Making Your Dreams Your Reality

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Contents About The Author .................................................................................................................... 5 What blogs and articles do we feature? ............................................................................ 5 Contact Sbabzy.com and share your stories .................................................................... 6 Subscribe today ....................................................................................................................7 How to Choose a Career or Field Of Study ............................................................................ 8 Interests ................................................................................................................................ 8 Other Factors........................................................................................................................ 9 Money Careers ..................................................................................................................... 9 Careers That Do Not Need College Education ..................................................................... 11 Research Study.................................................................................................................... 11 Stuck In a Career ................................................................................................................. 12 Doesn’t Need College .......................................................................................................... 12 How to Get Skills for a Career without College Education .................................................14 Where to Look .....................................................................................................................14 Community Colleges ........................................................................................................... 15 Armed Services ................................................................................................................... 15 Certification Programs ....................................................................................................... 15 High School Vocational Programs ..................................................................................... 15 Value of College Education? ..............................................................................................16 How to Build a Good Resume or CV ..................................................................................... 17 What to Send With a Resume ............................................................................................ 17 Defining Your Objective ..................................................................................................... 17 Education.............................................................................................................................18 Military Service ...................................................................................................................18 National Service ..................................................................................................................18 Employment ........................................................................................................................18 Miscellaneous ......................................................................................................................19

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Where to Begin Looking For Job Openings ........................................................................ 20 College Office - Career Services ........................................................................................ 20 Professors ........................................................................................................................... 20 Alumni Networks ................................................................................................................ 21 Investment Consulting and Banking ................................................................................. 21 New Media /Advertising ................................................................................................... 22 Publishing/Journalism...................................................................................................... 22 Others ................................................................................................................................. 22 Resume and References .................................................................................................... 23 Make certain this is the Company and the Job ............................................................... 23 Networking ......................................................................................................................... 24 Why is the Interview So Important? ................................................................................ 24 Preparing for an Interview ................................................................................................ 25 Goals of an Interview ......................................................................................................... 25 Research ............................................................................................................................. 25 Practice ............................................................................................................................... 26 Other Important Items ...................................................................................................... 26 Dress for Success ............................................................................................................... 26 What to Bring ..................................................................................................................... 27 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 27 How to Develop Good Interviewing Skills........................................................................... 28 Dress Appropriately ........................................................................................................... 28 Be On-time ......................................................................................................................... 28 Shine your personality....................................................................................................... 29 Be confident ....................................................................................................................... 29 Be Professional................................................................................................................... 29 Listen Before Speaking ...................................................................................................... 29 No Lingering....................................................................................................................... 30 Things to Do/Not to Do During an Interview ...................................................................... 31 Things Not To Do ................................................................................................................ 31

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Things to Do ....................................................................................................................... 32 Have a Great Pitch ............................................................................................................. 33 Enthusiasm......................................................................................................................... 33 Due Diligence ..................................................................................................................... 34 When to Follow-up on the Telephone .............................................................................. 35 Losing a Job is Stressful .................................................................................................... 37 Grief .................................................................................................................................... 38

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About The Author Sbabzy.com is a platform offering advice to all and providing a forum for personal development, business tips, relationship and careers. You can share your personal stories here with likeminded people and share links from and to all social media platforms. Sbabzy.com also offers you the opportunity of marketing your products to your readers, which is incredibly useful and can benefit your business tremendously. I hold a BA (Hons) in Business and Mathematics and an MSc in Applied Mathematical Modelling & Scientific Computing from the University of Greenwich, London, UK. I have fought to realize my career aspirations and, although they may be different to yours, we all have goals and dreams that we must try to realize in order to live fulfilled lives. Anyone in the world can submit articles to me, whether they are individuals, companies or groups of friends. Share tips on any aspect of your personal and professional life with people who have the same interests and aspirations as you. What blogs and articles do we feature? Published articles on Sbabzy include tips for the self employed, carving out a You can distribute this eBook to friends or family etc, but do not sell. (Not for Sale). By Oluwaseun Babajide, visit us on www.sbabzy.com and www.islotterygenerator.co.uk

