I Have NOTHING to Wear!

In my last blog, you must have noticed the Youtube clips from Step Brothers when Will Ferrell and John Reilly’s characters dress in tuxedos for their job interviews.  Seeing how the actors dressed in the movie is comical, but it poses a good question.  What should we wear to a job interview?  

Most people realize they shouldn’t wear a tuxedo to a job interview, but I’ve heard other embarrassing stories from professors and employers about what “kids your age are wearing these days.”  One professor told me she had a student that went to an interview for a summer internship, but didn’t get hired because she wore a T-shirt, ripped jeans, and flip-flops.  For many people this seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised.  After doing a little research I discovered there is a long list of unwritten rules for interview attire.  And yes, the following list came from actual people that showed up to an interview;

-Wearing dirty clothes

-Short shorts and leggings

- Turtlenecks

- Leather jackets

-Revealing clothes: men and women

-Hats

-Jeans

-T-shirts

-Evidence of what you did last night: concert bracelet, bar stamp, hickies  

-Baggy or skin-tight clothes: your outfits should fit properly

-Sandals, open-toed shoes, sneakers

-High heels over five inches

         

So, how are we supposed to dress?  For the most part, it really depends on the company.  If you have an interview for a job at an insurance company for example, you might want to dress more conservative.  Every person should have at least one business suit.  The suit color should either be black, blue, or gray. If you are not sure about what to wear, it doesn’t hurt to ask someone in the human resources department.  Don’t call the hiring manager! For more information on women’s business fashion follow the link here.  Men that are having trouble figuring out what to wear should click this link.   

Other considerations to prepare for an interview include:

-Taking a shower: especially no greasy hair or left over makeup from yesterday

-Don’t wear perfume or cologne.  Why?  Just because you like it doesn’t mean that the employer will.  Plus, someone might be allergic to the fragrance. 

-A fresh haircut can’t hurt

-Minimal jewelry (yes, men too)

-Avoid heavy makeup

-Make sure the outfit you are wearing fits properly

If you don’t have a business suit it’s a good idea to invest in one.  You don’t have to clear out your bank account to buy it.  Whenever I need an outfit, I head straight to the clearance section first.  If you shop around a little, you can find some great deals at stores like H & M, Macy’s, Forever 21 (yes they have men’s clothing too).  It also helps to know when a store is having a sale and gives out coupons through ads; check your Sunday newspaper or the store Web site. 
For more information and video tutorials, click here.  

One-on-One Time

After you’ve been working so hard applying for a job or an internship, let’s say you get a call back from an employer.  Awesome!  Now what?  They’re most likely gonna’ wanna’ talk to you in person.  For many people, this is the most frightening part of getting a job.  First, meeting with someone you don’t know is scary, and second, having unexpected questions fired at you isn't fun.  But don’t let this make your palms get all sweaty.  I’ve got the scoop on the top questions employers are likely to ask you on a job interview so you can be more prepared.  

 

I doubt your interview will be anything like this, so relax a little. 

And the number one question most asked is….drum roll please…. “Tell me about yourself.”  Technically it’s not really a question, but employers will definitely want to get to know you a little better.  This is a huge opportunity to tell the employer things you may not have put down on your cover letter or resume.  I would tell the employer what I like to do in my spare time.  For example, I love to paint, read magazines, and travel.  Tell them your work habits or talk about something you are really dedicated to and passionate about.  

Another question an employer may ask you is “What do you offer this company?”  AKA “Why should I hire YOU?”  This is a question that can make or break your interview.  “Ummm….ughh….” is not really the response they are looking for.  Tell the employer why you are the best candidate for the job.  Before you go on the interview, be sure you are familiar with the position in which you are applying.  What kind of skills does a person in that position need?  What assets do you have that other applicants may not have?  Most importantly, answer the question directly.  If you “beat around the bush,” as people say, the employer may get lost in the response and lose the main point of your answer.  Not that they aren’t listening, but you must have been in that position at some point.  Someone gives you a long answer and eventually you start to hear the “blah blah blah,” like the teacher from the Peanuts show.      

 

“What do you want to know about our company?” is another popular question employers ask in an interview.  This is an important question because depending on how you answer, it will determine if you researched the company.  If you ask something like “Where is your main headquarters?” it shows you didn’t look into the company all that well.  Some things you should already know about the company, even before you apply for the job are; company goals, mission statement, locations, their competitors, research employees, company revenues, and the list can go on forever!  Get your hands on as much information as possible. For more interview questions follow the links here.  

As I mentioned before, “where is your main headquarters?” is not a good question to ask during an interview.  You may be thinking “But I thought there was no such thing as a stupid question!” Wrong.  To be brutally honest, teachers, family, or whoever says this are trying to be nice.  When you ask questions that are easy to find, you appear lazy to the employer.      
 

Any questions that start with “why” should be avoided.  Sometimes this word comes off too strong and is often offensive.  Try rewording the question into more open-ended ones by using words like “how,” “did,” and “when,” before you open your mouth.  

“How many warnings do you get before you’re fired?” is one question I think is kind of funny, yet pathetic why some people actually ask this question.  Guaranteed, if you ask this question during an interview, you will not get a call back.  This practically screams to the employer you are irresponsible, lazy, and will make mistakes. 

