| So you've figured out, more or less what you | | | | well-chosen business suits will serve you all |
| want to do and where the opportunities are. | | | | the way to the first day on the job and |
| Now; you have been called for an interview. | | | | beyond. Then, when you are making some money |
| Here are five steps for interview success for | | | | (and have a chance to see what the standard |
| students and graduates:1. Prepare, prepare, | | | | "uniform" is for the company), you can begin |
| prepare.Thoroughly research each employer you | | | | to round out your wardrobe. For now, no one |
| pursue. It is not enough just to show up for | | | | will fault you for wearing the same sharp |
| the interviews and hope for the best.Take the | | | | outfit each time you interview. If you desire |
| time to research and understand the company | | | | some variety within a limited budget, you |
| and the person who is giving the interview. | | | | might consider varying your shirt/blouse/tie |
| Students should approach their answers from | | | | accessories as a simple way to change your |
| the perspective of the person who is doing | | | | look without breaking your wallet.5. Leave a |
| the hiring. What would that person be looking | | | | lasting impression.There are two simple steps |
| for if the roles were reversed? Job seekers | | | | you can take to make a lasting impression |
| need to plan their responses so they cover | | | | after your interview and greatly increase |
| key information about what they can bring to | | | | your odds of success.The first is to call the |
| the job, and then rehearse out loud until | | | | interviewer to thank them for their time. If |
| they feel confident.2. Attitude makes a | | | | possible, you may want to add additional |
| difference.The key element to successful | | | | information which was not discussed in the |
| interviewing is not your experience, your | | | | interview. An example would be: "I understand |
| grades, what classes you took, your | | | | from speaking with the receptionist that |
| extracurricular activities, or any of the | | | | Microsoft Office is your corporate software |
| other basic necessities. Those skills are | | | | standard. I just wanted to mention that I'm |
| what got you the interview. The key element | | | | also fully proficient in each of the tools in |
| to successful interviewing can be summed up | | | | the Office suite." This phone call should |
| in one word: attitude. If you want to rise | | | | ideally take place the same day. If you are |
| above others with better experience, better | | | | unable to reach the interviewer directly, |
| grades, or better anything, you will need to | | | | leave a voicemail message.The second activity |
| work on developing a highly positive work | | | | is to immediately write the interviewer a |
| attitude.Your attitude determines whether you | | | | short note, thanking them for their time and |
| will "make the cut" or be discarded. | | | | reemphasizing your interest in the position. |
| Remember, there are plenty of competitors | | | | Then do your best to get it to them as |
| with the ability to do almost any given job-- | | | | quickly as possible. E-mail it, fax it, hand |
| especially at the entry level. The way most | | | | deliver it, messenger it, use overnight mail, |
| employers differentiate at the entry level is | | | | whatever. But be sure they have it before the |
| by candidates' attitudes toward the job.You | | | | end of the following day. Ideally, you want |
| can teach a new employee many things, but | | | | to get it in their hands by the end of the |
| attitude is not one of them. Many employers | | | | day of the interview or first thing the |
| are willing to teach skills to new employees | | | | following morning. Why? Because the quicker |
| if they come through the door with a | | | | your letter arrives, the greater the |
| positive, energetic "can do" attitude.3. Ask | | | | likelihood of affecting a positive impact. A |
| the right questions.Ask about the position, | | | | thank you note provides an opportunity to |
| job responsibilities and company values.4. | | | | thank the interviewer for his or her time, |
| Dress for success.Before the interview, the | | | | and one last chance to express interest in |
| student job seeker should find out the | | | | the position and reinforce why you are the |
| company's dress code and dress a level up | | | | right person for it.Visit - The Career |
| from that. It's better to be overdressed than | | | | Gazette weekly edition of articles about |
| under-dressed.This is not to say that you | | | | average job salaries and how to answer job |
| need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. | | | | interview questions. |
| Go for quality over quantity. One or two | | | | |