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successful career in media and the benefits of online advertising. We have also included understanding your rights for job references. Personal blogs include how to build relationships by doing chores together as a family and finding work as a single parent, to staying fit in five easy steps and arranging a wedding reception. You can even leave a testimonial on Sbabzy.com by contacting me and leaving a message, which I will be happy to read. This blog is the perfect location to share thoughts, ideas and inspiring stories of all kinds. I like to encourage people from all walks of life to be all they can be. I want to inspire them to be successful in their career choices and to share their knowledge, struggles and stories on Sbabzy.com. Contact Sbabzy.com and share your stories Many blog sites refuse to publish articles. It is difficult getting people to listen to what you are trying to say; but on this blog you can write and share information. Visit Write and Share section to find out how you can participate to the blog and interact with other likeminded people. If you wish to participate in the online forum, please visit Forums and introduce yourself to the other contributors so that we may all share thoughts, ideas and inspirations.

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Sbabzy also owns the islotterygenerator.co.uk, which is another useful site. Subscribe today Sbabzy.com will also be interviewing successful people from different business sectors who will be sharing their expertise and tips for success with you. Subscribe to Sbabzy and reap the rewards. Listen to top professionals tell their stories and learn how to make your life successful and fulfilling in every sense. Feel inspired by Sbabzy and communicate with interesting people here. Use tips and give advice and share your experiences with us. Please do comment in any way you wish to and make sure you leave a foot print before exiting the site. You can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ Sincerely, Oluwaseun Babajide.

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How to Choose a Career or Field Of Study Choosing a career is an important decision. It is no overstatement to say, “Your choice will affect the rest of your life.” What to study in college is also a serious decision because this will prepare you for a career; choosing the right college to study at is one of the first steps in the process of planning for your future. The other step that is significant is selecting your major and whilst many students already have some idea what they want as a major before selecting a college, others are still not sure and end up waiting until the last moments to select a field of study. Here are several of the methods that students can use to help narrow down their selections and find the major that is just right for them.

Interests Among the list of considerations and probably most important is your own personal interests. Perhaps you are the one who likes science or mathematics. Alternatively, perhaps you hate numbers and love art. The first step that a student needs to do is make a list of individual likes and dislikes.

After this list, it

should be easier for a student to narrow things to a selected area or areas of study.

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Some students will find out that this procedure still does not give a clear choice. In addition, for others, too many diverse areas of interest can be vastly dissimilar to each other. This may make the process of decision-making complex. However, without limitless money and time the luxury of a double major option such as engineering and fine arts will mean that a choice will have to be made eventually. For others the choice is easy as you are the ones that have had a dream or hobby from the time you were in kindergarten - there is something that you have said or shown an aptitude in since the beginning of your life.

Other Factors Usually skills and interests are the main reasons behind the selection of a specific career path. Often other factors can also lead you down a specific path, though that path might not necessarily be your favourite. An example of this is if your family owns a business. Some students are daughters or sons of parents who are successful and own a business or head a family-owned corporation. The parents might want to keep this business in the family – so a precise major will be expected of you. Usually the field of study would be business, but dependent on the type of business it could be something else.

Money Careers Another prevalent but not really a good reason for choosing a specific career path is money. There are students who select a major based merely on the potential for future earnings in a specific field.

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Business, medical and law are generally considered to be the more lucrative fields; this will often entice students to select a field of study in one of these areas rather than selecting a major such as liberal arts or some other field where earnings might or might not be as high. But the choice will have to be made and this will determine, for most individuals, the career they will have for the rest of their working years. Many experts will advise that if you

are

doing

what

you

love

to

do

-

the

money

will

come.

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Careers That Do Not Need College Education There are many economists who will be the first to tell you that college education is the best ticket to middle class that you will be able to find.

Research Study A recent study released outlines there are 29 million jobs that offer pay in the middle class and do not require a bachelor’s degree. Researchers were surprised in finding so many job vacancies that pay between $35,000 and $72,000 but do not require college education. One example is an individual who worked with an organisation referred to as ‘Skills USA’ and learned how to coordinate events that involved thousands of students. After that, this individual skipped college and went straight to work at Apple. He now makes between $40,000 and $50,000 a year.

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Stuck In a Career You do have to make a decision on a career, but you do not have to be restricted by those decisions of a career – making you stick to them. Many say that there are no wrong or right career decisions. What is most important is “having a go” and “exploring” in the general area that you want to enter and through gathering information, contacts and experience then making a decision that is more targeted. Learning, growing and adapting are more important than getting it right with the first career decision.