Before the interview, it's best to know who the employer is and how to pronounce his/her name.  

                                                                       

Dress appropriate for the job, and of course, hold in your farts.  Totally NOT cool, unless you are Will Ferrell or John Reilly.  

For further reading, check out some of these Web sites.  

On the Hunt

I’m sure most of you have a good understanding what career you would like to pursue.  But how do you really know for sure that type of job is the right one for you?  Even if you liked some of the courses relating to the job, will you really enjoy it once you’re working in the field?  I think having an internship will resolve some of the doubts you may have.  The hard part is finding the right one for you. 

There’s an overwhelming number of companies in the world, so how do you narrow down your search to find an internship that you will enjoy?  The first step I would take is to write down your interests.  Making a list always helps me get things done.  Envision the kind of career can you see yourself doing, even if it’s for the next couple of years.  An internship will give you great hands-on experience for your future job.  On your list, write down things like your career interests, where you would like to work, if it will be in the summer or during the semester, paid or not paid, and what you want to gain from the internship.     

Now think about where you would like to work.  It’s best to try and get an internship in an area where you would like to start your career.  That way there, you can test out the area, and if you don’t like it, then you know it’s not for you.  For example, I have visited cities like Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City because I am interested in working for a company in those areas. Some ways I plan to search for companies in those areas would be through a Google search, job search engines, and career books.  

I found a great Web site that linked their top 20 internship search engines, click here to follow the page.  Their list includes Web sites like Monster College and Internships.com.  After checking the pages, one important thing to keep an eye on is the date the job listing is posted.  Unfortunately, sometimes you see a great job listing, get all excited, then look at the date and notice it’s from 2009…ugh! What a bummer, right?  What’s great about these search engines are that they allow you to look for the type of career, location, provides details about the company, and what the internship entails.

If you rather use Google to search for internships, that’s fine too.  Try searching keywords like “best companies to work for 2010,” or log onto the CNN Money’s Fortune 500 to get a list of what organizations are ‘on top of their game.’  After seeing the list of great companies, check out their Web site, see if they have an internship program and contact them.  

Another underused source is a ‘good old-fashioned’ book.  Yes, that’s right, a book.  Why not walk into your town or school library.  Better yet, go to a Barnes & Noble or some other book store where you can browse the career aisle, look at books, and lounge in the café.  Sometimes I think books are better than short Online articles.  One book I found over the summer was all about breaking into the advertising business and listed hundreds of companies, their contact information, salaries, how many people they hire a year, and more.      

Searching for your ideal internship can be incredibly frustrating and time consuming, but it will totally be worth it in the end.   

Take Action

In my last couple of blog entries I have noted how important networking is, especially before you leave school.  Networking is important because many people find jobs through people they already know.  Another great way to get your ‘foot in the door’ at a company you are interested in working for is through an internship.  According to an article on MSN Career Builder, “Why Are Internships So Important?” said “graduating students with paid or unpaid internships on their resume have a much better chance at landing a full-time job position upon graduation.”   

Some of you may be thinking, ‘OK, so, it may get me a job after graduation, but why is an internship such a good idea anyway?  Most internships aren’t paid and you work your butt off.’  Not only that, sometimes internships are taken for college credits, which you have to pay for.  This really stinks doesn’t it?  Even though there are a few downsides to having an internship, the benefits definitely outweigh the negatives. 

First of all, internships provide endless networking opportunities.  If you get an internship at a company you can picture yourself working for, chances are good you can snatch a job after it’s over.  When you are working in this environment, you are constantly meeting new people.  Think of it this way…the people you work around could potentially be your colleagues.  This is why making a good impression matters at your internship.  An employer will notice if you are willing to work at the company for free and enjoy it, (even if you must pretend) you are someone he/she will want to continue working with.    

     

Another good reason for having an internship is the hands-on ‘field’ experience you gain from it.  Whatever internship you decide on will allow you to determine if you really like that particular career choice.  Employers aren’t afraid to put you to work.  Yeah, some of the tasks won’t be your favorite, but you can write down what you gained from it as experience on your resume.  Remember my last blog on resume writing?  Most college students have a hard time writing down career experience because they are just getting out of school. Internships also look good on a resume because it shows you’re not only willing to learn and work hard, but you have a deep interest in that career.    

In order to demonstrate that you are willing to learn and work hard, it’s important to keep this work-ethic consistent throughout the whole internship.  In other words, to maintain a good impression, this means showing up on time, being professional, polite, and completing tasks the manager tells you to do (even if that means to get him/her coffee).  An internship can build or break your relationship with the employer.  For example, if you are an outstanding employee one day, and the next you are slacking off, do you really think the employer will hire you?  My guess is most likely not!  It’s very important to create a positive reputation for yourself and keep in contact with the company even when the internship is over.  This shows your interest remains with the company and your networking ties still exist.       

Now that you’ve heard some of the benefits of having an internship, you may be wondering, ‘how can I find one?’  Here are a few links to follow.  Stay tuned and read my next blog entry for more details on finding internships.  

