|
|
| *Ostroff, Fair and Company>>>Other - Careers & Employment |
Job interviews? |
I have been a stay at home mom for 8 yrs. And I am a full time student. I am ready to go back to work, but I am the worst with job interviews. How can I lighten up and make the best of the situation, to better help me get the job? Follow these instructions and you will do well in ANY interview. PREPARATION 1.Know your strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared with a solid presentation of your strong points so that your weaknesses seem slight in comparison. The interviewer will be constantly probing for weaknesses and testing for strengths. 2.Know the requirements of the job so that you can relate how your qualifications compare with these requirements. You must be able to show the fit between " what you can do" and "what must be done." You must be prepared to show why you should be hired. 3.Know the company: its products and/or services, its competitors, its history, size, location of plants and the like. A brief description of the company usually accompanies an advertisement for vacant positions. It is also useful to find out who will interview you. Research of this nature can pay dividends in helping you prepare yourself and determine the direction the interview will take. 4.Know the difficult questions that are typically asked and prepare your answers to these questions. 5.Write down your own questions. Near the end of the interview, you will be usually asked if you have your own questions. This is the time to inquire about the nature of the work, the working conditions, working hours, training programs given to employees, chances for career growth and advancement, and any other points that may have not been covered yet. Questions pertaining to salary or benefits are never discussed at an interview unless the interviewer introduces them. You may ask these questions after the job is offered to you, and before you accept. 6.Attend to your personal appearance. Your preparation will produce negative results if you neglect your appearance. The people who will be deciding whether to hire you or not will be looking at you very closely. 7.Check details of the interview. Find out the exact time and place for your appointment and program yourself to allow for emergencies, such as a traffic jam or flat tire. If you are unfamiliar with the location where the interview will take place, you should check it out beforehand. You should plan to arrive at the designated place15 minutes ahead of schedule. While waiting, you can use the time to review the points to be covered in the interview or to observe the office environment and the employees going about their work. Bring also with you a pad and pen for jotting down things you need to remember such as the date and time of a second interview, names, correct titles, and addresses of those who interview you. You will need this information for your post interview thank you notes. DRESS CODE The following are accepted standards in the job market. Follow them if you want to make a positive first impression. Women: 脴Don't wear your skirts too short or too tight, heels to high, or blouses too low and too sheer. 脴Skip the loud nail colors and long nails. Keep your makeup subtle. 脴Carry an extra pair of stockings just in case and wear them, even in the summer. 脴Don't wear too much jewelry; keep it simple. Don't wear lots of earrings. 脴Conservative blouse and suit, with skirt not too short, sensible heels, subtle make up and jewelry. 脴Fill only one hole with earrings if you have many. Never wear large hoop earrings Men 脴Don't wear an earring. 脴Keep your nails clean and trimmed and remember to shave. 脴Wear knee length socks that match your pants to avoid "the sock gap." 脴A dark suit, white shirt, tie and dark oxford shoes. (This will vary from country to country and the type of job being applied for). Everyone 脴If you think you need a haircut, get one. 脴Don't splash on too much perfume or aftershave. Many people are allergic to scents. 脴Don't wear a nose ring. 脴Take a shower that morning and wear a deodorant. 脴Polish your shoes and press your clothes the night before. 脴Absolutely don't chew gum or smoke. 脴If you suffer from sweaty palms, keep a handkerchief with a little baby powder or cornstarch in it. Before your interview, go into the restroom and dry your hands with it. CONDUCT DURING INTERVIEW 脴Don't accept coffee, tea or even water even if it is offered; having a drink is a distraction you don't really need right now. 脴Show enthusiasm for your present job (even if you are not that excited about it). 脴Listen carefully to the question asked. Pause for a moment before answering. Paraphrase the question if you are not sure you understood it. 脴If you don't understand the question, ask for it to be repeated. 脴Make sure that by the end of the interview you've gotten across your strongest skills or characteristics. Be specific about them. It is always a good idea to prove your expertise and personal skills by giving examples. 