The approach of spring signals the annual migration of thousands of college seniors from the classroom to the real world. Often the first step on this journey is a job interview, or a series of job interviews.
Especially for young people, this can be a scary prospect. Few college seniors have spent much time honing the skills needed to get through a job interview with poise and persuasiveness. Today I want to offer some ideas and tips to help newly minted graduates “knock ’em dead” and land that exciting first job!
Before you start preparing for job interviews, you must get yourself into the right frame of mind. Understand that a job interview is a sales process, and the product you are selling is … YOU!
You may have the greatest resume ever written and the perfect combination of education and experience, but unless the person interviewing you feels confident that you will fit into his or her organization, none of that will count for much. The interviewer is trying to gauge who you are – will you be reliable, a hard worker, someone eager to contribute to the organization, someone others will be happy to work with?
That’s why it’s vital to pay attention to factors such as punctuality, appearance, and personality. You must be on time. You must be dressed and groomed appropriately for the company or organization you are seeking to join. You must display good manners. And you must exude a positive attitude and an eagerness to get to work! Otherwise, why would anyone want to hire you?
Another key factor is preparation. Find out everything you can about the company before you walk through its doors. And practice the answers to tough interview questions, such as “Why should I hire you?” “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” and “Tell me about a mistake you’ve made in the past.” (Yikes!) Solid preparation shows the interviewer that you care about landing the job and that you understand the value of being prepared.
Here are some other tips:
· Have several copies of your resume with you.
· Make a good first impression with a solid handshake, a smile, and eye contact.
· Wait until you are asked to take a seat before sitting down.
· Be relaxed, but don’t be too casual.
· Be confident, but never arrogant.
· Be honest and sincere.
· Ask questions, but do not show concern about salary or other benefits.
· Never speak negatively about past jobs, supervisors, or experiences.
· Avoid becoming defensive over probing questions – always keep your cool.
· At the end of the interview, ask if there are any concerns you can address.
· Ask about the next step in the process.
Finally, always send “thank you” notes to everyone you spoke with, within a day or so of the interview. This shows that you are thoughtful and willing to take the extra step.
To find out more about handling job interviews like a seasoned pro, go to Interviewing 101 - How to Make Them Love You and Pay You Too! In the meantime, enjoy the spring weather!
Bob
Dale Carnegie of Western CT Website
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