Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Job Interviews - 3 Tips For Making a Great Impression

Many people in our nation have had the displeasure of taking on the full time job of finding a full time job. The very idea of sending out multiple resumes and waiting for the phone to ring is enough to create tension in any household. Recent statistics put the nation's unemployment rate at 8.5% and this percentage is the highest it's been since 1983.

The job market has become increasingly scares around the country leading most people scared to try and scared to fail.

"So...Tell me a little bit about yourself", has got to be one of the hardest questions to answer during an interview especially when you feel that you are one of the most boring and unaccomplished persons living on the planet. You want nothing more than to have something savvy to say that will make up for what may appear to be weaknesses on your resume. Below are three tips to making a great impression on your next job interview.

  1. Remember that when asked to describe yourself that they are not asking you for your personal history starting with the day you were born and how you were an ocuard kid. Employers want to know that you are articulate, and that you can handle yourself under pressure. Nothing says more to your character than the way you present and describe yourself. You want to start off by noting how many years of experience you have in a particular setting or trade and then go from there. Employers want to hear about your stability and what you have been doing to better yourself during any employment gaps. This is a great opportunity to mention your volunteer services or any classes you may have taken.
  2. Employers want to know how your skills can prove to be an asset to them and the company. This is where you want to assure them of your competence and ability to learn new things, especially if you are applying for a job that is not within your normal field of expertise. If we were to look at our current skills it would not take us long to discover that many of them are interchangeable. If you know how to use a computer in one setting, then you can surely use it in another. The same goes for customer service. Every job that we have had has required us to deal with people whether it is on the phone or in person. Customer service is the leading demand of most employers so you want to assure them that you have experience in dealing with people within a wide range of economical and cultural backgrounds. Do not be afraid to mention some of your accomplishments and/or examples that show that you can handle yourself under pressure and meet deadlines.
  3. Your demeanor speaks in abundance of your confidence level and to the things that are not mentioned about you on your resume. There is nothing worse than to shake the hand of a future boss with wet and clammy hands. People do not realize that nerves play a great deal in your presentation and can set the tone for an interview. Before interviewing it is always best to meditate on the fact that not only are they interviewing you to see if your skills can meet their specific needs but you are also interviewing them for basically the same thing. Attempt to ask them as many questions about the company and the position as they ask you about yourself and by doing so, you will demonstrate your desire to be informed before making important decisions. Your qualifications are not the only thing that employers look for when searching for the right candidate but they are also looking for "personality" and someone that can fit well with the current group of employees that they already have so do not take rejection too personally. The last thing you need is to get hired for a job just to realize you are not the right fit and then have to start this thing all over.

In all that you do, remember to do it with with an open mind and with patience. Do not be afraid to step out into new territory because sometimes, closed doors forces us to walk through new ones.

Nicole Brodie is a mentor to young single mothers and an author of inspirational and personal growth and development materials. Please visit http://asingleinspiration.weebly.com for more inspiration.

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