The Striking Interview
by Maissa Virtusio
Getting scared of job interviews? Don't be. A job interview is simply a screening process wherein the company learns more about you and vice-versa. During this 20 or 30 minutes, the employer makes significant decisions about your capabilities and personality (Neile, 1991).
Winning First Impressions
Caren Neile (1991) continues to say that when you can't do anything about your experiences and skills, what's more important are these eight factors that can make first impressions last:
alertness, articulateness, compatibility, enthusiasm, maturity, motivation, personality, preparation
Dressing for Success
Remember that male interviewers take in your whole look without focusing on details. Females, on the other hand, are more likely to notice the little telltale signs that would indicate your being a pro or not, like a loose hemline.
Fashion expert Pamela Redmond Satran (in Dressing Smart: The Thinking Woman's Guide to Style) mentions eight no-no's for interview clothes, namely:
Anything not spotlessly clean
Anything brand new that you don't yet know how you walk in, sit in, or "perspire" in
Anything sexy—sends the WRONG message
Pants for a woman
Anything too casual
Bow-ties- whether you're a male or female
Colors that make a statement. Black, for example, gives an impression of gloom, while pinks seem frivolous.
Noticeable shoes.
Commonly, try to dress as you would on the job.
Other Ways to Make an Impression
Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. Isn't' it logical to think that an enthusiastic, energetic applicant would make a good employee?
"Body language speaks volumes."
Walk in and shake hands warmly
Take the nearest seat to the interviewer
Avoid habits that manifest nervousness like scratching, biting or picking at your nails or fidgeting with hair or cloth
Be polite but don't be timid either. "Unless it's your true personality, there's no reason to speak softly or sit with your hands folded in your lap and your legs crossed at the ankles".
In sitting down, sit upright and back in the chair; don't slouch
"A warm smile is a powerful weapon in communicating and winning
attention" (Samuel Roll)
In speaking, establish eye contact with the interviewer; don't look down or mumble OR the interviewer might think that you are hiding something , you don't' know what you are talking about, you are insecure and nervous, or you don't know what you are talking about…Do not stare either.
Caren Neile's Top 35 Interview Questions
1.) .What do you know about our company?
2.) .Why did you decide to interview with our company?
3.) .Tell me about yourself.
4.) .What personal qualities do you possess which might distinguish you
from other applicants?
5.) .Why did you/ did you not attend college?
6.) .If you did, how did you choose that school or field of study?
7.) .What were some of the most important parts of your education?
8.) .What courses in school/college did you like best? Least? Why?
9.) .What type of work interests you?
10.) .What are your favorite working conditions?
11.) .What jobs have you held?
12.) .What factors are most important to your success?
13.) .What is most important to you: job security, satisfaction, work hours, salary, working conditions?
14.) .What have been some of your most important work responsibilities?
15.) .What have you liked best and least about your jobs?
16.) .Do you have a preference as to the part of the country/'province" you work in?
17.) .Where do you see yourself in five/10 years?
18.) .How do you schedule your time?
19.) .What are your hobbies?
20.) .What are your strengths and weakness?
21.) .What was your most difficult decision in the last six months, and why?
22.) .How do you deal with pressure?
23.) .Do you prefer working alone, one on one, or with a group?
24.) .What extracurricular activities did you participate in?
25.) .How have these activities prepared you for work and life?
26.) .What can you bring to this company?
27.) .How are your people skills?
28.) .Are you married (and other personal questions)?
29.) .Have your skills improved over the last few years?
30.) .What do you think are your employer's obligations to you?
31.) .Are you applying for any other jobs?
32.) .What type of salary did you have in mind?
33.) .Why did you leave your last job?
34.) .Have you ever been fired or laid off?
35.) .Silence
And a Few Answers
Above all, be upbeat, concise and to the point. Being prepared for the interview is good, but don't sound as if you have memorized your answers. If asked to crow about yourself, try to temper your bragging with a little old-fashioned humility.
Here again is Neil Caren and her pointers for some of the trickier questions:
#3 The situation does not call you to reminisce about your childhood memories. What is being looked at is your organization of thought, poise, perspective and skills. Hence, this is a question to plan beforehand.
