Yesterday, we talked about the steps to take to land a new job, but today we’re going to explore how you can prepare for an interview. If you are new to the interviewing process, you’ll need to get some practice which means spending some time interviewing for jobs you may not be interested in taking. Don’t worry, you aren’t wasting anyone’s time – many practice interviews end up leading to a job offer, sometimes for a completely different job or new department!

Your Resume – Paper resumes are still very much in, no matter what some experts tell you. Sure, go ahead and put all of your vital information online and/or copy it to a Flash drive and have that available for tech savvy interviewers. However, an old-fashioned hard copy resume printed out on high quality bond paper is till in order – work with your college’s Career Office to craft a winning resume.

Your Attire – Unless you’re interviewing for an I.T. Department position, you need to dress the part. This means acquiring the necessary wardrobe for your interview, regardless of whether the company is formal or not. People will judge you by the way you look, the tattoos they see, and the length of your fingernails. That tongue piercing may be all the rage, but it could scuttle a job offer if it turns off an employer.

Your Research – Prior to going on your interview, can you honestly say that you know all that much about the company? With access to the internet, you have no excuse to not know this information which can come in handy during your interview. Your interviewer will ask you several questions regarding the way the company operates, therefore you should understand its mission statement, know who the CEO is, be familiar with their products or services, and have a grasp of the company’s size, number of employees, locations, etc.

Your Composure – When meeting the person or people who will be interviewing you, look them in the eye, shake their hand, smile, and relax. Answer questions carefully and thoughtfully, but don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know” if you really don’t have an answer for a question. Be polite, thank your interviewer, and show genuine appreciation for the interview while expressing interest in the company.

Your Follow Up – Send a thank you note to the person who interviewed you and follow that up a week later to express your interest in the position again. If you are in the running for the job, you may be contacted again or invited in for a second interview, but you can help your cause by following up yourself.

Your Offer – If you successfully navigate through the interview process and receive a job offer, do not accept their offer on the spot. Ask for one or two days to consider their offer and then sleep on it. When you awake, refreshed, and ready to consider their offer, ask yourself if the company culture, pay, benefits, work requirements, and your skill sets are a match for the position. Be prepared to give your response within the alloted time, graciously accepting or turning down their offer.

Interviewing takes practice and you’re bound to flub one or two before you feel comfortable meeting with potential employers. Most people will understand that you’re nervous, but being organized and prepared will take the edge off of you.

Tags: career, employment, job interview, jobs, resume, work

If you are a college senior, before long you’ll be interviewing with companies in preparation to leave academia for the business world. Lots of your fellow students will be moving on with you while a small number will continue their studies on the master’s level.

One of the most important documents that you will need when interviewing is your resume. These days, a lot of people have decided to forego their hard copies and have, instead, posted all of their details online. Though this is a great thing to do, as a new job seeker you should be prepared to submit a paper copy upon request.

I’m not going to share the point by point details of resume writing, as I outlined that information previously in an article titled: Career Prep: Building Your Resume.  In addition, you can find articles about cover letters and references which will help you with your job quest.

What I want to help you with are the finer points of your resume, those details which can really set you apart from other candidates. In this competitive world and tight economy you need every edge that you can get. The following are those finer points to remember when you build your resume:

Your contact information — How will prospective employees contact you? If you’re still in college and interviewing for work, make certain that you supply a cell phone number and an email address for prospective employers to keep in touch with you. BTW, don’t use a sexually suggestive or silly email address — hotgirl @ aol.com just doesn’t cut it!

No work experience — You may have tons of academic experience, but little work experience to show for it. That’s okay, if you are a gifted student finding time to hold down any job can be next to impossible to do. Instead, emphasize your extracurricular activities including your role as treasurer for your club, organizing skills for your sorority, special assistance given to your professor, etc.

Academic achievements — If you were a dean’s list recipient, president’s scholar, or won any type of award or was recognized for an achievement, you’ll want to include that information on your resume as well. List your GPA, especially if it was a high one, mention scholarships received, particularly if they were given for academic excellence, and more.

Nail down your references – Though you will want to list your references separately, start putting together a list of three or four people who will be willing to vouch for you academically, via a job, or through your church or club. These people must know you well enough to provide a compelling reason to anyone who calls why you would be an asset to the firm. Separately, get your letters of recommendation as soon as possible and copies of them to employers.

The internet offers terrific examples on how to build a resume as does your college career center. Get started now and you’ll remove a huge amount of stress from your life. Keep paper and electronic copies of your resume handy and go ahead and build that website featuring your biography, resume, and other pertinent information.

Tags: career, cover letter, curriculum vitae, job interview, jobs, references, resume