By: Andrea Schiarizzi
Posted In: News
1.Use your resources. The résumé, cover letter, and interview skills are crucial, and Salve’s Office of Career Development can help with all of it. They set students up with job listings as well as networking skills, which, according to Mansour, is how 80 percent of jobs are found, making this especially important. The office also sets up mock interviews for students. “You have to be very proactive to find a job,” Mansour said.
2.Do your research. Research the company. You might think you’re only selling yourself, but you’re letting the company know why you’re interested in working for them. Learn about their goals, missions, and products. Be prepared when interviewing for a company. There could be more than one person interviewing you. The interviewer might have a very different personality than you expect, which can affect how you communicate. They might ask you crazy questions such as, ‘if you were a tree, what kind would you be?’ According to Mansour, who has worked in the career development field for five years, “It’s less about the tree and more about how you think on your feet, how you handle stress, and what kind of personality you have.”
3.Smile in person, not in your emails. The interview is a vital part of landing a job, but people, especially recent college graduates, often don’t know how to present themselves. Dress professionally. Communication skills are so important. Recruiters find new graduates use shorthand in their e-mails, and they see it as tacky. Do not use smiley faces in your e-mails. “These things make the difference between a person with a 4.0 GPA and great skills versus someone with a not-so-great GPA and moderate skills who knows how to market himself,” Mansour said. “The person who can market himself will get the job.” Remember, the first 45 seconds are key. Interviews aren’t only about presenting facts; they’re for making connections. The interviewer can tell if you’ll fit in with the company. The handshake is huge. Typos can -and will – ruin a résumé. One little grammatical mistake makes it easy for an employer to toss the whole thing.
4.Know people – but don’t depend on them. Always know people the interviewer knows. Knowing someone gives you common ground. It’s important to remember that while knowing someone who can get you a referral is great, they can’t get you the job; it’s your skills that will do that. Knowing people only opens doors. Start talking to people as early as possible in your college career. This will help you focus on the kinds of jobs you want to apply for when you graduate. Talk to your professors. It might make you uncomfortable, but the people who do this are the people who will have jobs when they graduate.
5.The handshake is huge. Confidence is fundamental to making a good impression on a job interview. “Always look the interviewer in the eye,” Welsh said. “Always be pleasant and shake hands. Thank them for their time. Be positive, but never arrogant.” While true confidence is important, Mansour says that it takes practice and doesn’t come naturally to everyone, which is why rehearsal is so imperative. “Practice,” Mansour said. “Look in a mirror. Rehearse. Do a mock interview. Saying things out loud helps you with your pace and will help you remember things you want to say.” And while confidence is important, it is equally essential to make sure you don’t border on arrogance. “Eye contact, confidence, and skills can be taught,” Welsh said. “A pleasant personality cannot.” In a competitive job market, it’s the little things such as a handshake or a professional cover letter that make the difference between you and someone with equal qualifications. In combination, all of these tips will improve your chances of making a favorable impression on a job interview, thus improving your chances of landing the job you want.
