My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
February 2009 archive
Interviewing for a job can be stressful, and for those of you who have recently lost your job, there is more pressure to do well on upcoming job interviews.
So now is the time to brush up on your interview skills, and research some interviewing tips and styles to prepare.
The first thing to remember about interviewing is to stay professional. The interview is your opportunity to make a first impression. Dress accordingly and make sure that you are well groomed.
Don't let your guard down during an interview. It is a comfort to say "just be yourself", but in reality you should be aware that the interviewers will be scrutinizing your moves and answers.
Practice your interview skills with a close friend or relative, and if you feel you need extra practice, seek out the help of a career coach or counselor. They may be able to give you a leg up on practicing the process and provide you with objective feedback.
Some career experts say that interviews are like first dates. So follow the same rules that you would when meeting a date for the first time. In other words, don't reveal facts about yourself such as health problems or bad habits.
If the interviewer asks you about skills that could be improved upon, talk about skills you are interested in developing as opposed to pointing out your professional flaws.
Take interviews in stride and go in with confidence. Believing in yourself will not only help you to relax, but if you believe in you, others will too.
The other day, I caught a news report on CNN about workers who went from six-figure salaries to unemployment. One of the more interesting segments was about a man who told his story online at the CNN iReport section of the station's Web site. After sharing his story on iReport, he received an offer to work on a contract basis for a health care company.
Although unconventional, this was an example of how networking and sharing information about yourself and your work experience may lead to opening doors for a new career or employer.
Networking is still the best way to find a job, or at least make the contacts that can lead to a new job. But are you prepared to be a top-notch networker? Take a few minutes to do some research about the best places to network for employees working in your industry with your expertise.
Next, make a plan of action including a "to do" list of Web sites and networking communities to join, such as LinkedIn. The key in making sure these sites work of you is to come accustomed to visiting them daily for updates and to make new connections.
Don't be afraid to use unconventional means to network, but make sure you have the personality to pull off something quirky. I wouldn't necessarily recommend standing at an intersection wearing a sandwich board to advertise your qualifications, but you may want to consider using some of the newer methods of getting noticed. One suggestion would be to create your own YouTube video to deliver your elevator speech.
Networking doesn't always have to be a litany of after work mixers and overcrowded job fairs. Let creativity be your guide and get noticed for a new career.
With all of the news about layoffs and lost job opportunities, there are still industries that are hiring. A recent Big Time post pointed out some of the top employers in the country that are currently hiring. They include health care systems and hospitals, technology and accounting. But how can you go from a career in manufacturing to a job as a nurse?
With the economy down, now tends to be the time when workers consider going back to school to earn a different degree. The main concern is how to afford schooling, not only financially, but personally.
No doubt your lifestyle with change drastically. If you have children and household responsibilities, you will need to have help from a spouse or family member. You will also need to have a quiet, comfortable space where you can study and complete homework.
Financially, there are many opportunities for student aid. Many people believe that financial aid is for high school students, but the reality is that there is no age limit on student aid. You could also be eligible for scholarships through professional organizations.
Remember, if you are interested in pursuing a new career be sure that you are mentally ready for it. Returning to college is a huge investment personally and financially. Unless you are 100% committed, you could be wasting your time and money.
Have you recently lost your job, and are having a hard time finding a new one? You are not the only one. In fact, you are in the same boat as millions of workers who have been hit hard by the economic downturn. But, there are opportunities available for part time work with benefits.
That's right, I said part time jobs with employee benefits that may include health care, vacation and retirement funds. Check out this article for a list of part time job opportunities, which range from call center customer service representatives to retail sales clerk to temporary office assistant.
What's great about these jobs are that they can easily fit into a variety of career paths, and give you the opportunity to keep your skills sharp and add to some experience to your resume. Part time jobs also offer the flexibility you need to continue searching and interviewing for a full time job.
So don't be concerned if temporary or part time work is the only readily available option. It just may be the answer to help take the pressure off of being without a job, and can offer you benefits and flexibility to boot.
"Job seekers beware that what you do with your body during an interview could make a bigger impression than what you say. It won't matter how adept you appear on paper if your body language screams bored, disrespectful or sloppy. Make sure you communicate a good message verbally and nonverbally."
Q: Dear Seymour, Should I be aware of my body language in an interview?
- Submitted by Lauren Tull, Denver, Colorado
A: Dear Lauren,
Many interviewers don't think about the importance of body language in an interview, but what you do with your body could make a bigger impression than what you say. Simple unconscious gestures or postures can make you look interested or bored, engaged or distracted, weak or assertive. You want to make sure you communicate a good message both verbally and nonverbally.
It starts with a handshake.
When your interview comes to greet you, be ready. Make sure your appearance is put together before you show up--don't smooth hair or adjust ties when you stand up to greet them. Avoid the limp, "dead fish" handshake. Shake confidently but not too firmly and make eye contact when you say hello.
Remember the key "don'ts."When interviewing, several things are important to avoid. Don't rub the back of your neck because it will make you seem disinterested. Don't touch your nose; this could make you appear dishonest, and it may be considered unhygienic or inappropriate. Make sure you don't shake your foot or tap your fingers because it will make you seem impatient. Slouching or staring blankly will also make you seem unprepared and distant.
Think about space.
Personal space is important, so never get closer than about 20 inches to your interviewer. Invading their space could make them uncomfortable and distract them. Also consider space when applying perfume or cologne. Scents give many people headaches and can seriously affect people with allergies. When deciding on how much scent to use, just skip it or use as little as possible.
