5 Tips to Prepare for that First ‘Real’ Job Interview
You have graduated high school or college and now you’re ready for your first ‘real’ job. You’ve mailed out résumés and have been called in for your first interview. How can you do well at the interview so you wind up being offered the job?
1. Dress professionally. No midriff shirts, low-cut blouses or flip-flops because you’re going to work and not the beach. While it’s not necessary to buy a suit, it is particularly important to look professional. If you’re trying to get a job in a conservative office such as an accounting firm, don’t dress as if you were going to a concert. If you are applying for a retail position, you have a little more freedom. Rather than list what clothing is and is not acceptable, I would tell you to dress as if you were going to meet one of the most important people in your life- because you are!
2. Make sure you are well-groomed. Don’t look as though you just rolled out of bed and couldn’t bother to take care of basic personal hygiene. Nothing will make the HR Manager bring the interview to a close faster than unwashed hair, dirty fingernails or body odor. As an employee, you will be a reflection of the company and no customer wants to do business with an unkempt person.
3. Be aware of your body language. A firm handshake at the start of the interview shows you are self-confident. Maintain eye contact, stay relaxed and be attentive to the interviewer. Ask questions and listen thoughtfully to the answers. Think before you answer questions from the interviewer- don’t ramble and keep the conversation on the topic.
4. Be prepared for the interview. Research the company beforehand- every business now has a website where you can learn what they do and who their customers are. This shows the interviewer you are interested in the job and took the initiative to find out all you could about the company.
5. Be present in the interview. I’ve interviewed candidates who acted as if they were waiting for a bus. They didn’t ask questions, but instead just listened to me, and I wasn’t really sure if they were paying attention. Be enthusiastic, ask questions and participate in the interview. After listing all the duties required of the position, I asked one candidate if this sounded like something she’d be interested in. Her reply was a quiet, “I can do the job.” She didn’t answer my question, she seemed indifferent, and she didn’t get the job. If you can’t be excited in the interview, you’re not going to be energized in the workplace either.
First impressions count, and you want to let the interviewer know you want the job, are willing to work hard and will do your best. You might not necessarily be the most qualified candidate, but still land the job because you were the most outstanding one. Good luck!
Should You Follow-Up On a Job Interview?
Are you in the process of finding a new job? If you are, you may have job interviews already lined up. In fact, you may have already had a number of job interviews take place. If that is the case, did you follow up with the interviewer or the employer in question? If follow-up contact, such as a telephone call, is an action that you have yet to take, you may want to examine your options.
When it comes to determining whether or not you should follow-up on all job interviews that you have had, like with a quick office visit or telephone call, there are many job seekers who are unsure as to how they should proceed. Since many are unsure of the action that they should take, many just do nothing. If you would like help in determining what you should do after attending a job interview, you will want to continue reading on, as a number of advantages and disadvantages to job interview follow ups are outlined below.
As for the advantage to follow-ups with the employer or interviewer in question, you will find that there are a number of them. One of those advantages is the impression that you can create of yourself. Checking to see how the selection process is coming along or if you can answer any additional questions is a great way to show that you are truly interested in the open job position. It also shows initiative on your part. This is something that many companies look for in their new hires.
Another one of the many advantages to following up after a job interview is the answers that you may get. If the employer in question has yet official make a decision, but your name is still in the running, you may be told to call back later or wait for a phone call, which should arrive when a decision has been made. On the other hand, if it has been determined that you are not the right candidate for the job, you may be notified of this when you make your first contact attempt. This notification is ideal as it encourages you to explore your other options without wasting any precious time.
Although there are a number of advantages to following up after a job interview, you will also find that there are a number of disadvantages to doing so as well. As previously stated, an interview follow-up may help to create a good impression of yourself. What you need to know, however, is that this impression can work both ways. Some employers view follow-up phone calls as unnecessary distractions. If you were told to wait until you heard from the company, you will want refrain from making any follow-up contact, as your actions can have negative results.
The above mentioned advantages and disadvantages are just a few of the many to job interview follow-ups. As previously stated, you will want to try and make sure that you follow the advice or instructions given to you by each employer or interviewer. This means that if you are asked to refrain from making contact, you will want to do so. It is also advised that you avoid calling during known busy times, such as lunch or right before the workday ends.
Should You Apply for Non-Advertised Jobs?
Are you in search of a new job? If you are and if you are like most job seekers, there is a good chance that you would turn to the internet, namely job posting websites, or to your local newspaper, namely the employment section. While these are the best ways to go about finding information on available jobs, there are many job seekers who choose to submit resumes or job applications to those who are not hiring. Before you start taking this approach, you will want to examine the pros and cons of doing so.
