you may have to offer as well. We hope to establish a community that will be there for each other as a network and also to be each others biggest fans as we all seek employment and financial security.
So let's get started and let's get to work.......
By creating this blog, we are looking to give you sensible advice that will help you on your job search. Now, more than ever, you need to go that extra mile in order to make an impression with the people who are hiring and make them want to hire you. We're not saying that you are immediately going to get a job if you follow our rules, but your chances should improve exponentially.
Starting soon, we are going to give you advice on where to look for a job, how to compose a resume and cover letter, what to do before your interview, including how to dress and how to research the company you are interviewing with, how to act during your interview and following up with them after you meet.
We welcome all feedback and hope that you not only ask questions, but fell free to post any advice that you may have to offer as well. We hope to establish a community that will be there for each other as a network and also to be each others biggest fans as we all seek employment and financial security.
So let's get started and let's get to work.......
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)