How To Get The Job you Want

 Getting an interview  Preparing for the interview  Being interviewed  After the interview

 Getting an interview  Find Someone Who Is Hiring  Newspapers  Print and Online  Company Websites  Call Companies  Speak Appropriately  Clearly, Politely, Patiently  Visit Companies  Dress Appropriately  Speak Clearly  Go Prepared

 Getting an interview  Go prepared with what ?  Info for application  Write down ahead of time  References  Always check before you use them  Have their complete info.  Name, address, phone number, job / position / what they do  Who:  Not your buddies !  Preacher / Pastor  co-worker / supervisor not used in employer section  Teacher/Coach  Neighbour

 Preparing for interview  Resume & Cover Letter

 Cover Letters  Spell correctly! Use correct grammar  Short-Highlight important accomplishments  If someone within the company referred you, say it  Explain why you would be a match for the position – (not why you want to work there, what a great company it is, etc.)  Be Specific  where do you want to work  are you willing to travel  now and /or a couple of years

 Resumes/Applications  Purpose: to get you an interview  Provide all of the information the application asks for  Locate and review a job description to tailor your resume or application to the job  Use superlatives- best, fastest, only, first, most  Only student representative on..  Youngest member of..  First undergraduate to  PROOFREAD

 Work History  Chronological – Organize work history by date  Most recent First  Work backward  If a candidate has little or no job experience: organize abilities in categories showcase skills the job requires  Explain what you have done in past positions  Explain how your past employment contributed to the company’s results  Think about “how much” and “how many”

 Resumes  Use superlatives - best, fastest, only, first, most  Only student representative on...  Youngest member of...  First undergraduate to…  PROOFREAD!!

 e-Resumes  Do include a cover letter with an electronic resume  Showcase your strong points first  A recruiter can quickly glance at a paper resume but will have to scroll through an e-version  Don’t rely on spell check only

 To prepare for any type of interview  Research the company  Prepare a few questions for the interviewer  Show off your background, qualifications, and interests

 Research – organization, job market  Time – allow enough  Shopping/wardrobe – review how you want to present yourself  Be objective – ask a parent, parent’s friend, or neighbor  Practice – friends, family

1.Don’t Prepare 2.Dress Inappropriately 3.Poor Communication Skills 4.Too Much Communication 5.Talk Too Much 6.Don’t Talk Enough 7.Inaccurate or Contradictory Information 8.Giving The Wrong Answer 9.Criticizing Prior Employers 10.Failing To Follow Up

 Phone  Often used to screen candidates  Just as important as a face-to-face interview

 Group  Consists of many applicants and one or more interviewers  Typically a presentation about the company  Important to stand out from the group without monopolizing the conversation  Presence will speak volumes  Stance / posture  Handshake  Eye contact

 Panel  One candidate with several interviewers  Consider how the entire panel will interpret your response  Don’t cater to what one or two members want to hear

 Behavioral  Assumes that candidates who have previously demonstrated a particular behavior will repeat the behavior in the future when facing a similar problem  “Think of an occasion when you…” “Can you give me an example of…”

 What does your company do?  Ask well-informed questions  My salary requirements are flexible  It would be so phat to get jiggy with this job  Don’t use slang  Be articulate and intelligent

 I increased sales on my last job by 999% in 2 months  Don’t lie  In five years I see myself on a Mediterranean beach  Your long-term goals should relate to the job and the company, even if you only see yourself there for a short time

 Sorry, I don’t know anything about that  Emphasize that you are a quick and willing learner  My boyfriend cheated on me last week and…  Don’t get too personal

 What can your company do for me?  Get your questions answered but don’t be arrogant  My last boss was a jerk  Don’t bad-mouth any previous employer

 within three seconds of seeing a person for the first time we have decided their:  Social status  Politics  Education  Religion  Sexuality  Friendliness / Approachability  Aptitude Slide from ‘dressing for interview’ presentation by Kathy Ennis – with thanks

55% appearance & body language 38% tone, pitch & pace of your voice 7% what you say Slide from ‘dressing for interview’ presentation by Kathy Ennis – with thanks

 Considerations  Company culture  Location  Experience  Be yourself - add some personal style  It’s better to err on the formal side than the casual side

 …it’s how you wear it  dark colours are authoritative (black, navy blue, or grey)  medium shades are more approachable  pastel and light colours are not viewed as ‘business colours’ Slide from ‘dressing for interview’ presentation by Kathy Ennis – with thanks

 Ladies  Skirt suit or pantsuit (conservative)  Medium-heeled shoe  Non-flashy jewelry  Men  Dark suit  Check your socks (should match your pants)  Single-breasted suits

 shave  skincare  manicures  body hair – including nose and ears!  teeth  personal hygiene Slide from ‘dressing for interview’ presentation by Kathy Ennis – with thanks

 skincare  hair – cut, colour, condition  make-up  perfume – be careful  manicure / pedicure  teeth  a recent survey showed that women who wear make-up have a competitive edge over their bare faced colleagues The Times, 30 th December 2003  women who wear make-up earn, on average, 20% more than women who wear no make-up Slide from ‘dressing for interview’ presentation by Kathy Ennis – with thanks

“dress badly and they remember the clothes; dress well and they remember the person” with thanks to Coco Chanel Slide from ‘dressing for interview’ presentation by Kathy Ennis – with thanks

 Non-verbal communication is defined as the process of sending and receiving wordless messages by means of facial expressions, gazes, gestures, postures, and tones of voice. It includes grooming habits and clothing colors and may be learned, innate, or mixed

 Crossed arms  Defensive, closed off  Fidgeting, playing with hair  Nervous or bored  Lack of eye contact  Untrustworthy  Leaning back  Uncomfortable

 Firm Handshake  Eye Contact  Smile/Pleasant  Nodding while listening  Attentive  Gesturing with hands while talking  Genuinely involved in the conversation

 Are you eligible to work in the US?  What is your full name? Have you ever worked under another name?  Are you the minimum age required to perform this job?  Can you perform the basic functions of this position with or without accommodation?  Weekend and holiday work is required. Will this pose any difficulties for you (MOCK INTERVIEW)

 Fair questions you may be asked in an interview  Can you perform the basic functions of this position with or without accommodation?  Weekend and holiday work is required. Will this pose any difficulties for you?

 Fair questions you may be asked in an interview  What was your rank when you were discharged? What skills did you gain in the military?  Do you belong to any professional organizations (e.g. American Bar Association)?

 Employment applications often include questions about felony convictions with a disclaimer  If good credit is a requirement of the job, a company is within its rights to perform a credit check

 Send a thank you note  Tech or immediate decision - send via  Handwritten - proofread!  Don’t be pushy  It is okay to ask the interviewer when he/she anticipates making a decision  It’s not okay to call 5 times a day

 Success?  Congratulations  Keep learning  Preparation for your next job  Not successful?  Reflect on the experience  Ask for feedback  Bounce back