Getting the job you want can either be the easiest or hardest thing you could ever do. It’s stressful. Having to make a good impression on someone you’ve never met is definitely a scary situation. Believe me, there’s nothing like trying to sell yourself in a hurry so you don’t get evicted next month. Talk about pressure. Those high-up corporate mucky mucks don’t know the half of it!
I’ve been through a lot of job interviews (hey, I was a teenager once too ya know), and I’ve got it down to a simple science. Follow this advice and I guarantee you a job as head ketchup squirter at any fast food joint of your choosing. Maybe that’s aiming too high. You have to crawl before you walk….
* Be Yourself. There’s nothing more important than this first step. Nobody wants to hire somebody they can’t trust, and that’s exactly who you’ll be to the employer if you try to hide your personality. If your personality doesn’t fit in with the company that you’re applying to, being YOU will save about 3 months of wasted time before you even get started. The interviewer knows who you’re going to be working with, so don’t get in over your head by pretending to be someone you’re not. Which brings me to my next point...
* Don’t Lie. Just like mama always said: “Honesty is the best policy”. It’s true! If you don’t know how to do something or only have a little experience, my advice is to be honest about it. Don’t get a job and have Mayor McNugget find out you really can’t run the Milkshake X4000, and end up with a Whopper sized red mark on your work record. Save yourself the embarrassment and ridicule of getting found out. You may even qualify for an apprentice type program, as there are still employers who will pay to educate you believe it or not.
* Dress the Part. I know how cliche this sounds, but it’s not exactly what you think. Listen. If you’re trying to get a job in construction, a good piece of advice is not come to the interview in a suit and tie. Wearing something like jeans and a polo shirt will get you much further down the road. Think about it. Would you want someone who’s all slicked up and business-like building houses for your company? My first thought would be, “This person doesn’t know the first thing about construction work”. No matter how qualified you may be, the interviewer is going to visually disqualify you for the job because your clothes don’t fit what he’s looking for in a construction worker. The same thing goes for getting an office job. Faded 501’s and a Guns-N-Roses t-shirt aren’t gonna cut it Slash. First impressions are everything.
* Type Up a Simple Resume. It’s really not as difficult as it sounds. Be sure to include things like former jobs, rates of pay, hobbies, certifications and career goals. Get yourself down to the nearest Kinko’s and make copies of everything in case they want proof that you graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard medical school. Make sure you can back up the jobs you wrote down on that resume. Like I said above, if you’re lying they’re probably going to find out, doctor.
* Do Not Be Late. Don’t roll into the interview 10 minutes late. Or be late at all for that matter. Punctuality shows responsibility. My advice is to give yourself about a half hour buffer zone, just in case you have a flat tire, run out of gas, dog ate your homework….
* BRING A PEN. I’ve seen so many people forget this simple little item when going for an interview. Nobody’s going to want to pay somebody who can’t remember to bring a writing utensil to fill out the job application. “Duhhhh…I don’t have a pen, can I borrow one?” You just know they’re thinking “What else is he/she gonna need to borrow? Money? This ain’t a bank”. Then again maybe you want to work in a bank, and if so BRING A PEN.
Stay with me now, we’re almost done. Focus. Confucius says “He who has focus no need glasses”. Ok that was bad. I know you can only handle so much advice at once….
* Know Something About the Company. The more you know about what you’re getting into, the better off you’ll be in the long run. The interviewer is almost surely going to ask you what you know about their company. You don’t need to stay up the night before cramming, but get a few basic facts.
* Give Yourself a Once-Over. Take inventory of what you need for this interview or job application process before you leave the house. Organize all the stuff you’re going to need the night before, and double check yourself before leaving. Always bring your driver’s license and social security card. Lastly, take a quick look in the mirror. Take my advice–nothing says unemployment like multi colored spinach teeth.
* Eye Contact is Important. If you can’t look someone in the eyes while talking to him/her, they’ll think you’re hiding something. Good eye contact also shows confidence in an interview, so even if you’re a weeny hold that gaze.
* Tell Them How Much You Expect to Make. Don’t be arrogant though. Humility is the way to go. For the most part, salary is negotiable. In the salary spot on the application, always put the word OPEN in the blank. Let ‘em know why your skills may be worth more than they think. Try to negotiate a starting salary, but don’t treat it like you’re buying a used car. This is a job interview, not a swap meet.
Had enough yet? I hope so, because this is the end. Remember not to get discouraged. You’ll be tired, broke and employed in no time at all.