#15 An employer can find out what type of worker you are by your answer. Be specific about the type of work and the atmosphere. Better have an idea about how your past job- likes and -dislikes fare with what you'll find at the job you're applying for.
#17 Goals are important, but you want them to reflect the realities of the company. This questioned is asked to find out if you've thought about your future.
#19 Hobbies do count. Interviewers want to be sure you're well-rounded. And don't ever lie because you'll never know when your golf or tennis skills will be tested during the company tournament. Do tell about your talents you'll need in the job.
# 20 Be careful about laying down strengths and weaknesses. Be specific about your strengths (as opposed to saying "I like people", why not say " I seem to have a knack for people skills. Last year I was assigned to be the company's resource coordinator because they say so many people
recommended me as a good person to talk to".
For weaknesses, don't joke, don't be flip but do answer. The tip is to turn a plus for the job you want into a so-called weakness. Like if you're looking for a public relations position, you can say " I don't like being alone. I like to be surrounded by people".
#28 Try to anticipate the question behind the question. An interviewer asking about your husband's job may want to know if he's going to be transferred soon. Those who ask if you have young children may be concerned about you working long hours or your being able to
concentrate. You can then answer the actual question and then the underlying one.
#31 A fair question, since you are not expected to apply for just one job at a time. Show you are a good, careful job-hunter.
#33 Be kind. Never badmouth a former employer even if you were fired. Most of all, be honest because these things can readily be checked.
#35 This is to see if you have poise and confidence. Don't babble. Don' t feel the need to fill in the silence. Just sit quietly and smile.
Finally, if you have not prepared for a question, be honest. You can say: "That's a good question. Could you give me a minute to think about that?" And then do think. I f nothing comes up, simply be as brief as possible. "You don't get extra points for answering all questions, but you do get points for trying!"
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Reference:
Neile, Caren (1991). How to Get A new Job and earn What You're Really Worth.
Florida: Globe Communications Corp.
Cover Letters: Adding the Professional Touch
by Maissa Virtusio
A cover letter. What is it ? Sometimes, we call it an application letter. In your job search, a cover letter introduces your resume (Neile,1991). Is it needed? Well, in "Resumes for Hard Times" Bob Weinstein remarks that "you can get away without one" but enclosing a cover letter is adding the right professional touch. In today's competitive world, professionalism can indeed make a difference.
In this regard, I highly recommend Caren Neile's Tips for Winsome Cover Letters which are as follows:
Custom-fit your cover letter to the specific job or company with your background in mind.
Open with a convincing lead. Make the employer's day by writing opening lines that stand out - but don't overdo it.
Manifest your skill in research. If you are replying to an ad, why not use some of the words or phrases the company has mentioned?—like "industrious", "hardworking". Make sure you have researched about the company, its needs, the needed job responsibilities, and how your skills
and experience will make a good match to it.
Hit the mark by targeting the letter to the right person. Don't risk ignoring or insulting a female employer by writing "Dear Sir" or "Gentlemen". "Dear Sir or Madam" will do if you can't get any name. Remember, you should get the information right : the address, the spelling of the person's name, the company name, the job title you're applying for and that of the person you're writing to.
Be brief and concise. Let your resume speak more for you.
Proofread and ask somebody to check for typographical errors.
Your cover letter as well as your resume should have the same type paper and envelope. No flower-designed stationeries, please. Standard, matching paper presents a professional look.
By all means, type (don't hand-write) the letter and use correct business-letter form.
Type an original cover letter or application letter for each resume you send. It may take a good part of your time but it's worth it.
Don't be too personal, intimate, or sweet. Polite and professional is the secret.
Use blue or black ink in signing your name and leave out the loops and squiggles.
As you end your letter, leave one space after your typed name and type "Enc." at the left margin to notify that you have attached an enclosure, i.e., your resume together with the letter.
So, here's A Sample Cover Letter (Courtesy of How to Get a New Job and Earn what You're Really Worth)
Your Address
City, State, Zip
Telephone Number
Date
Name Of Employer or Personnel (HR) Manager
Title of Employer or Personnel (HR) Manager
Name of Organization
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Name of Employer or HR Manager:
Paragraph One: Introduce the purpose for mailing your resume (like you want to apply for the position the company has advertised). State the source used—such as a classified ad, recruiter, friend, and of course, a web site like trabaho.com. If you want to drop someone's name, check
first if it's okay and research about the person's credibility and reputation in the company.