Before examining the pros and cons of submitting a job application or your resume to a company that is not hiring, you may be curious as to how you can go about doing so. When taking this approach, many job seekers use two different options. In todays society, many businesses have online websites. These online websites may give the mailing address to the company in question. There are many job seekers who will submit their resumes to that address in hopes of seeing success. Others will simply mail in or drop off their resumes or job applications to local companies that they know the address to.
As for the pros and cons of applying for non-advertised jobs, you will find that there are a number of pros or plus sides to doing so. One of the pros or plus sides to submitting your resume or a job application to a company that does not advertise or state that they have any current job openings is the jumpstart that you can give yourself. Many companies will choose to takeout job advertisements when they have open positions, but others will just go through their current pile of resumes and job applications. If you play your cards right, one of those resumes or job applications may be yours.
Another one of the many pros to applying for non-advertised jobs is the impression that you may create of yourself. Many employers view the submission of job applications and resume as showing initiative. This is the type of impression that you want to create for yourself. You want a prospective employer to be pleased with your wants and your need to have a job, namely with their company.
Although there are a number of pros and plus sides to applying to non-advertised jobs, there are also a number of cons or downsides to doing so as well. One of those downsides is the impression that you can make. As previously stated, some employers may view the submitting of a resume or a job application as showing initiative, but you may be surprised how others feel about the same action. You may end up creating a bad name for yourself without meaning to do so. It is possible that some companies would view your submission of an unsolicited resume or job application as spam.
Another one of the cons or downsides to applying for non-advertised jobs is the response time. As previously stated, many companies choose to go through their pile of job applications and resumes. One of these job applications and resumes can be yours, but you never know when you may end up getting a call for a job interview. You could receive a phone call in a few weeks, a few months, or even a year later. This may not help you if you are looking to find a new job now. With that in mind, you may have nothing to lose by submitting your resume or job application anyways. You may be surprised with a quick response time.
As outlined above, there are a number of pros and cons to submitting your job application or resume for a non-advertised position or company. Since the decision is yours to make, you will want to proceed with caution, as your intentions can swing both ways. That is why you should take the above mentioned factors into consideration when making your decision.
Questions to Ask Potential Employers During Interviews
Have you been searching for a new job? If you are like many job seekers, you may have turned to the internet or used your local newspapers employment section to help you learn about all open jobs in or around your area. If you have submitted a job application or your resume to any companies, have you heard back from them yet? If you have yet to receive a call asking to schedule an interview, do not worry, as you should be getting one or more soon.
For many job seekers, waiting to have a job interview scheduled is the most nerve-wracking part. For others, the interview process is the most difficult to get through. If you are nervous about an upcoming interview or one that you will likely have scheduled soon, the best thing that you can do is prepare. For example, it is advised that you prepare a list of questions to ask all interviewers. These questions can help to improve the flow of a job interview.
In addition to helping improve the flow of a job interview, there are a number of other benefits to having a list of questions prepared to ask all companies that are in the process of interviewing you. While this may seem a little silly, as you are the one who should be getting interviewed, you will want to ask anyways. Asking questions during a job interview can create a great impression of yourself. For instance, if you ask about the ability to advance within the company, you may end up showing responsibility, initiative, and readiness.
Now that you know the benefits of asking questions during your next interview, you may be curious as to which questions you would ask. One of easiest questions that you can and should ask involves job duties and tasks. You will want to learn as much as you can about the position in which you are applying for. Even if you were already given an overview of the job, you may want to ask additional questions. These questions may include the busiest times of the day, will your workload increase after time, and so forth.
How much you can expect to make is another question that you may want to ask during a job interview, you but you need to be tricky about it. Some employers expect their interview subjects to ask about pay, but others will see that as a downside, as you may only be concerned with picking up a paycheck not becoming a team member. If the supervisor handling your job interview does not state the average salary for the position that you are applying for you may want to ask. However, remember to use the phrase average salary, as it tends to sound more professional than pay, money, or even paycheck. This is also the time in which you may want to ask about other employee benefits, including health insurance or vacations.
Another one of the many questions that you will want to ask an employer during a job interview is if there is room for advancement. If you are interesting in not only increasing your salary, but also increasing your position, you will want to work at a company that is known for their advancement, as well as their promotions from within. In addition to determining if the company in question can possibly provide you with long-term employment, it can also help to create a good impression of yourself. Asking about promotions and advancements shows that you are looking to be successful and successful is what most employers want.
The above mentioned questions are just a few of the many questions that you may want to consider asking the individual or individuals who are hosting your job interview. To ensure that you are able to impress your interviewers, you may want to make a list of a few of the questions that you would like to ask in a job interview ahead of time. Reviewing this list in the days or hours leading up to your job interview can be of great assistance to you.