Conducting Phone Interviews

A potential employer may want to do a preliminary interview by phone. If you're prepared for the call, you can impress the interviewer.  Here are some tips, since doing a phone interview is a unique experience!

First, have all your tools in one place, which should include:

• Your resume
• Pen and paper to jot the interviewer(s) name(s) down immediately and to take notes during the interview
• Company research (with relevant information highlighted)
• Questions to ask about the company and position
• A glass of water

 Some additional tips:

• Turn off distractions. Take your phone into in a quiet room.
• Make sure you write down the interviewer’s name and contact information.
• Dress the part for the interview. Experts say if you're dressed in a professional manner, you'll speak that way.
• Make your answers more concise and to the point.  It is harder to keep the interviewer’s attention on the phone, due to the lack of non-verbal communication.

Some final thoughts:

If an employer calls and wants to do the interview right away (instead of setting up an appointment), tell them you are interested but would like to call them back in five minutes. This will give you time to make the psychological switch from whatever you are doing to your professional demeanor and collect some basic materials.

When the employer ends the interview, thank them for their time.  Be sure you have their full name and contact information.  Close the interview by thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in the position.

Write a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview.

If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to come see us!

Gary Alan Miller,
Executive Director

Interview Stress

Right at this moment, there are students waiting in our lobby for their on-campus interviews.  I must say, they all look sharp and prepared! But how are they doing on the inside?

Interviews are tough, and not just for new grads.  Even seasoned professionals get nervous at the thought of having to talk about their experiences.  But there are things that you can do to reduce your anxiety and stress before an interview and I have listed a few for you.

• Prepare, prepare, prepare.  Many times, when we are anxious, it’s the fear of the unknown that is the cause.  You can’t anticipate every question that an interviewer will ask you, but you can prepare many examples of your skills and experiences that can be used to answer a variety of questions.  Practice taking about these experiences as much as possible.  The Career Center can help by conducting a mock interview with you. 
• Pick out your attire beforehand and lay it all out the night before. You don’t want to be rushing around that morning trying to find that one left shoe that you know is somewhere in your room.
• Know where you are going and how to get there. Don’t leave it up to your GPS.  Do a practice drive there, if possible.  Have maps with you just in case. Allow plenty of time to find parking.  These last minute stressors can negatively impact your mood going in to an interview so try to avoid them as much as you can.
• Smile during the interview! Smiles are contagious.  They work to both relax you and the interviewer. That’s right, the interviewer may be nervous, too!
• Take a deep breath! Take a moment, whether in your car or in the lobby of the building, to take a deep breath and to say to yourself “I got this!” 

The Career Center is here to help you prepare for all of your interviews!  Make an appointment by going online or calling us at 463-6060.

Good luck on your interviews!

Darlene Johnson,
Director of External Relations

The New Girl/The New Guy

Starting a new job or internship is nerve-wrecking and exciting all at the same time. You were able to lock down the position you were aiming for, and as thrilled as you are, you are now entering into unchartered territory. You will be the “new girl or guy,” in the company.  As you try to learn the company’s culture and everyone’s name and job title, there are a few key factors to always keep in mind:

• Be Confident. Don’t underestimate yourself, you were able to land your dream position and here is your chance to prove yourself.
• Be Willing to Learn. There will be a lot of new work for you to take on, so have your pen, note pad, and an open-mind ready to learn.
• Be Friendly. Be open to meeting everyone, keep a smile on your face and introduce yourself.
• Be Prepared. Be ready for whatever may be thrown at you, whether it is a heavy work load, adjusting to new personalities or navigating yourself around the facility.

Being the new person at work is never easy, but keep in mind that everyone has been the new person at some point. Everyone has experienced those same butterflies. 

