Look your Best in your Next Interview!

You always hear that for an interview, you should dress for success--but what does that really mean? Here are some tid-bits about personal grooming to keep in mind as you prepare for your next mock or real interview:

1. Do not wear too much fragrance. If you have been told in the past, "I smell you when you leave the room," YES that is too much.
2. Brush your teeth (and make sure you check for bagel seeds in-between!) 
3. Wear clothes that fit. If they are too tight, you will look uncomfortable and feel uncomfortable as well.
4. Wear comfortable shoes; for ladies, make sure your heel height is appropriate.
5. Ladies, keep a shorter nail length and wear neutral nail polish.
6. Minimal jewelry overall; for the men, NO earrings.
7. Hair should be neat and clean (keep in mind, there are MANY old school interviewers, know the work culture of the company!)
8. Makeup – less is best!
9. For clothing, men should wear a dark suit and ladies may want to consider wearing stockings with your skirt suit (better to safe than sorry!)
10. No matter your look, bring your BEST you.

Have you come into the Career Center for a Mock Interview? If you haven't, you should! Schedule one by calling us at 516-463-6060 or using our online scheduler at hofstra.edu/career!

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

Interviewing Tips to Get Closer to Your Internship/Career

As the Holidays are getting closer, many students are starting to study for finals or possibly make more time to search and apply for internships. This Forbes article lists some great interview tips to become a more “persuasive interviewer.”

Some of my favorites are “Take an interest in both the company and person.” and “Always thank the interviewer following the Interview.”

Interviewing is a developed skill, rather than a natural talent. It takes lots of practice and preparation to be the best you can be.

Don’t wait until your actual interview to perfect your interviewing skills. You can make an appointment at The Career Center at Hofstra.edu/career or 516-463-6060 to schedule a mock interview with a career counselor. Also PrideCMS has the mock interview module in its Resources tab, which is perfect for preparing for virtual interviews. We are open and available for appointments during Winter break.

Nayelli Perez, Assistant Director

Tips From a Hiring Manager

Even after the work day is over, being a career counselor never stops. Sometimes when I am home and looking at my personal Facebook page, I come across posts with job tips and career advice. Most recently, I noticed that a Facebook friend of mine, who is an Assistant Principal, is looking for a teacher. She had posted some tips for prospective teachers based on her hiring experiences and I thought I would share them with you. Please note that these tips are applicable to all job seekers. 

Tips for Job Hunters:

1.     When you apply for a job, you should KNOW what position in which you are applying for and be prepared to ask intelligent questions about the position.

2.      If a potential employer contacts you to invite you in to visit the work site and shadow a current employee, do not ask why it is necessary.

3.     When the potential employer asks if you know anything about the job site or company, the answer should not be "I don't know." Make sure you do your research. 

4.     During an interview, pay attention to the questions that are being asked and make sure you answer all parts of the question.

5.     Also while interviewing, if you are given the questions to look at and have the opportunity to take notes, do it! 

6.     If you are asked what you struggle with, please take a moment to think and be reflective about the answer before you respond. Do not respond with nothing. There is always room for improvement. 

Employers want qualified candidates to fill open positions and the interview is to see how well you will fit into their organization. Always remember, first impressions count!

Lorraine Massiah,
Assistant Director

The Top 7 Body Language Mistakes Made on Interviews

The Career Center offers mock interviews year round, but right now is our busy season for interviewing

prep.  Students are coming in every day to practice before the “real thing.”  We are so often concentrating on what to say that we forget the importance of our nonverbal communication, aka body language.  It doesn’t matter what we say if we are saying the opposite with our body.  For instance, has a friend ever told you what you were saying was “so interesting” but instead was looking around or at his/her phone?  It would be far more believable if your friend were making eye contact, right?  The point, don’t underestimate body language on an interview!  