Be aware of your behavior and make it positive.
Sit up straight and don't lean or slouch back in your chair. Nod and make positive gestures to show you are listening, but don't nod too much or you may look like a bobblehead. Make good eye contact, and if you are being interviewed by more than one person, make eye contact with everyone.
End on a strong note.
When saying goodbye, follow the same rules you used when making a great entrance. Make sure your goodbye handshake is still strong but not crushing. Be direct when leaving and proceed to your next destination before you let your guard down--you don't want anyone to see your victory dance in the parking lot.
Don't forget to practice your body language when you practice interview questions. Be aware of your body and you'll be sure to convey a positive message.
Seymour
As a manager, one of the first tasks I had to learn was how to delegate assignments to other team members. This wasn't always easy for me. I tend to be a "take charge, I'll just do it myself" type of employee. But as my role continued to expand, I realized that I had no other choice but to delegate some responsibilities to others.
I came across this article that provides ten tips for delegating. These are all helpful and certainly should be taken into account when assigning duties, but here are a couple of my own that I have picked up along the way.
First, don't delegate tasks to just anyone. Some employees will be more astute and responsible than others. Whether it's attention to detail, or negotiation skills that are needed, choose the right employee for the right task.
Delegate the most important assignments to employees who are ready to "level" up. This will put them in the position of thinking at a higher level and give them the experience they need to get to the next skills set.
Don't delegate and then assume the assignment was taken care of. Yes, you want to trust that your employees have fulfilled their work responsibilities, but ultimately you are still accountable for the project's completion. So follow up, not as a micromanager, but just to ensure they didn't have any questions, or needed any additional instructions.
Finally, be sure to spread the wealth around. It will be natural to have one or two employees who you continuously rely upon to get things done, and get them done right. But you don't want them to feel that you are taking advantage them, or have other team members feel that you favor them over the others.
For many employees, the title they receive means more than the salary they make. It is a sign of stature and significance within an organization. Some employees will even accept a title change or "increase" if salary bumps are not feasible.
Some may ask why a title is that important, but I can tell from experience, for some employees a title can be the difference between feeling stuck in the same old job, and infusing a little enthusiasm into the mundane.
Even something as simple as a "dressed up" title can motivate employees to feel better about their current job responsibilities. Although "executive office manager" is still the same job as "receptionist", it can be a morale boost to that employee.
However, some titles today are silly and can be down right confusing. "Chief Education Officer" is still probably in charge of employee training and development, and one article even mentions a "vice president of cool"...whatever that is.
The key is to not be over the top when assigning new titles. Yes, they can bring a sense of pride and stature, but be careful not to make a mockery of the job, or the person, attached to them.
The latest edition of Fortune magazine features its annual Top Companies to Work For. This year's edition is timely with its content about the struggling economy and job market.
One of the features includes tips for keeping your job, a list of do's and don'ts advice for employees who fear being laid off.
Do's include: taking credit for a job well done, staying late and arriving early, and volunteering for more work.
Don'ts include: asking for a raise or promotion, being too high maintenance, and not fitting it to the workplace.
Also, consider these tips:
- Do be productive and use your time wisely.
- Don't multi-task to the point of making mistakes.
- Do be a conduit for good information.
- Don't assume you know the right answers. Your assumptions could be wrong.
- Do find new solutions to old problems.
- Don't keep status quo.
Keeping your job is never a guarantee, especially when times are tough, but you can put your best foot forward and give your boss a reason to throw away your pink slip.
Let's face it, the job market is tough and getting tougher. Layoffs are mounting and fewer companies are hiring. But the opportunities are there for employment, you just have to find them and work hard at getting your foot in the door.
Knowing that the market is more difficult, some workers may feel compelled to take the first job they are offered, even if they are not interested in it. Forbes recently printed an article about this very subject, and it made me think about how fear can lead to someone taking a job that they do not want.
More and more, fear is leading people to take desperate measures to make ends meet, including working jobs that may be perceived as dead ends. However, just because you have not been offered your dream job, doesn't mean the position is not without its own merits.
First of all, you have to weigh the pros and cons of the company and the job. You may find that the job is a short-term solution and stepping stone in your career. Particularly if this is your first job, you can gain some of that on the job experience that might be critical for other employers to consider you for your next job.
Consider making lemonade out of lemons. If the job isn't quite what you had in mind, it might still be a valuable learning environment for your career down the road. Work experience is not just about gaining more skills, it's about learning how to work with different personalities and management styles, and this may be your time to learn these important lessons.
Hopefully you are not in a position where you have to apply for jobs that are outside of your area of expertise or interest. But if you are, these opportunities can serve their purpose as well. Take the time to learn a new skill or further develop some of the skills you may already possess.
Although a job offer may not be exactly what you are looking for, it doesn't mean that you should not consider it for the time being. You can develop, and learn, some valuable skills to set the pace for your future career.
Think the job market is all doom and gloom? Think again, at least for some industries. Fortune recently published its list of the top companies to work for, and along with the list came a top 20 of those companies that are recruiting the most.
Among the industries listed are those in financial services, healthcare, technology, and supermarkets.
Supermarkets might be a surprising area, but many workers overlook the fact that retail and non-retail positions are available. That means IT-related and accounting jobs, as well as in-store positions.
So if you think the job market is completely hopeless, check out employers who fall into these specific categories and you might find yourself off the unemployment line faster than you are expecting.