Doesn’t Need College Learning and gaining qualifications are vital but there are a vast range of opportunities for work that do not need a college education.

Apprenticeships, self-employment,

armed services and a range of other meaningful and challenging careers do not require a college education. It takes many things to obtain a job that you want and that you will do well at. Qualifications are important but knowing individuals, having communication skills, motivation, personal attributes, appropriate risk-taking, problem solving and creativity are vital qualifications for having a successful job.

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With College Education You Won’t Have to Start at the Bottom Actually where you begin when you finish college will mostly depend on wherever the employer wants you or considers is the best place for you to study their business intricacies.

College education enlightens you with knowledge, qualifications, and

competencies; in some instances, it also provides relevant work experience. But, in the work place there are many other skills that are needed before you can command a top position salary. For instance, you might need in-depth understanding of the business environment in which you are in, have networks inside the broader industry and proven leadership, accountability or responsibility qualities and so on. These are the skills that are needed in management positions and which colleges cannot teach you. Graduates cannot expect to get these types of job on day one – they have to be earned, proven through experience and results within the work place. Even then, often someone without a degree but years within the company might be better qualified than you. So,

there

are

numerous

opportunities in career fields that

do

not

need

college

education but many will need some

type

of

training

or

certification to get started.

If

the idea of going to college is one that does not appeal to you, then look up some of the other career fields that match your interests and make a decision from these.

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How to Get Skills for a Career without College Education Establish a direction that you want to go in and set some true goals. Without knowledge or skills, you will probably experience a lot of competition and possible hesitation from potential employers. Choose a field of industry with few entry level requirements that match your interest, and non-professional background.

For instance, if you grow

flowers well, applying for positions at a local florist or gardening centre might give you good results.

Where to Look Use networks as much as possible. Job hunters who are doing this for the first time commonly find they are in solid competition with applicants with more experience. It is significant not to wait for one certain position during your employment search. Look for as many opportunities, in as many places as possible: career/job websites, ‘Help Wanted’ signs, community bulletin boards, local newspapers, or ask friends and family for leads that might have some potential. Often, finding a job is not accomplished by ‘what you know’ but ‘who you know’.

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Community Colleges Community colleges are excellent venues to take a few classes in the field of study you are interested in or might already have experience within. These classes often look good on a resume. For example, take classes to learn all you can about computers, or if you take great photos enrol on some photography classes, and if you love to write, join some classes in journalism.

Armed Services Spend a few years in the armed services. You will learn many skills that will help you get enrolled in college when you get out. Who knows, you might have enough skills to start your own business.

Certification Programs There are also numerous certification programs that can enhance your skills and professional credentials without getting yourself enrolled in a full-time college education program.

Many of these classes are available online.

These programs are for

accounting, mental health professionals, business management, allied health professionals, justice studies, etc - the list can go on and on!

High School Vocational Programs In the 1970’s the term “career education” first came to be popular to distinguish it from “vocational education”. This was via its accent on general employability and skills that are

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flexible to many occupations, while vocational education was mainly concerned with occupational skill training for definite occupations. The purpose of career as well as technical education is to offer skills foundations that enable high school graduates to find employment after high school. All across the United States, there are career and technical education programs offered in about 11,000 secondary education or high schools, several hundred high schools in vocational-technical and about 1400 vocational-technical area centres.

Some public

middle schools normally begin offering some career and technical education courses, such as consumer and family sciences and technology education. About 9,400 post-secondary institutions offers technical programs, including community colleges, technical institutes, and skill centres.

Once you successfully

complete education in some of these facilities, you have the skills for many career paths.

Value of College Education? Some individuals who have talents and the entrepreneur spirit can succeed with a college education. Two notable examples are Bill Gates, Michael Dell and people with talent in a particular area, such as many pop entertainers. If you feel that you can start your own business and make money, than by all means go for it, but the problem is that it is a very ‘high-risk/high reward’ game. If your business fails, then you could be working at Sonic, but college diminishes the risk of that happening.