Paragraph Two: Describe yourself briefly with regards to your current job, education, willingness to relocate, etc.
Paragraph Three: Expound a little bit more about your contribution to your field, as far as experience, enthusiasm, education, or expertise.
Paragraph Four: Politely request a date for an interview. If there's a need for you to travel, recommend a time span during which you'll be able to do so. Reiterate your interest in the company.
Sincerely OR Very truly yours,
Your Signature
Your Typed Name
Well, what are you waiting for? Sulat na!
The Go-Getter Resume
by Maissa Virtusio
RESUME … also known as curriculum vitae or vita, or c.v. - Latin for "the course of one’s life" (as it applies to your performance as a worker).
So, why the fuss about writing a resume in job-hunting? Well, as Caren Neile puts it in her work "How to Get a New Job and Earn What You’re Really Worth", it is for the reason that a resume takes on your shoes when you should have been the one being asked inside the premises of a
company instead. And in sending the resume as your representative, you only want the best, right?
Remember that a good resume CASTS a good background about you.
Here are some helpful tips:
Be C- CONCISE
Be brief and concise. Unless you are the President of the Philippines, one or two pages will be fine. Economize on words. For example, " I worked as a full-time administrator and then later as part-time consultant" may be cut into : "F/T Administrator (1990-92); P/T Consultant (1993-1995) Use punctuation instead of "and" and "then" Keep sentences short and direct
Be A- APT
State only relevant or appropriate information. You don’t have to describe what a particular machine (you have operated) does, for example, if in the industry you are applying at, everyone knows what that machine is all about.
S- SYNTHESIZE
Synthesize or harmonize the parts of your resume by organizing them.
The parts of your resume may consist of the following information:
1.IDENTIFICATION DATA : Name, Address, Telephone Number.
2.CAREER OBJECTIVE: State the position or job level, function and industry you are interested in. But if you are sending only one resume for a wide variety of jobs, you may not include this part.
3.WORK EXPERIENCE: Job titles, names of employers and locations, inclusive dates, job functions, accomplishments.
4.EDUCATION: School, location, degree, major, date of graduation, honors and grade point average (if commendable), special project or course that speaks of a certain ability or knowledge. 5.EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Organizations, clubs, associations, activities and positions that say about pertinent skills or responsibilities.
6.SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES: Special skills like knowledge of sophisticated machines, or computers, foreign languages, etc. But only if you really have special skills to speak of.
7.PERSONAL INTERESTS: Community activities, hobbies, travel
8.REFERENCES: If you have space, you may include this, but it is not necessary. "References available on request" placed at the bottom of resumes, are expressions of courtesy.
Write the T- TEXT with these tips in mind:
Never use the pronoun "I" . Just say: "Prepared reports", "Supervised five staff", etc.
Never use high-falutting, exaggerated statements like "the greatest in the world"
Use the language of the field or trade lingo. You may look up trade journals for the right terms.
Use action verbs which imply that you are a "doer" , such as:
Achieved, administered, analyzed, assembled, budgeted, checked, conducted, coordinated, designed, directed, expedited, generated, handled, increased, installed, interpreted, interviewed, invented, led, modeled, operated, organized, performed, prepared, tested, trained, utilized
Use strong self-descriptive words that indicate what a good worker you’ll be, such as:
Adaptable, aggressive, alert, creative, dependable, diplomatic, enthusiastic, forceful, mature, organized, personable, positive, reliable, self-reliant, systematic
Of course, check your grammar. This can unmake your resume.
Write in S- Style
Resumes may be written in one or in combination of these three styles : chronological, functional, targeted (depending on what you want to emphasize).
Chronological
The easiest and the most popular, use this if you have a good working history that is directly related to the job you are applying for. Start with your most recent experience and work backwards.
Functional
Use this if you have had a variety of jobs not directly related to the job you are applying for. Stress the important functions, duties and responsibilities you had. Write a heading by type of functions performed and list under it any accomplishments related to it. Present the headings in order of their importance according to the job you are applying for, not based on the date you performed past jobs.
