About Career Blog

Ready, Set, Interview!

Two of the questions that Seymour mentioned really hit home for me, those being: "What are the day-to-day responsibilities of the job?" and "How many steps are there in the interview process?"

Both of these questions are ones that at some point or another, I have asked during an interview... or wish I had asked. As for inquiring about the day-to-day tasks, that is something that any prospective employee should be aware of, to make sure that the job they are seeking is the one that they want. I applied for a position at one company that defined "sales associate" as cleaning the restroom and scraping gum off the floor... in addition to selling the product. Now, I don't mean to demean janitorial work as a whole, however I was surprised to learn that it was part of a job description at a high end retail store.

In addition, there have been times I wish I had known how many steps the company had in its interview process, because landing a second interview can be monumental or just a small piece of the puzzle, depending on the company. Many corporate offices have days of training in which they assess prospective employees in the job setting and see how many different tasks and obstacles they can handle. That retail interview I went on? I had to find six outfits for an [albeit, imaginary] affluent customer in one minute's time. And had I known what to expect, I may have been able to put together better ensembles.

Interviewing confidence comes with experience, but it's best to prepare yourself beforheand to the challenges you may face. Knowing more about the specific job you are seeking is an excellent start to gaining that confidence and truly believing that you are the best for the position.

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Posted by Amanda on 12/18/2008 02:13:00 AM
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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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Hiring Criteria for College Grads

Hello my collegiate friends,
I came across a great article on CollegeGrad.com that I thought I'd share:
CollegeGrad.com released the results of its survey on what employers want most in hiring new college grads. What is most important to entry level employers – the college you graduated from? Your GPA? Or what you majored in? According to the survey results, the answer may surprise you.
The criteria that the employers ranked as most important are as follows:
#1 - The student's major (44%)
#2 - The student's interviewing skills (18%)
#3 - The student's internship/experience (17%)
#4 - The college the student graduated from (10%)
#5 - Other miscellaneous qualifications (5%)
#6 - The student's GPA (4%)
#7 - The student's personal appearance (1%)
#8 - The student's computer skills (1%)

What do you think? Is that in line with what you thought would be rated as important to employers? Is there anything that wasn't included that should be considered? Let me know your thoughts...

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 10/22/2008 11:12:00 AM
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