Researching a Company
When searching for a job, it is important to find the right job for you, not necessarily the first job available.
Remember that the job you are pursuing will be one of the largest parts of your life. You will likely be spending the majority of your wake hours for this company. It is important that the job and company are a good match for you. It is important to remember that you must maintain a proper balance with both your professional, and personal life. Do not let your professional life dictate your personal life. You will spend all of your life with your family, and your family will remember you for generations. Work is only temporary and your impact in the workplace is far less likely to be as everlasting as the time spent with your family.
Personal networking is essential for future success. According to Microsoft Sociologist, Marc Smith, "75% of the people you know today, you will not know 10 years from now". Author Mark Granovetter, of John Hopkins University discusses "Weak ties" vs. "Strong ties." According to Granovetter, "Strong ties are those people with which we have regular contact. Weak ties are those persons with which we have relatively little contact". Weak ties are important since, according to Granovetter, "Those to whom we are weakly tied are more likely to move in circles different from our own and will thus have access to information different from that which we receive." Again, according to Granovetter, "It is remarkable that people receive crucial information from individuals whose very existence they have forgotten." In sum, we can find valuable information from those persons that we have met in the past. These personal contacts should be kept and filed away for future use. We must maintain a personal arsenal of "Personal Networks" to find the job opportunities that are out there, but may not be visible by our routine circle of influence.
Now that we have discussed the importance of personal fulfillment and the location of jobs, based on our personal networks, we have found a company we are interested in interviewing for. What types of things are important to know about this company? Of course this type of information is subjective to the job seeker, however, here is a list of common questions that may be of importance:
*What are the objectives of the company?
*What services do they provide and what products do they produce?
*Where is the home office and where are some of the branch locations?
*How long has the company been in business?
*How financially stable is the company?
*Who are the company’s primary competitors?
*What is a typical career path in your field, within the company?
To find information about a company’s structure, financial holdings and standings, history, products, etc. there are many sources to check. The Better Business Bureau would be a good place to check regarding the reputation of the company you are pursuing. The Chamber of Commerce would also be beneficial and would give you an idea of how the organization blends with the community. Checking with your local library and performing searches within the local newspaper may provide you with valuable insight. Further sources of information include:
*Job Placement Services *Personal Network
*Professional Journals *Professional Associations
*Wall Street Journal *Poor’s Register of Director’s and Executives
*College Job Centers *Annual Reports
Preparing a Resume
A resume is your personal advertisement and history of who you are, and what you have accomplished. Effective resumes highlight who you are and will encourage your potential employer to want to know more about you.
While there is no one, absolutely correct, way to write a resume, there are some accepted guidelines to follow. It is important to realize that the person who will be reading your resume will likely be reviewing potentially hundreds of them. For this reason, it is imperative to make yours stand out among the crowd of applicants. By standing out this does not mean using fluorescent paper to print your resume on! Standing out means providing the information that the potential employer is looking for. Key words that are industry relevant are important and will capture the reader’s attention and place your resume in the stack of yes’s rather than the dreaded no’s.
A resume should be typewritten and should preferably be a "12 point font and no less than a 10 point font", this according to job counselors at Babson College. The resume should be limited to one page in length. Both your education and employment history should be typed in reverse chronological order to allow for easy reading and help the reader find job relevance within your resume to the job you are being considered for. The spelling on your resume should be checked and rechecked since this lends credibility to your professionalism. I jokingly mentioned the fluorescent colored paper in the previous paragraph; the best color of paper to use for your resume is either white or ivory colored paper. The lighter color will allow for clear photocopying and clearer faxing capabilities if the organization you are applying for needs to forward your resume to another office or individual.
There are many software packages available for purchase that are helpful for formatting, and compiling relevant information for your resume. There are also good examples and free downloads available on the Internet that will help with resume writing and your creating of the perfect resume. Remember you are trying to sell yourself when writing your resume. Important considerations in the sale of you are:
*Education *Awards and Honors *Volunteer Work
*Languages *Travel *Community Service
*Employment *Special Skills *Publications submitted
*Leadership *Personal Presentations
Preparing a Cover Letter
A cover letter, like the resume, is also a one-page document. A cover letter is a narrative that allows the job seeker an additional opportunity to sell themselves in a manner that was not possible within the confines of the resume.