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How to Build a Good Resume or CV When should those looking for a job, use a curriculum vitae, usually referred to as a CV, rather than using a resume? In the U.S. a CV is mainly used when applying for research, scientific, or academic positions. It is mainly also used when applying for grants or fellowships. A CV is longer and can be up to two or more pages, with a more detailed synopsis of a person’s background and skills.

What to Send With a Resume There are different parts to a resume that one needs to take into consideration when trying to find a job. To influence an employer, you should have a cover letter, a resume, and a list of references.

Defining Your Objective The objective needs to be one to two sentences, which will be considered a ‘statement of purpose’. You are letting your employer know why you are interested in this job with their company. Your employer wants to know why you’re choosing their company, and also about your possible contribution.

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Education Next is the part of your resume where you list what schools you’ve been to and what degrees, if any, you’ve been granted from them, starting with high school. The next thing you should write down is any vocational training or college education that you have received. You can also put any vocational training of a year in a trade that you are already skilled in, or that you enjoy doing.

Military Service Next is any military service – and military service that is honourable looks good to possible employers. When listing military service, make certain to put the branch you served in, your job title and any merits you may have earned during training.

National Service National Service organisations such as AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and City Year are all volunteer services that place people in areas of the country (or world, with the Peace Corps) that are the most underprivileged. Volunteers in these organisations serve around one to two years.

Employment Employment is the most obvious part of your resume. Here you need to list your most recent forms of employment, beginning with the job you currently have now. If you have never had a formal job, that’s OK too.

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In the absence of formal job experience you should put down any experience that you may have where you have worked for someone ‘under the table'. Mowing lawns, babysitting or running errands all count as job experience for applicants seeking a job. You should only list your last 3 recent posts. It doesn’t matter what the level of work experience is, but you need to list it by putting down your job title with a brief description of your most important tasks while at work. Employers often like to see two to four short sentences that designate your most important duties.

Miscellaneous The last part is the section of the resume to put anything else you haven’t detailed, but which you think would make you a good asset to any company. Anything like other skills that you haven’t listed should be organised by subject and placed here. This is the last section of your resume, as it’s typically viewed as the ‘coup de grâce’ of the resume. It does take time to develop a CV or resume but once you have done it - it is completed and does not have to be ever fully rewritten again.

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Where to Begin Looking For Job Openings Everyone needs a job; you have finished with school and now follows the next important step - to begin looking for a job. Whilst many people will browse ‘Monster.com’ and ‘CareerBuilder.com’, they often forget the ever popular ‘Craigslist’. Craigslist seems to be a strange place to look for jobs but there are some really good full-time opportunities that end up on Craigslist. After you have created and sent your resume to Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com, not forgetting to scan Craigslist, the hard part begins. Every industry has its go-to starting point for job postings and you need to also check the “Careers” section of different websites.

College Office - Career Services Because you are a recent graduate, you need to use the benefit of one very exclusive resource: your college.

The top place to begin is your

alumni links through college offices as well as career services. They will be the alumni office to hook you up with other alums on parallel career paths; it will also have openings that are new and that could be interesting.

Professors A lot of those people with cool jobs got them through their professors who took an interest in their future. Think about some professors with whom you have developed special connections with and talk to them. They might have some good suggestions for you.

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Alumni Networks People from a certain college like to help other alumni. Networking with fellow alumni is necessary for anyone on the hunt for a job. Irrespective of what career resources you end up using, call your school’s career office before paying out any cash on any fees for subscriptions that could pop up.

Most of the time alumni offices will have free

subscriptions for students and their alumni.

Investment Consulting and Banking If it is a position in the world of finance, there are few options. Many of the high-profile investment firms and banks hire in cycles, so unless it is early fall or late summer, entrylevel openings do not exist. That being said, Goldman Sachs, Citi, and Morgan Stanley, always take online applications, as do firms involved in consulting like Monitor, Boston Consulting Group, Bain Inc., Mercer Management Consulting, and McKinsey. It is more proficient to apply to banks and consulting firms through a Career Service during the hiring cycle, but it does not hurt to upload a resume, CV and cover letter. As well, use ‘glocap.com’, which is a specialist financial recruiting company. Although they take a portion from your salary, at least they will enable you to earn a salary. When the consulting and banking cycle starts up again, apply through their website or through career services at your college. Also give anyone you know a call (alumni or other). Although they will not promise you a job, at the very least they probably

could ensure your resume is read.

