Now that prom and graduation season is over, what happens next? If you’ve graduated from either high school or college, or if you are considering a job change, here are some things that might come in handy as you begin the interview process. Please share this with someone you know who may be entering the job market.
Research the company that has the position and be prepared to share a bit about the company in the interview. I’ve done my share of interviewing and I’m always surprised when the applicant is asked, “Why do you want to work here?” and they can’t tell me anything that lets me know why they want to work in a certain place.
Be honest with yourself. If you don’t like working with people, then you may not want to go into sales or any public facing position. If you interview to be a cook and you hate cooking, why bother to accept the job? This may sound like common sense, but trust me, it’s not. However, if you realize that you might be a better fit in another part of the company, ask your supervisor how you can move. I realize that not everyone has a good relationship with people they report to, but if it’s a progressive place, the person in charge will be receptive. Trust me, s/he probably has a good idea that you’re looking based on your performance in your current position, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if you asked.
Do your best after you get the job. Don’t do the bare minimum. My personal goal is to always be as prepared as I can so that I can keep my “I don’t knows” to a minimum. If I truly don’t know something, it’s my responsibility to follow up with an answer. To go along with the previous point, show that you’re worthy of being considered for the next level.
It seems like it’s a worker’s market out there. Companies are now having to provide incentives to sway folks to work. Good for them I guess. I’ve been in my current position for almost six years, and that’s not normal. A lot of people I know have changed jobs at least twice in that amount of time. I’m a bit more cautious and I guess it’s the Generation X in me. I also think that there’s a different work ethic depending on which generation you belong to, but I’ll leave that alone for now and will accept that it’s possibly only my experience.
Lastly, if you really want a job, it’s a nice touch to write a thank you note. (You should do this when people do nice things for you in general, especially when you receive gifts, but that’s another blog for another day.)
When I interviewed for my last position, I walked out to my car, wrote notes and took them back and asked them to be delivered. As an added bonus, include something about the interview that the person would recall from your time together. Even if you’re told that you’re guaranteed the job, don’t take it for granted. Play the game. I’m watching to see if you do that, because it’s a fairly good indicator of how you’ll perform after you’re offered the job.
Before you do all that, make sure you’re dressed professionally, no matter what position you want. Check a previous blog entry for how to be interview ready. You know I’m always down for a consult in that regard.
#ksmithsays
ksmithsays 