Following up on last weeks 10 Tips for a Great Resume post, here are a few more tips to helping you land the job of your dreams.
1-From Head to Toe, It all Will Show. You must look the part, from your head to your feet. This includes your hair style and your shoes. Yes, they will notice the dirty old converse shoes with your nice tie, and they will know that the shoes, are probably the real representation of what you will dress like everyday. What they won’t know is where you got your clothes, so head on over to a thrift store and find something that looks nice.
2-Shake Like a Fish, for a Job You’ll Still Wish. Start the interview right, with a firm confident hand shake. Don’t crush hands, but show you belong there and that you believe in yourself through all of your actions. If you are struggling with your own confidence, reach deep, practice in the mirror and find it.
3-From First Sight, They’ll Know if You’re Right. First impressions are real. I knew within the first minute of the interview if I was going to hire that person or not. I can only remember 2 times where I changed my mind because the interview didn’t match my first impression. It matters-get it right. It’s okay to be nervous, but be confident and believe in yourself. (It’s harsh, I know, but it is true. I did change my mind though, so don’t give up if you think you may have bombed)
4-A Sentence or Two, and That Will Do. When asked a question, answer it. Give an example if you can. Then end. Trust me, the more you talk, does not make you look smarter or more fitting for the job. In fact, the interviewer probably has a full day of interviews to check off their list, and they have already made their mind up about you (see previous). Don’t be the person that puts them behind schedule because they are too kind to cut you off. An indicator that you are talking too much: the interviewer is doodling on a notepad because they are bored, or you having to ask them to repeat the question halfway through your own story. Keep that positive impression rolling with your task oriented-to the point-answers.
5-Research and Know, Before you Go. Know what you are applying for. Make sure before you show up that you have read the job description and understand the tasks. Take time to get to the know the company and make sure it is a good fit for you. This will also help you as you prepare for the interview to emphasis your skills and talents that match with the company vision. It is a good idea to have a couple of questions to ask at the end, in relation to the company, but certainly isn’t required.
6-At Five To,,,, The Late One is You. Be ten minutes early. This shows it matters to you. It also is a representation of future performance. This is a big deal, so when asked in the future to do something important, this shows you will make it happen. Truthfully, they most likely won’t know you were there early, however, they will know if you are late, and just on the off chance they are ready to go a couple of minutes early and you aren’t there….then they notice. Don’t take that chance. Be early, it helps your confidence, nothing worse than feeling rushed to add to the level of stress. Traffic does happen, and if for some reason you are ill prepared: Call and let them know you are running late.
7-If You Can Do It, Prove It. When asked a question, always (within a reasonable amount of sentences), give an example of a time when you have done something similar or applicable. It is a good idea to have ten great examples of things you have done above and beyond, prepared and written down prior to the interview, this way, when asked a question you can choose from one of those ten which applies to the question. If you think about it, you can probably make it work by focusing on different parts of the activity. This shows application skills, hard work, and can be a time to show off your awesomeness!
8-I’m not weak, I’m an Improving Freak. You will most likely be asked for your greatest strength and your greatest weakness. We all have them. When asked what your greatest weakness is, make sure you answer in a way that also highlights your strengths, example: “My greatest opportunity is time management, however, I am aware of this and have made great strides to improve. Some of the ways that I have found work for me is by utilizing my outlook calendar and creating task lists on my desktop with sticky notes that I get to check off when I complete it.” See-we all have “opportunities” but this is an example of showing improvement.
9-You Got This Far, Now Be a Star. Getting the interview is the hardest part. There is a reason you are here-so believe in yourself and your abilities. If you don’t think you can do the job, it will show. Likewise, if you know you will be great, they will see it in all that you say. Apply above what you have done in the past, and challenge yourself to improve.
10-If You Choose to Lie, It Probably Won’t Fly. Nobody is perfect. You are looking for a job for a reason, know what that is. Hopefully, it is because you want to improve and this position is up from where you are. If you have a track record of job hopping, maybe you need to look at yourself, honestly. If you lie about where you have been or what you have done, it will come out in your job performance if not in the interview itself. Don’t be that person, instead honestly look at your past and come up with some examples of what you have done well and stick to it. Believe in a better future for yourself and become it.
