Literacy AmeriCorps Central
Texas begins in September and I have been in full swing planning mode since
January. In the last two months we have had nearly 300 applicants,
conducted more than 80 interviews (a few more scheduled), and I have absolutely
loved getting to know all of these terrific individuals that are interested in
serving in AmeriCorps! I have learned a lot about myself and the
millennial generation throughout this process. People I’ve talked to throughout
the last few months have introduced me to new ideas and sometimes just new
music! The creativity, passion for service and engagement of these
applicants has been obvious. As you can imagine the interviewing process –
recruitment, review, interview, assessment, matching, etc has taken up the
majority of my day time hours in the last two months so I have a few tips for
folks that find themselves interviewing out there.
First off
CONGRATS to all the new graduates out there!! I remember the elation from that
time in my life, and the anxiety that quickly followed as I started searching
for a job. In this tough economy I can’t imagine what you are all experiencing
and I hope that this will help someone out there… I have a few tips I have been
mentally collecting over the last few months for job seekers:
- Remember that you are a perfect
fit for some agency/corporation out there. If you don’t get the first,
second, third, or even eighteenth job you interview for - continue to go
on interviews with your head held high. You are learning
something new at every interview. You will be better prepared at each and
every interview….
- LOOK PROFESSIONAL. The interview is your first
and sometimes only chance to make a good impression. People that show up
to an interview looking disheveled don’t leave the interviewer with a
sense of confidence in your professionalism. Show your interviewer how
confident you are by looking them straight in the eye dressed
appropriately – slacks, appropriate length skirts, nothing to tight or
revealing. Don’t wear jeans – no matter what, no matter where. Don’t wear
tennis shoes. Wear something that you are comfortable in but be classy
folks! Carry a lint roller in your car – get the dog/cat hair
off of you on the way in! Iron your clothes whether you think they need it
or not! Sit up straight, don’t slouch … it will wrinkle your
clothes!
- Interviewers CAN SEE YOU on Skype. Make sure that you have something
behind you that is blank or appropriate (i.e. beer signs and pictures of
your friends doing a beer bong are a bad idea for interview backgrounds).
Dress up for your Skype interview, at least waist up. Showing up to a
Skype interview in your PJ’s is not winning you any points!
- BE ON TIME. Don’t arrive too
early. When someone is conducting interviews, particularly for multiple
positions schedules are tight. If you get there more than 20
minutes early wait in your car. Arrive no more than 5-10 minutes early for
your interview.
- Know what you have to offer. Be prepared for all the
basic questions – “What can you offer to us?", “What is your
strength/weakness?”… Know how you plan to answer these basic questions.
- Take time answering questions and
give depth. It's
better to answer slowly, accurately and with detail than it is to go on
and on or add "umm", “you know”, and "like" in between
every word. Give examples, even when people don’t ask – but especially when
they do!
- Don't wear perfume. I am personally highly
allergic to a lot of perfumes, as others are and in a small office
sometimes even a little is overpowering. There were a few interviews that
I had a horrible headache by the time my interviewee left the office
because of the perfume in the air. Take a shower, be clean and
don’t smoke on your way in to the interview. Just smell naturally nice!
- RESEARCH the place you are
interviewing with. When
someone walks in for an interview and knows NOTHING about your
company/agency it does not leave the impression that they really want to
be there. Know everything you can about the place that you can – Google
them, look for their partners, know what the job is and the programs that
they offer. Study for this like you study for a test in college to make a
good impression.
- Have questions. Along with doing your research,
you should have questions about the job and about the supervision
prepared. Candidates who don’t ask questions also come across as
unprepared and unengaged. Questions show interest, prove again that you
did your research and help to make sure that the position is a good fit
for you. Not having questions communicates you don’t have any
interest in the company and are just looking for a paycheck. If
you have no specific questions make sure you have good general questions
like “What would be the three major goals in this position,” or “What are
some qualities of successful people at your group?” Sometimes
interviewers are more impressed with a candidate based on the questions
that they ask rather than the answers that they give… if you walk in with
good, insightful questions and show them that you did your research they
will remember you when you walk out the door.
- Closings are not just for realtors
and lawyers. When
you think about it an interview is about selling yourself. You
want to be a good sales person – be the closer! Your goal for
an interview is to get a job, or at least move to the next round so don’t
walk out (or hang up) until you have made your final pitch. Ask what the
next steps in the process are and what the decision-making timelines might
be. Reiterate your interest in the position and why you are a
good fit!
I sincerely hope that this helps someone out there looking for a
position right now! I wish you the best of luck and just
want you to remember - know what you want and where you are!
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