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New Media /Advertising Majors in Computer Science are not the only individuals checking for jobs in New Media. Start-ups are continuously on the lookout for researchers, marketing directors, and content producers. New Media Jobs are listed on Paid Content, Ed2010, and MediaBistro.

Publishing/Journalism For careers in media or publishing, check out journalism school listings, MediaBistro, Gawker, IwantMedia’s site and even Variety which is also the best site of entertainment jobs.

Others For paralegal spots, go to ParalegalJobs.com, the paralegal forum at Indeed.com or ‘Employment Spot’.

For jobs in a lab, go to laboratory positions at Indeed.com,

eLabRat.com, or jobs posted with medical schools at their affiliated university. So, this is a survey of some of the best websites for job listings. The best advice is to be meticulous in checking these sites and follow-up in planned ways.

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How to Land the Interview You Want In order to land the interview with the company that you want to engage with takes a little work. However, several interview techniques can help land the interview.

Resume and References Firstly, always make sure you have a well-written resume – every word is spelled correctly and it shows exactly how your career has advanced and what skills you have added to the skill set you already possessed. You may also want to have someone you are close to, who works in the HR field, to go over your resume and advise if they see anything that takes away from the final resume copy. Also make certain that you have permission from everyone on your reference list to use them as a reference and that their contact information is correct and up to date. They might even offer to write you a letter of recommendation that you can use together with your list of references.

Make certain this is the Company and the Job Next, make certain that you have what they are detailing in their job listing as the qualifications they are looking for. If you meet all the qualifications, do you want a position with the duties that they are listing? Then if it is a company that you don’t know much about ensure you get educated about the company to make certain that this is a company that you really are interested in working for.

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When all of these are good with you, then go to the company’s career website and fill out their online application and any other paperwork that they are requesting. Even if the company does not require it, (if they have some way to upload your resume), – then also make sure to forward a copy to them. After approximately a week, call their Human Resources department to see if they have started to set up interviews with the manager that will be hiring.

Networking If you know anyone who works at that company, it is time to network and call individuals you know at the organisation or see if anyone that is an alumnus of the college that you went to already works there. Also, check to see if someone that you worked with at another company might be employed there. This is a person who could make sure that your resume gets read by the hiring manager.

If by some chance you

know the hiring manager, give that person a call and let them know how interested you are in this position and that you would really appreciate a chance for an interview.

Why is the Interview So Important? You are probably wondering why anyone would go to that extreme to get an interview. It is because the job interview is the single most important way of getting a job. A job interview is your chance to show your future employer that you are quick, smart, funny, communicate well and that you are able to handle any stress that might come with this position. They want to be sure that you are a person who is honest, hardworking and is going to be loyal to the company. Believe it or not, there are some people that will be able to tell all those things by spending some time one-on-one with you. But, if you never get an interview they will never know what a marvellous person you are!

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Preparing for an Interview Interview preparation is also an extremely important factor. You just landed an interview for a position that you are very interested in, and you know that when you are invited for an interview it is a fairly good indication that they are interested in bringing you into their company. The interview will give each of you the chance of a discussion, with enough material to decide if you represent a good ‘fit’ for each other.

Goals of an Interview This is the interview with the person or the people who will be managing you in the future. Therefore, it is important that you are well prepared for this meeting. Your goal should be to show the employer that you not only have the background, ability, and skills to do this job, but you can also fit into the culture of the organisation successfully. It is also your chance to get information about the job, the company and any future career opportunity to make a decision if the position and work environment are correct for you.

Research It is an advantage for you to carefully research the job and especially the company. There are many methods to do this. You may call and ask for any printed materials from the employer, such as job descriptions and annual reports. This is a suitable request so don’t hesitate to make it. Use your local library and your college career centre assets. These days, almost every company has a great website with a history of the business. The website might also have a section called “About Us” and “Careers” which are excellent places to find information that might be helpful to you. Knowing about the job will also help you prepare a list of your qualifications so that you may show, point by point, that you are the very best candidate for a job post.

