Saturday, February 7, 2009

Job Interviewers Everywhere

No matter who you are, there is always a little stress and jitters in the nerves when it comes to job interviews. It is the basic fear of the unexpected, what questions are they going to ask? Am I going to screw up in my responses? The main thing to remember is be confident and no matter what you will have a great interview.

Interview Mistakes

The article assigned this week in class touched on almost all of the mistakes people commonly make in job interviews. Mainly, these mistakes arise because candidates just forget to do the simple things. One of the simplest and biggest mistakes mentioned is not asking for a follow up, or forgetting to follow up with email or a thank you note. By avoiding this mistake, it shows the interviewer that you are really excited about the opportunity. The second biggest mistake that can easily be avoided, is to simply be prepared, practice does in fact make perfect. One mistake the article failed to mention, is interviewees not arriving ON TIME, I believe this can make or break the interview right off the bat. All and all, each mistake is easily avoidable, and I completely agree with all ten that were mentioned in the article.

Personal Job Interviews

Over the last few years, I have been on many job interviews for part time and internship positions. All interviews are different and thus adequate preparation is needed to be successful in any interview. To begin, I have had many part time job interviews that are less formal, yet you must be ready to go. The questions seemed to be more direct and a more getting to know you process. Some were describe yourself? What are strengths, interests? In addition, the company normal describes the position, hours and other details of the job. Almost all of these interviews turned out successful for me and it was all a matter of being prepared, having a smile and answering honestly.
My most recent interview was with Hilton Head Health Institute, for a program internship. This was the most intense interview to date for me personally, and I am super excited that I will be heading down there in the fall. The process was very long and that is what made it a little nerve racking. I really like to get things going and plan out my future, yet with this interview process being so competitive that was not immediately possible. The first interview I was in front of two people and it lasted about an hour, which was definitly a good thing. I was able to learn more about the company and the position, yet there were some serious questions. I answered all of them really well and was able to relate them to my experiences and skills. After the first interview, it was determined that I would be better suited for the program internship. Therefore, I first spoke with the Fitness Specialist Ms. Walker over the phone and then was asked to do a third interview via webcam. The questions were not difficult, I just made sure to be myself and show my passion for health. In conclusion, the process was very grueling, but I really learned how to answer questions and tailor them to my KSAs.

7 TIPS for Success
  • Be yourself (don't try to be someone your not, let the interviewer get to know you)
  • Show up on time (simple, but very important)
  • Smile (as the saying goes, a smile goes a long way)
  • Dress for success (dress for the part you want to play)
  • Relax (its just an interview!)
  • Try to get the interviewer talking about themself (relationship building)
  • Be prepared (do research on the company, find out important facts - it will help you later)
  • Ask questions (employers want you to enjoy your job)
Photo: © iStockPhoto.com, askmen.com

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