Nalani Goonetilleke,
External Relations Intern

Preparing for a Career Fair is Like Planning a Birthday Party…

I know, it doesn’t sound like there are many similarities between getting ready for a career fair and planning a birthday celebration, but if there’s anything I learned from celebrating my birthday this past weekend, there are definitely some overlaps that you can take into consideration:

1. Planning the right outfit is key: Whether you’re looking for a cute dress, matching shoes, and that perfect hint of detail from a statement necklace; it’s important to dress your best, but still professional, when meeting employers. You want to dress to impress, but also remember that you’ll be moving around from table to table—so same for a night out in the city, it’s probably best to ditch those 6-inch heels.
2. Do your research: Similarly to researching and finding a good restaurant everyone will enjoy, it’s important to do the research on employers to learn if it’s the right fit for you. You’ll also dazzle employers by your extensive knowledge and avoid the “deer-caught-in-the-headlights” look when you’re asked a question you don’t know the answer to.
3. Make a plan and prepare beforehand: You generally want to have an action plan of where you’re going and what events you’ll attend beforehand. You may need to call ahead and make reservations or set up a game plan for travelling. Similarly, you want to make a plan of which employers you want to visit before going to the career fair so you can utilize your time wisely and print out an appropriate number of resumes to hand out. Be sure to get your resume critiqued before the day of the event and print out extra in case you come across an employer you weren’t expecting to be interested in!
4. Follow up with people after the event: Whether it’s giving thanks to a guest for being a part of your celebration or sending some love for a birthday present you received, you want to follow up with recruiters with a thank-you letter to express gratitude for taking their time to meet with you. This leaves a positive impression on the employer and makes you more likely to get an interview! 

So, next time you’re planning a birthday celebration or looking to attend an upcoming career fair, be sure to keep these tips in mind so you’ll be prepared and ready to have a great time—or score that interview!

Anne Monique Concepcion,
Graduate Assistant

How to Rock Your Next Skype Interview

Did you see Kaitlyn’s blog yesterday? It has really great tips to prepare you to ace an interview. So if you didn’t, check it out by scrolling down after this post or clicking here! While I was reading it, I started thinking about one of the more recent methods of interviewing that has developed—the Skype interview. Skype interviews have become increasingly common in recent years, and they’re particularly helpful if you’ve applied for a position for which you would have to travel a long distance for the interview. If you’re an out-of-state student looking for a position once you return home, or are looking to relocate after graduation, Skype interviews are a great way to keep the personal feel of an interview! However, Skype interviews do come with their own nuances that you must think about and prepare for; these tips will help you stay cool, calm, and collected!

1. Choose your interview space carefully – and keep it clean!
Once you know when your Skype interview will take place, start thinking about where you’ll be connecting with the employer for the interview. You want a room that is clear and free of distractions: both for you in the room and your interviewers on screen! If you choose to take the interview in your bedroom, either in your residence hall or at home, make sure that the area that will be on screen with you is free and clear of anything that could potentially give a negative perception of you to an employer (especially things like posters, pictures, and decorations).

*Protip: Ask The Career Center! With advance notice, we can try to set aside one of our interview rooms for you to use!

2. Dress (completely) professionally!

Just because you know you’ll only be visible from the torso-up for your interview, don’t think that’s free reign to wear those Spongebob pajama pants! It might be comfy, but you’ll feel much more professional if you’re in full interview attire. Plus, if any technical glitches arise and you do need to stand up while you’re on-screen, you’re prepared!

Don’t be this guy.

3. Don’t let the glitches get you down!

Technical difficulties happen. Just as your internet connection can go down right at the crucial part of the movie you’re watching on Netflix, it can happen during a Skype interview, too. Take precautions before the interview, like making sure that you’re on a computer that has a stable connection and doing a test-run to calibrate your camera and microphone. Also make sure you provide a phone number you can be reached at during the interview time, in case they can’t connect to you or the Skype call gets dropped. Most importantly, how you handle glitches can also potentially show the employer how you can handle pressure; stay calm and have a back-up plan in place!

Best of luck on your next Skype interview! If you want to schedule a mock interview or just have some questions as you prepare, stop on in and see us!

Amy Smith, Assistant Director