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Practice Prepare a concise and clear answer to each of the questions that you can find in sections on the internet. Figure out the best answer to each of these questions and practice answering questions with a friend, in front of a mirror or your significant other. Ask anyone who helps you to give good constructive criticism on your style of speaking, mannerisms, and general poise. As you practice, avoid phrases such as “you know”, and “like”. Make certain you do not script all your answers so they sound as if you have used rote-learning, which can give the impression you are reading from learnt cue cards.

Other Important Items Be certain to have the correct time and location of the interview. Be early because it looks good and it also gives you time if you get lost.

Give yourself space to read over

your resume one more time and to catch your breath and then be ready for the interview. Once you are in the office, treat everyone you meet with respect and be pleasant to all those you come into contact with.

Dress for Success Dress professionally.

During the interview

process, you will want to leave them with a great first

impression,

so

it

is

vital

to

dress

appropriately. Women should not wear too much jewellery or make-up. Men should wear suits that are not too flashy as well as avoiding too much cologne.

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What to Bring Carry a portfolio notepad, bring extra resumes and have your references listed. Also, have a list of questions for the employer that you might want to ask.

Summary Most importantly is to know yourself – volunteer relevant information about you. Be able to present your experiences, strengths, education, skills, work style, and goals. Be able to supplement all your answers with examples that support the statements you make.

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How to Develop Good Interviewing Skills To develop good competency interview skills you first need to read all you can about what skills make a good interview. There are plenty of articles on the internet that can help you to identify these skills.

Dress Appropriately Dress in professional business clothes for an interview unless told otherwise. If they tell you to dress in a casual business style you can probably dress down a little, but not too much. Your interview attire should always look fresh, clean, and well pressed. Having a neat appearance, together with good personal hygiene, go a long way to helping with the all-important first impression.

For both males and females avoid wearing lots of

colognes or perfumes; the person who conducts your interview could have allergies to heavy scents or colognes and it could bring to mind unhappy memories or of a person they did not get along with sometime during their life.

Be On-time Try to be 5 or even 10 minutes early just to be on the safe side. Check out ahead of time exactly where you are going and how much time it will take you to get there. A day or two before your interview travel or drive the route at the same time as your interview in order to see what the normal traffic is like. For backup, in case something happens with your car, confirm how often and when the buses run.

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Shine your personality Let your personality and positive attitude shine. If you are excited about this job, don’t be hesitant to show it. Employers want employees who are passionate about the work they do. Be yourself but remember to keep it professional at all times.

Be confident Being nervous in an interview is quite normal, but don’t let your nerves overpower the interview itself. Be calm, speak clearly and make eye contact, as these are all ways to show your confidence.

Be Professional During the interview, relax and sit naturally, but do not slouch in your chair and never lean on the interviewer’s desk. Don’t chew gum while at the interview and do not fidget with hair or with jewellery. Just be calm, cool and collected. The interview should start with a smile and a handshake that is firm. Remember, that this is your first introduction to this company, so be polite to everyone you meet. And turn your cell phone off or better yet – lock it in the car.

Listen Before Speaking If you don’t understand a question after listening carefully to the interviewer or if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask for further clarification. However, do this only after listening carefully to the whole question and do not interrupt in the middle of an interviewer’s question.

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When answering the questions, let the interviewer see what you will have to offer their company. Talk about any past accomplishments or experiences without bragging and tie those times into how they might help you contribute to their company. Although you want to be honest and open in your interview, avoid speaking about your financial or personal problems.

No Lingering Leave as quickly as possible after the interview is finished, making certain you do not linger. Shake the interviewer’s hand again, briefly restate how interested you are in working for their company and thank them for taking the time to interview you.

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Things to Do/Not to Do During an Interview Most of these are ‘no-brainers’ but let’s go over them anyway! You would think that most of these simple rules and guidelines are known by mostly everyone – but you would be wrong!

Things Not To Do 

Don’t come to any interview if you have not had a bath/shower or brushed your teeth. There are individuals who do and it generally is noticeable to almost everyone.



Don’t ever be late for an interview. Have a back-up plan for everything that could happen.



Don’t go into an interview and not know what the company does and what your position with the company would be responsible for.



Don’t chew gum during an interview.



Don't have a clammy or limp handshake!



Don't smoke, and don't smoke before the interview. You will smell like smoke!



Don’t interrupt the interviewer.