脴Leave the interview with a good closing impression -- a firm handshake, a smile, good eye contact, a "Thank You", and a closing statement like, "I am very interested in this position," or "When can I expect to hear from you?" INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Here are some questions that employers often ask candidates. Prepare answers for these and you won't fear them, or any variation of them. Be brief. Answers to questions should not take more than 90 seconds. Do not ramble during the interview. All answers should relate to the heart of the issue: Are you qualified to do the job for which they are hiring? Never lose perspective of this. Look at each question as an opportunity to present your case. Exude confidence but do not be boastful or arrogant. About yourself: 脴What can you tell me about yourself? 脴What are your strengths? 脴What are your weaknesses/failures? 脴Describe your long and short-range goals. Business questions: 脴Why do you want to work here? 脴What special qualities do you bring to this job? 脴What was your worst job? 脴Discuss a problem you have had at work with your boss (or coworker) and how you resolved it. Watch out, this is a trick question. Never let them trick you into saying a negative comment about your former boss, co-worker, position or company. Always stress the positive behaviors you learned from difficult situations. 脴How do you define success? 脴Where do you see yourself, career wise, in the future? Watch out, this is a trick question. Remember that the main concern of the employer throughout the interview is to fill the open position with someone who will be successful and stay in it. School questions: 脴Do you think your school grades represent you? 脴What was the main thing you got out of going to college (high school)? 脴Why didn't you get a degree? 脴How did your education prepare you for a career? 脴What did you learn in school that can help you on this job? And finally: 脴Is there anything else I need to know about you? 脴Do you have any questions? An interviewer might also ask you to: 脴Explain or defend any statement you made in your resume. 脴Discuss any skill you may have listed. 脴Discuss any lapses in employment times. For an in-depth study on interview questions and the interview itself please go to this link. http://www.job-interview.net/ Peace and blessings! Source(s): My Counseling Files chocolate dark looking for work now, Practice makes perfect! Try a few that you know you either don't want or know you won't get. You'll get the hang of it. Be prepared. Look the company up on the Internet - know what they do. Be confident - if you can handle a kid and school, a job interview is a breeze! Good luck! check with your local community college. they have a women's center and a reentry center. the knowledge and advice is valuable. Well wear a navy blue or charcoal gray skirt and top, you know look professional. The navy blue and charcoal gray are warmer and friendlier in look, as opposed to black. Make sure your hair looks nice and you go in with a good positive attitude. You want them to see you as a friendly warm person. Be ready for dumb questions like,鈥?where do you see yourself in the future" the answer is always, "being a contributing member of a good company, one that rewards good work and workers". Also be ready for the "what would you say is your greatest strength?" The answer should be something like "I tend to get be a pit of a perfectionist about what I do" then the "What is your greatest weakness". The answer should be "Well, I tend to be a perfectionist about what I do". Do not give them a range to work from, you know what I mean. If you wear perfume do not over use it, you do not want to have a strong perfume odor that tends to annoy people. Be pleasant, and know something about the company you are going to interview with. Go to their web site and do a little research, that way you do not go in blind. Always say salary is negotiable. You know how much you want or need. They know how much they are willing to pay for the skills you have, so each may have to give and take a little. If they want you to come back for a second interview, that's normal these days. Make sure your resume is no more than a page long. Target it. Only put the past job duties that will apply to the job you are applying for. Your education should be at the top and your accomplishments at the bottom. They usually only glace at the middle part, but pay closer attention to the top section and bottom section. I know that everyone seems to do their resumes center of the paper. You should however have everything lined up on the right side. It makes it easier to read. Use bullets for your job duties and accomplishments. That will draw their attention to each one. In the qualifications area you should list at least 4 no more than 6, that like I said pertain to the job you are Interviewing for. I wish you the best of luck!! |
| Tags |
| Credit Corporations Other - Careers & Employment Technology Marketing & Sales Law & Legal Health Care Government & Non-Profit |
Finance Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster |