Ok, so I've had a few jobs in my short existence. I've worked at a gas station, painted houses, managed a video store,and a movie theater, sold pagers and cell phones at the mall, scraped the grill at a fast food restaurant, performed tedious data entry, detailed cars, telemarketer, and worked a few production lines. Now I may not be the right person to talk to you about keeping a job, but I am the right guy to tell you how to get a job.
The first thing we're gonna talk about is attire, that's right, what you wear when meeting a prospective employer is important, in fact it's extremely important. How you present yourself lets the interviewer know a lot about the person they're talking too. Are your clothes wrinkled? Is you hair/ beard groomed? Are you wearing a tie? It sounds like overkill I know, but when asked most employers said they formed an opinion on their prospective hire'es within the first 30 seconds of meeting them based solely on how they dressed for the interview.
Think about it this way, you interview for a mediocre job, not the career of your dreams, but a great transition job; better yet your rents due, your unemployed, broke, and you need this job bad. Your only competition is one other guy, and from everything the employer reads and hears you're both qualified, however, he comes wearing a nice shirt, slacks, and a sensible tie, you, khakis and a button up denim shirt. Which one stands out more?
It has been reported by some of the most professional minds in the field today that you should always dress to impress no matter where you're interviewing.
Next let's talk talk. What you say and how you say it can be another way to sail into that new position, or sink you faster than the Titanic. Be articulate (look it up bozo), don't try to wow them with big ten cent words, keep your answers short but pleasant, and smile often.
It is almost garunteed that at some point they'll ask about present or recent employers, and yes, I know they were scum, but resist the urge to say anything bad about the people you've worked for in the past. On one job interview I went to the Interviewer asked why I wanted to leave my current position. Truth was the pay sucked, and the management sucked worse. We had no incentive plans, horrible raises and promotions, and the owners let us know on a semi regular basis that we were expendable. I refrained from saying any of this. I simply told them that my position had been a great place to learn but that it was a smaller company and I needed to find a place where I could grow and advance, then I added the topper, "It's a good job, but let's face it, I'm getting older and I need a career". With that I showed respect for my supervisors, and let them know I was looking for something long term all at once.
Occasionally they may ask questions that are a bit off kilter and seem irrelevant. This is simply a way for companies to see how you react to un-forseen situations, go with it as best you can. Be honest without telling all, and try not to ramble on. If they ask what sort of recreational activities your into, or if you're a member of any specialty groups give them brief, and relevant answers. "I enjoy playing golf, and reading mystery novels in my spare time", "I volunteer with my nephews Tee ball league in the summers". You can of course give a bit more detail than this but the more you open your mouth, the more chances you have to stick your foot into it.
Last, always, always, always, write a thank you letter. These are a way to reassure the prospective boss's that you are interested in the job, to remind them who you are, and, well, they're just proper protocol. It doesn't have to be much,
Dear so and so,
I just wanted to take a brief moment to thank you for the opportunity to talk with you about the... position last monday. Your time was greatly appreciated.
I look forward to hearing from you soon to discuss the job further, and to receive any feedback you may have to offer.
Once again I thank you.
Sincerely,
John Smith.
You can look up templates on the internet but what I wrote above should be fine, just make sure to substitute the actual position you interviewed for in place of the ..., and your name for John Smith, unless of course your name really is John Smith. Also format the letter properly, it's a simple task and it helps you look more professional.
Ok, so here are a few little tips. A small spritz of cologne or perfume says "Hi!" and that's what we want. Too much and it's "HELLO!!". Pick your outfit out the night before, it helps avoid stress, and make sure you know how to get to the building you're interviewing at in advance. Arrive ten to fifteen minutes early, but not much more than that, and should something come up, something serious I mean, call as far in advance as you can, don't waste their time. Pop a breath mint before you go in. I'm not saying your dragon breath will offend the person on the other side of the table, but, I'm not not saying it either.
Bring a copy of your resume just in case they need it. Shake hands firmly and repeat their name (first name), this shows recognition and lets them know your taking mental notes.
Have a few questions to ask when they say "Do you have any questions for me?". Chances are good they'll go over benefits so be prepared to ask questions about the company itself, things like "What are the average yearly production goals for the company?", or "Does the company offer any special training programs?". Asking about pay and 401k is fine because these things are important to you, but showing interest in the company tells them you're also concerned with their well being.
Take contact names and numbers with you when you head out for the interview, you never know when you'll need them, and if you have any questions before hand don't hesitate to call and ask.
Alright, there you have it, my common sense guide to job interviews. Just remember, putting on your best face is important, but so is being yourself. If you try to be someone you're not sooner or later you'll be found out. You may not get the first job you try for but don't give up.
Good luck out there, I'm pulling for you.