Don't ask about salary, bonuses, vacations, retirement, or any other benefits until after you have actually received an offer. Be ready for a question about your salary needs, but do try to postpone salary discussion of any type until you have an offer.

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

Don’t bring up any problems with personal or family issues.



Don’t bring up any negative comments about former bosses, former colleagues, or former companies.

Things to Do 

Do make a practice drive to the company site where you are going to the interview. Or, make sure you know where the office is and how long it will take you to get there.



Do research and know about the job position that you are interviewing for as this will help you know questions that might be asked. In addition, do prepare and practice for the interview, but don’t over-rehearse your answers.



Do plan to get to the office where you are interviewing about 10 minutes early. There is really no excuse for being late. But if you are running late, do phone the company and let them know as soon as possible.



Do treat everyone with respect and courtesy. Your first impression with these people in some cases will be the only thing they may remember you by.



Do fill out a job application if you are given one and make it accurate, complete, and as neat as possible.



Do show enthusiasm in the company and the position.



Do bring extra resumes – better yet if you prepared a job-skills portfolio, bring it with you to the interview.



Do keep good eye contact with the interviewer or interviewers.



Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.

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

Do leave your cell phone locked in your car. There is nothing so important that it cannot wait until your interview is over.



Do have a high energy and confidence level, but don’t be overly aggressive.



Do avoid topics that are controversial areas of conversation.



Do show off the research you have done on the company and the industry when responding to questions.



Do conduct yourself as if you are confident in getting the job you are discussing. Never close the door on any opportunity unless you are sure about it

There are certain things that you can do in an interview and it will help the interviewer remember you. If you do these things and do them well – the person who interviewed you will have a superb first impression.

Have a Great Pitch A good pitch is an overview of yourself that you are able to give in about 30 to 60 seconds and it is who you are and what you are able to do for this company that you are interviewing for. You can ‘Google’ a good template for a pitch. Take the template and make it your own. Make certain that it is genuine and it goes with the interview. Having something in the pitch that is unique about yourself often sets you apart from all the others.

Enthusiasm Show

enthusiasm

during

the

interview, since only the top 10 to 20 percent of candidates do.

Make

certain that the interviewer knows just how excited you are to be there and are

happy

to

talk

about

your

experience, skill set or any other

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34

capabilities and how you can bring these skills to their company. Also, be enthusiastic about the job that you will be placed in and what a good fit you are for that position.

Due Diligence Another way to impress is by doing due diligence or research on the company. This work beforehand will significantly lower your level of stress enabling you to perform better. Think about your weaknesses as well as your strengths and have examples of each. This shows that you are self-aware, articulate and mature when discussing topics that are more challenging.

Remember, in the process of an interview, previous

performance is strongly believed to be a sign of performance in the future; so make that first impression strong and you will hopefully have the edge over most other candidates. Generally there will be no one who will know how to answer every single question within an interview, but you need to be able to think on your feet and fashion the best answer from what you do know. Don’t make stuff up if you don’t have a clue! Innovatively discuss and appraise how you did something that was possibly only slightly different, but can still demonstrate how you work. If you need to pause to think about a response, do so. That shows maturity, composure, and intelligence. Perseverance Perseverance in business is vital. You are not always going to win the customer, make a trade that is profitable, or successfully manage your budget. Stay constant and tenacious, striving to raise the status-quo. It pays off in the end. In addition, do not be afraid to ask questions and get feedback when things do not go well. We learn a lot when things don’t work out so don’t let this opportunity pass you by. There are other abilities that will help you have a great interview and the interviewer will remember you.

Practice your pitch, practice going over your weaknesses and

strengths (make sure your weaknesses are not critical to the job). Practice focusing on

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35

the question and answer it directly as many candidates can ramble off on totally opposing paths. These qualities will all work well for you. Before the interview is over be sure to get a business card from everyone who interviewed you. This will have their e-mail address so that you can e-mail a ‘thank you’ note as soon as you get home. If you sent a thank you note after the interview you will be remembered since so many applicants for a job can omit this last step.

When to Follow-up on the Telephone You do not want to be viewed as a pest, but most employers will be impressed with a job applicant who follows up the interview with a phone call. Many job applicants are not as assertive as they need to be in staying in touch with the employer after an interview. Here are a few tips to help you improve results when you follow up by phone calls: •

Ask before the interview is over when would be a good time to make a follow up

call. Note that time on your schedule so you do not forget. •

Call back when you said you would – at the time that the

interviewer told you was a good time. By that time, he or she will have gotten your ‘thank you’ e-mail and note.

This will have

probably already created a good impression as will your call back phone call. •

If there is an opening then simply ask for the job. Most applicants never simply

ask for the position. Let the interviewer know why you want the job and why you believe that their company is a good fit for you and your skills. •

Don’t be afraid; call back on a consistent basis. If the manager you meet with

does not have an opening right now, ask them if you can stay in touch. Make it very evident that you would like, on a regular basis, to check how things are developing. This type of contact will keep you in mind and when positions open up that match your skills,

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36

these managers are much more likely to think of you and contemplate hiring you before they even advertise the position elsewhere. But this only happens if you keep in touch on a basis that is regular. •

Every time you contact employers be certain to ask whether they know of

someone else who might have a position open for a person within your skill set. If not, ask whether they may give your name to others to contact in order to see if they have openings. •

After every interview, jot down important items from the interview to help you

plan your follow-up and start by writing a thank you note. •

It does not matter whether the thank you note is regular mail or e-mail, as long as

they are friendly and are an effective way to show your good manners in creating a positive impression in the employers mind. It is said that only about 30% of applicants follow up with a thank you note. •

In certain situations, you might want to send a follow-up letter to give the

manager further information, present them with a suggestion, or clear up any concerns that might have come up during the interview. •

Keeping in touch with an employer or manager by phone is also a good way to not

only ask about the job you want, but to learn about any future openings as well as getting referrals to other potential employers.

It’s a

great way to network. If you want a position, and you have the skills you sometimes have to do follow-ups that you might not like doing. Experts often say these tips will work.

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Conclusion Help in Staying Positive When Looking For a Job With the current negative economy and unemployment rate, it is understandable if a person gets somewhat down in the dumps when looking for a job. It was probably much easier for you in the past when jobs were easier to find. In fact, this might be the first time that you have had any trouble finding a job. However, you cannot let this make you depressed, as getting down can only make the job hunting process seem even harder.

Losing a Job is Stressful It’s common to feel hurt, vulnerability and angry following the loss of any job. The way to look at this is that in spite of the stress of a job loss and unemployment, there are numerous things you are able to do to take control over this state and keep your spirits up. You can get over this tough period by taking care of yourself first, taking the time to rethink your goals for your career, reaching out to others and rediscover what really makes you smile. Our jobs or work are much more than merely a way we make money.

They also are how we define

ourselves as well as the way others see us. Our jobs give us purpose, structure and meaning. This is why a job loss and unemployment is one of the more stressful periods a person can go through. Beyond the loss of income, losing a job also comes with other main losses, some of which may be even more difficult to face: loss of your daily routine; loss of professional identity; loss of self-confidence and self-esteem; loss of work-based social networks, loss of persistent activity and loss with a sense of security.

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Grief Grief is a normal reaction to any sort of loss and that can certainly include a job loss. Losing your job forces you to make alterations rapidly. You may still be angry, panicstricken, hurt, scared, and rejected but you need to comprehend that these emotions are all normal. You have every right to feel the way you do and to be upset; accept these feelings and be easy on yourself. Also try to remember that many, if not all, successful individuals have had a major loss or failure in their careers. But these individuals turned those disappointments around by getting up, learning what they can from the experience and trying to turn the resulting situation into a positive outcome. When things that are bad happen to you, you will grow more resilient and stronger while you are in the process of overcoming them. Here is a list of tips to help you remain positive: 1. Keep a regular routine daily. Don’t get into the habit of watching TV all night and sleeping all day – stay with the routine that you had when you were working. 2. When you don’t have anything to do – volunteer. Whether it is at your church or the animal shelter, do something to keep you busy and motivated. 3. Think positive – don’t dwell on the negative. You might not believe it but there are a whole lot of people currently in your situation. 4. Support Group – look for a support group of likeminded individuals who have the same hobbies and are in the same boat as you. 5. Network – get in touch with every phone number in your address book and let them know that you are looking for a job. Who knows what might turn up?

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