Targeted
You may use this if you are a fresh graduate or a first-time employee because here, you emphasize what you can do even if you haven’t proven yourself yet in a work setting. State four or five sentences that indicate what you are capable of and what you’ve done to demonstrate it. Write also a job objective to stress the skills you have to offer.
Combination of Styles
This is most useful if you are a professional with proven track records. You can begin with a career summary, followed by a description of skills, a chronological history, and the education at the bottom.
Final Reminders
Double check for typographical errors Use a good typewriter or a computer printer
Print the resume on short sized bond paper in black ink. Don’t overdo it in colored stationeries , or expensive typeset, etc. If your education is not something you are too proud of, "bury it at
the bottom" Honesty (in the information you wrote ) is still the best policy.
PHILIPPINE HR UPDATE (June 2, 1997)
Questions Applicants Ask During Interviews
by Maissa Virtusio
Now it’s the applicant’s turn to ask questions during interviews. Caren Neil proceeds to say that "It’s a very good policy to ask a few questions at a job interview, not only for the obvious reason that there are things you need to know in order to make your decision, but also because it sends the message that you’re a thorough, thoughtful individual".
What then are these questions that you may want to ask? The following are Caren Neil’s additions to your own list.
1.What are your company’s plans for future growth?
2.Tell me about the community in which I would be employed.
3.What qualities are most important to success on the job?
4.What are the opportunities for advancement? What’s the typical career track?
5.What might I expect to be doing in the next six months or so?
6.Describe the work environment.
7.Does your company encourage and support continuing education for its employees?
Some questions though are better off not asked:
What does your company do? -- Shows you haven’t come prepared.
Is this a union shop? --It’s something you should know, but it’s threatening to an employer.
How much job security do you offer? -- This makes you appear like you care more about what the company can do for you than what you can do for it. Will I have to work much overtime? -- A good question, but don’t sound like you don’t want to put in the extra effort—that’s a
decision to be made by you privately. You would have a better shot if it will be rephrased into something like: "What kind of job pressure can I expect?"
What happened to the person who had this job before me? -- So as not to put the person on the spot, try re-phrasing this. Maybe you can ask why this job is available. The reason might be that it’s a new position , which is beneficial for you to know.
What kind of office politics do you have? This is better asked as:
What qualities make for a successful employee?
Final Interview Tips
When preparing for the interview, you must equip yourself with one of the most important facts and that is, what you’re worth. In order to find out how much to ask, you can observe through the many interviews you’ve undergone and see what you’re offered; ask job placement professionals; scan the classifieds; call other personnel departments; read salary surveys at job agencies; and talk to people in your field. Robert Snelling has a good book on the subject, "Jobs!
What They Are…Where They Are…What They Pay!". Well, it’s good to stand out but it’s not tasteful to be too wacky like taking a picture of the astonished interviewer, or challenging the
interviewer to a game of poker. The best policy is still good old-fashioned etiquette. Be there a few minutes early so that you can have ample time to fill out the application. Be friendly. Moderation is the name of the game; don’t be too talkative but don’t be tight-lipped either. Be certain that you have the name of the interviewer straight, and use it once or twice.
Even if you have sent in a resume before, bring a few more. Samples of your work and copies of what you’ve written are likewise advantageous.
Fill out the application as carefully and completely as you can. "Make as many allies as you can". Show courtesy and respect to the secretary or receptionist who ushers you in. Sincerely and in a low key manner try to look for common ground with the interviewer. The "me-too" effect, psychologists say, is very beneficial in establishing a bond. Thank the interviewer when you are finished and always, follow up with a letter. A few interviews will be followed by a written skills or aptitude test. It may be advisable to do a little review ahead of time on your math, grammar or special job-related skills depending on the job. It’s always good to be armed with a sharpened pencil, eraser and pen even if probably you’ll be provided with one. It’s nice to break the ice, but withdraw from too much humor, lest you come off as too flippant. Be prepared for computer interviews. Many businesses are screening job applicants by computer! Just be honest with your answers. When you are with a human interviewer, don’t forget that they are only human. At times, you wont’ be able to just wow them either because they had an earlier fight with their spouse or they have a terrible headache.
Remember, too that the interviewer’s job is not that easy because finding the right candidate may likely make her or him nervous. Try then to put both of you at ease.
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