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Ask not what your employer can do for you...

Seymour told you about all of the right questions to ask during an interview, but while interviews are a two-way street, so are your questions. There are a few sensitive topics that should never be discussed during an interview, many of which automatically slip out of the inexperienced or incautious interviewee's mouth and ultimately cost them the position. "What can you do for me?" and "Why should I choose this job over (X)?" are as common as they are potentially disastrous, as are unsolicited questions regarding pay, vacation time, or bonuses. Questions like this make potential employers question your dedication. To paraphrase JFK, "Ask not what your employer can do for you -- ask what you can do for your employer." You'll seem serious about the position if you do this, even if you're just fishing around.

Remember, you're always at your interviewer's mercy, and while the answers to questions regarding how a job will benefit you sometimes beg to be asked, they're best reserved for when you've actually landed one. If you aren't satisfied with your employer, you can always turn them down - you're still young. The key is to let them know that you're dissatisfied with them as an employer after it's too late for them to be dissatisfied with you as an employee.

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Posted by Brian on 12/17/2008 02:37:00 PM
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First Impressions: The Difference Between a Lasting Impression and a Last Impression

I feel like I have done a million interviews since I entered the work force at the young age of 16. Some have been for jobs, some for leadership positions, and some for entry into special programs. Even when I rushed a sorority, that was kind of an interview process. The goal of an interview is to stand out, in a good way. To be calm but excited, to be confident, yet not cocky. I know the basic rules of interviewing, but since I am human, I have made some mistakes, which I have also learned from. I have accidentally been late, started packing up before an interview was over, mistaken an interviewer for a secretary, and also gone out the night before an early interview. The problem with interviews is that I don't get back an instant score card and therefore I never know how big the impact of my slip up is. I could do something wrong and not be aware of it, but I could also not know what I am doing wrong and keep doing it. I have had interviews where I feel like I have done an amazing job and wowed the interviewer, but have not gotten the job, and I have also left an interview nearly in tears and landed the job. Through my experiences, I have learned the most important rule to interviews is that it is not the time to recite my resume, but a time to show a real enthusiasm for the job, convey how personable I can be, or to explain unique traits about myself that are not on my resume. So although an interview is never perfect, and the same rules do not apply to all interviews, I feel the best thing I can do it just be my-professional-self. And it never hurts to mention that I am a "quick learner", even if it took me 3 weeks to learn how to use Excel.

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Posted by Suzanne on 11/11/2008 07:00:00 PM
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Tips for Successful Interviewing

Thanks for the tips, Seymour!

Interviewing can be the absolute worst experience if you're not prepared, and I can speak from first-hand knowledge! Needless to say, I didn't get that awesome summer gig that I had been counting on. Instead, it was another hot summer of babysitting a bunch of snot nosed kids- ugh!

To help combat this and future interviewing nightmares, I came across some pretty helpful (and simple) interviewing tips offered by College Recruiter's Resume Writer's Blog. The post is titled: Job Hunting: 3 Tips for Successful Interviewing.

It's definitely important to know what you should avoid doing in an interview, but the question still remains... What should you be be doing in an interview?

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Posted by Melissa on 11/11/2008 11:32:00 AM
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Interview Blunders

You’ve scouted the job landscape, found an employer that interests you, and sent out your resume. Days, weeks, months of anxious waiting follow. Finally, you get the much anticipated call. Elated, you mark the date and time of your interview on your calendar. Congratulations, you’re halfway there!

Don’t crack out the champagne just yet – this is merely the eye of the storm. Interviews are often the toughest leg of the journey to employment, and if you take it lightly, you’re likely to find yourself waiting for that follow-up call indefinitely. Intimidated? That’s understandable. Keep your cool, I’m here to help.

I have plenty of resources available that will provide guidance when you’re in the hot seat. You’re probably familiar with what’s expected of you as a prospective employee (if not, fire up that search engine). It’s what not to do when you’re feeling the pressure that is seldom touched upon in any real depth. This is where I come in! Read on to learn about the five biggest interview blunders and how to best avoid them.

Blunder #1: Dressing to Impress (the Homeless)
Whether you’re interviewing to manage databases for IBM or fold jeans for Abercrombie, you’ll want to come in dressed as sharply as possible. Unless a relaxed interview dress code is explicitly mentioned in company literature or correspondence, sensible business attire is a must. In the vast majority of cases, if you can’t see your reflection in your shoes on the big day, you’re doing something wrong.

Blunder #2: Talking Trash about Former Employers, Co-Workers, and Past Work Environments
If you think that you can score points with your hopeful-to-be employer by providing a compare and contrast of your loathsome ex-boss, think again. This tactic is always ill-advised. At best, you’ll come off as obnoxious and immature. At worst, you’ve just offended your interviewer’s friend/colleague/mother. If called upon to evaluate a previous employer’s performance or explain why you left your old job, keep things simple with a positive perspective. Your fellow employees weren’t “morons,” they were “individuals with whom (you) did not share the same goals.” Your ex-boss wasn’t a “miserable battle axe,” she was “someone whose managerial style was not always suited to (you).” Get the picture?

Blunder #3: Money Talk
There’s a time for salary negotiation, and the interview is not it. If possible, try to avoid discussing money, vacation time, bonuses, and the like altogether. Employers want someone who is interested in the position not just their paycheck. When it comes to numbers, patience is definitely a virtue. Remember, you can always turn down an inadequate offer after the fact.

Blunder #4: Sir, Are Your Pants Vibrating?
During an interview, few things scream indifference more than a ringing cell phone. Make sure your phone is off, not just in silent mode, prior to meeting your interviewer. Should your cell spring to life for any reason, apologize and silence it as quickly as possible. Other electronic distractions, such as PDAs, should not under any circumstances be acknowledged during the interview, unless they’re leaking battery acid or threatening to self-destruct in five seconds.

Blunder #5: Smelling Like a Bowling Alley
Some people smoke to alleviate tension. While it’s normal to be nervous before a big interview, don’t reach for those cowboy killers quite yet! Many people find the smell of tobacco smoke offensive, and your interviewer may just be one of them. Smoking is also a contentious issue that you don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of when your job is on the line. If you must, indulge with a smoke after you’re out of the office.

Keep in mind that these are just guidelines. Research the position you’ve applied for thoroughly and see which of these tips you need to pay particular attention to. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and keep it classy. Good luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 11/07/2008 01:10:00 PM
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