When practicing with students, I have found these to be the top body language mistakes:

1. Crossing your arms or legs
2. Avoiding eye contact, or staring too long
3. Repeating gestures over and over, or fidgeting
4. Not smiling
5. Bad posture (leaning back, leaning forward, slouching)
6. Weak handshake, or too aggressive a handshake
7. Playing with your hair or with something on the table like a pen

If you’re not sure which of these mistakes you are making, if any, then join the rest of your peers and make an appointment for a mock interview by calling our office at 463-6060.  Happy Interviewing!

Deanna Rodin,
Associate Director

Job Interview Blunders

As graduation approaches, many students will be interviewing for upcoming positions.  Here are ten interview blunders, adapted from this article.

1.  When thinking about what you are going to wear to an interview, you not only want to look good but you want to be comfortable.  This includes comfortable shoes.  Ladies, if the high heels are hurting your toes so much that you can barely walk, consider a more comfortable option.  Gentlemen, if that top button on the shirt is a hint too tight, you may also want to consider a different shirt.  Try on your outfit prior to the day of the interview to make sure it still fits and you will be comfortable in it.

2.  Research the company or agency you will be interviewing with.  You may be asked, "What do you know about our company?"  You should be able to answer with something specific and concrete.  

3.  SALARY; when is the right time to bring it up? This is tricky, if you are offered the position and the salary is not included, you should ask at that point.  However, if you are flying to California for an interview you may want to talk salary soon to make sure it is worth the move.  Be careful and plan when you ask, there is no right answer.

4.  NEVER be late.  You must account for your travel time.  If your directions say it takes 35 minutes for travel time, add on at least an extra 20 minutes for unforeseen tie-ups like traffic or roadwork.  Don't forget to take into account looking for parking, especially in an area that may not have parking lots.  If you haven't traveled to the destination prior to the day of the interview, give yourself extra time in case you do get lost!

5.  DO NOT LIE or misrepresent the truth.  EVER.

6.  The world is a very small place. Do not speak badly about a former employer, even if you have a bad experience with them.  Think about what you have learned from the experience and how it makes you a better employee.

7.  If you have been told in the past that you wear too much cologne or perfume, consider toning it down for an interview. Be very careful; you want to leave a positive impact with the prospective employer because of your experiences, not the scent of your fragrance.

8.  Don't fidget, just relax! You have already been called in for an interview; they have already picked your "profile," now it is time for the "first date".  The employer wants to get to know you. JUST RELAX and be your best self.

9.  Listen to the questions being asked by the employer. We see many times during mock interviews that though students give good answers, they don't answer the question asked.  Take time to make sure you heard the question and then take a  deep breath and answer the question properly.

10.  Sean  "Puffy" Combs, during his show Making the Band, told a contestant, "I want to know that you are hungry, not desperate".  There is a very fine line between the two--an employer wants you to be eager but they do not want a doormat!

Good luck on all your upcoming interviews! If you would like to schedule a mock interview for some practice, call our office at 516-463-6060 to schedule an appointment.

Lorraine Massiah

Assistant Director

How to be #RejectedWithPRIDE

When the career search goes wrong, and you don’t get that position you were setting your sights on, what do you do?

Every person has gone through rejection at least once; it happens to the best of us.

Here are tips on how to navigate through the “grieving process” stages and exit as a better than ever version of yourself:

1. Denial

This is the stage when you first hear the news of no job/internship offer, and you cannot believe it. You were so sure you were the perfect fit for this position. If you get a clear-cut no email, phone call, etc. from an employer, there’s no mistaking that it’s a “no.” Better hurry on to the next stage…

2. Anger

After you are beyond sure that you got rejected, the “anger gates” burst open. Suddenly, the employer, company and position were horrible anyway and you think the world has failed you.

But instead of letting the anger define you (or even worse, bad-mouthing the employer), use that energy to take some action steps forward.

• Ask the interviewer if there is anything you could have done differently in the interviewing process that could have changed the outcome.
• Do informational interviews with people in the industry you want to get into.
• Schedule a Mock Interview at The Career Center.

3. Bargaining

After the Anger stage of grieving, you may think you’re over the rejection but you probably are not. At this point, you’re not angry or even visibly sad, but you may be wondering “what if’s”, thinking of ways in which you can convince the company that you are right for the position anyway, or even reading your horoscope to see if the employer will give you a second chance.