    

Standing Out

We all hear about how competitive getting a job is today, it’s so frustrating.  So, how can we demand attention from an employer in order to get hired?  I have a solution to your problem.  Write a resume that attracts attention.  After reading my last blog entry on cover letters, it would only make sense to have this one all about writing your resume!  If you have never written a resume before, it sounds more dreadful than it really is.  I promise you can do it! 
     

A resume isn’t like an essay, don’t sweat it.  It actually uses simple sentences, and it’s only a page long.  You must include the following categories: a heading, objective, education, experience, honors and activities, and references.  Before you start, think of writing your resume in this way: all you are really doing is writing about yourself, experiences, and basically letting the hiring manager realize that you really ARE qualified for this job.  Yupp, you are the $#!+.  It’s all about you.   

The first part of your awesome resume should be the heading.  This includes your name, address, e-mail, and phone number.  However, information like your age, weight, and if you’re single is extra stuff the employer really does not care about, so don’t mention it.  Pretty simple so far, right?

Following the header should be the objective.  Not everyone uses this, but it makes it clear to the employer what position you are seeking, what interests you, and what you can do for the company.  Personally, I think it’s a wise idea to use an objective.  If you think of a good one, it will make the employer want to read the rest of your resume.  Here are a few examples of an objective: “Seeking an entry-level position in _ where I can put my _ skills to work and gain new knowledge and experience.”  You can use terms and words like “working in a challenging environment,” “utilize my skills in _,” “to work in an environment where my background in _ will be used and further developed.”  You get the idea.  

And now, the education category.  You’re half way done!  If you haven’t graduated from school yet, write down when you will have the degree, what the degree is in, which school you are going to, your major(s)/minor(s), grade point average (GPA).  For example, mine looks like this. 

Education

The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations                                     December 2012

Dean’s List       GPA: 3.6

The fourth section in your resume is all about your experience.  You may be thinking, ‘but I am applying for my first job, I don’t have ANY experience yet!’  The experience category doesn’t just mean work experience.  As you continue to work, this section will build over your lifetime.  So, don’t worry if you don’t have too much to write down.  For recent graduates and students still in school, you can write down classes or an internship you had that prepared you for the job.  When using a class for experience, use the title of the class as a heading and make bullet points of what the class did to prepare you for the job.  For example, here is one of my experiences for a class:

Academic Experience

Journalism 330: TV News:

* Write professionally acceptable news stories for television

       *Shoot and edit stories using I-Movie

*Produce and anchor two television newscasts using studio equipment   

Journalism Internship: WPRO 630 AM “The Dan Yorke Show”

      *Interview and produce ‘Man-on-the-Street’ reports using recording equipment 
      *Frequent discussions with Dan Yorke on-air
      * Edit sound using Adobe Audition and other studio equipment
      *Completed over 120 hours of experience

Unfortunately, hiring managers often don’t have time to read everything on your resume.  When listing your experience, list the bullets with the most importance at the top.  Notice how I wrote down my internship experience?  If your internship is relevant to the job you’re applying for, write it down, experiences you had, and the hours you spent there. The next part of experience should list the most recent jobs you held, what you did for the job, and how long you have been employed there.  For example:

Work Experience

Capital Tanning, Providence, RI                     2010-Present

·                    *Open and close facility and entrusted with the register and nightly cash out

·                    *Promote and sell lotions and tanning packages to customers  

·                     *Maintaining customer satisfaction in an immaculate environment

After experience, you should write down any awards you earned and activities you participated in.  So why is this important?  Awards show you pushed yourself hard enough to achieve them.  For example, winning a scholarship, essay contest, and employee of the month awards score some bonus points for your resume.  The same goes for extra-curricular activities like sports, clubs, societies, organizations, volunteer groups, and being a member of a fraternity or sorority.  This shows the employer that you can balance school work with other things you enjoy and that you are a well-rounded individual.       

The last and final step for writing a resume is to include a list of references.  This step requires a little more than a last-minute phone call.  Providing a reference means listing a person’s name, contact information, and most often, your relationship with that person.  It doesn’t look good if you are putting your parent’s names down as references.  That’s just a little embarrassing.  Instead, utilize your time in school by networking with professors and keeping good relationships with present and past employers.  Here are some other people that qualify to make it on your reference list: volunteer coordinator, your mentor, a family friend, and so on.  Also, it is best to actually let these people know you are using them as a reference to prevent an embarrassing story later on.         

That’s it, you’re done!  Now you can breathe and relax. 

Also keep in mind:

*Did you know most interview questions are generated from your resume?  Oh, yes they are!

*Avoid using a resume template…just take my word for it…lazy bones

*Use 10-12 point font size.  Make category headings slightly larger and bold to stick out. 

*Avoid using printing paper in bright colors: ex/ hot pink, green, or yellow.  It’s not the kind of way you want your resume to stand out

*One more thing about print: use black ink.  Other colors are harsh on the eyes. 

*Check for spelling mistakes-if your resume isn’t perfect the employer may think you are careless, lazy, and other names you probably don’t want to be called.

*Use action verbs when describing your experiences.

*Click this link for more information