Instead of wondering, be proactive for the next opportunity:

• Do some shadowing or interning at a similar company.
• Get a job where you can get related experience.
• Get advice on updating your resume at The Career Center.

4. Depression

When you realize that you were not over it, because you are obviously not at stage 5 yet, you may feel sadness again. This realization that there is in fact no job/internship can seem hard to overcome. You may think that things will never work out.

Remember, that appointments are available at The Career Center all year round to talk with a career counselor about your career development and struggles. For more focused counseling assistance, you can contact Student Counseling Services at 516-463-6791.

Over time, this feeling will pass and you will arrive at…

5. Acceptance
The last stage includes making peace with the fact that this position has come and went, and now it’s time to move forward.

• Continue applying to other positions; one day the right fit will happen if you do the prep necessary to get there.
• Networking is a valuable tool – make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated, attend events where you can learn more about your dream career and make connections.

Lastly, remember that when one door closes, another one is bound to open. We are here to help you each step of the way!

Nayelli Perez,
Assistant Director

How's Your Interview Style?

Many of you will be venturing on your first “real” interview over the next few months whether it is for an internship or for a job after graduation.  Interviewing is tough, no matter who it is with!  Preparation is crucial and even the most confident of us can struggle. 

We have blogged many times before about our practice “mock” interview services, but did you know that we also have interview tips in our Career Planning Handbook, on You Tube (search Hofstra Career Center) and through Candid Career (click on their logo on our homepage)?

I also saw this article today and thought I would share it with you.  It is very helpful - click here to check it out!

Suzanne Dagger, Interim Executive Director

How to Market Your Retail Experience

 If you've come into The Career Center to get help building your resume (which, hopefully, you have!), then you've probably been asked about your work experience, especially the work that may not be related to what you’re studying in school. This is the point where we often hear:

“Well, I have a job... but it’s only retail.”

Only retail? It may seem to you that your position as a cashier/sales associate/stockroom employee/etc. is just a temporary placement to hold you over until you graduate and find a “real job.” But in reality, your experiences there allowed you to develop skills that are transferable to your future career and make you a desirable candidate to employers. Here’s an example of a few experiences and skills that can get you thinking about how you can market your own retail experiences:

Customer Service.

This is the most obvious skill you develop in retail, especially for cashiers or those who work in sales. Showing that you have a high level of caring for a customer’s experience, especially in resolving issues, can let an employer know that you’ll show that same amount of dedication in serving clients or performing tasks.

Interpersonal Skills/Conflict Resolution.

Have you worked on a team where differing opinions amongst co-workers resulted in a conflict that you mediated? You’ll be an asset to any company that requires a high level of interaction between co-workers, because they’ll already know well you can work with others!

Creativity.

Are you the one to whom your managers turn when they need a display created, or who is always asked to help decorate the store for the Holidays? Creativity is a highly transferable skill for any career path, especially for those studying marketing, the arts, or public relations. Employers are always looking for someone who can think outside of the box—and that’s you!

Promotions/Awards.

Have you been recognized for your efforts in your department, or even given a promotion to lead or supervisor status? Showing a progression of increased responsibility lets an employer know that you have staying power and a strong work ethic!

Management/Team-Leading.

If you've had experience managing a team of other associates, make sure you mention that, too! Employers look for someone who is not only accountable themselves, but can hold their co-workers accountable as well. This will only help you as you (eventually) rise up the ranks!

How do I know all of this? Because I've been there, too! The skills I just listed are the ones that are actually on my own resume to describe the four years I have spent as an associate and supervisor at a major department store. Your experiences in retail, though sometimes frustrating and seemingly unrelated to the “big picture,” are incredibly valuable in shaping who you are. Don’t undersell yourself by leaving this great information out of your resume or cover letters!

Do you have experiences in retail, but still aren't sure how to market them for your job search? Come into The Career Center and let me help you!

Amy Smith, Graduate Assistant