An effective cover letter, like the resume, will capture the potential employers’ attention. The cover letter should be limited to 3 or 4 paragraphs in length. Within the first paragraph the job seeker should include 3-5 key words that will capture the reader’s attention.
The cover letter serves as a good tool to show your writing and communication abilities. Conversely, because of this, the cover letter can also eliminate you from "flying with the eagles."
When writing a cover letter, it should not be generic and should be company specific. Further, the cover letter should be written to include the interviewers full name and job title. Like the resume, the cover letter should be checked and rechecked for proper spelling. Spell check options on software packages are useful, however they are not helpful for company names, individual names, and addresses. Names such as "Anderson" may be spelled as "Andersen". Names of businesses may be spelled as "Capital" as opposed to "Capitol". Accuracy is important since we are attempting to show our professionalism and attention to detail, factors that are important to most employers.
Preparing for the Interview
So you got an interview! Congratulations! For an effective interview, you must be prepared. You have already researched the company you are interviewing for (see Researching a Company). When accepting the interview, be sure to document the exact time, location, and person you will be interviewing with. Repeat the above information to the person supplying you with the information to avoid any mistakes. Remember you must be professional and punctuality counts! Having the name of the interviewer memorized will also contribute to your professionalism when arriving and speaking to the receptionist or secretary.
Like it or not, you will be judged on many things before, during, and after the interview. You must conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. Common sense applies! Some common areas you will be judged include:
*Punctuality *Appearance *Oral communication
*Personality *Assertiveness *Enthusiasm
*Leadership *Maturity *Motivation
*Loyalty *Honesty *Initiative
*Career goals *Personal goals *Education
*Experience *Body language *Tone and inflection of your voice
First impressions are important, and very difficult to overcome. Dressing appropriately is important for any interview. It is better to error on the conservative side, rather than not. There are many "Dress for Success" books on the market, however I have listed a few common sense techniques posted by the Career Services Center at Kent State University:
Men
Dark suits, properly fitted
Dark dress shoes, polished
Dark dress socks
Conservative neck tie (no bright colors or loud patterns)
Dress watch
No earrings or jewelry (except wedding and class ring)
Neatly trimmed facial hair (preferably no beards or long side-burns)
Nails trimmed and clean
Women
Skirt length no more than 1 inch above the knee
Polished matching shoes with moderate heel
Neutral colored hose
Hair that is past shoulder length pulled away from face
Dress watch
Minimal conservative jewelry (no flashy, dangling earrings)
Natural looking make-up
Conservative colored fingernail polish, no chipped nails
Both Men and Women
No heavy cologne / perfume
No body piercing
No oddly colored hair (purple, green, orange, etc.)
Fresh breath
Freshly bathed / showered (no body odor, use deodorant)
Freshly pressed clothing
Again, as stated earlier, like it or not, you will be judged on your appearance. If you expect to be treated as a professional, you must act and look like a professional. The interview is not the time to express your individuality by the way you dress. Dressing appropriately shows consideration to the interviewer and that you understand the position and responsibilities of the job you are applying for and that you are taking your interview seriously. Right or wrong, it is human nature to judge people on how they look and how they convey themselves. The interviewer has many people to interview and must have some criteria to move from candidate to candidate, don’t be ruled out by the simple things!
During any interview, with most any job, there are common "frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) by the employer. Be prepared for these questions and have practiced answers for them. Being prepared for these type questions will show that you are confident in your abilities and can articulate yourself in a competent and professional manner. Here is a list of FAQ’s:
*How would you describe yourself?
*Tell me about yourself?
*What motivates you?
*What is your definition of success?
*What prompted you to choose this type of career?
*What have you learned from your mistakes?
*What is your greatest weakness?
*What are your greatest strengths?
*Why do you think you can do this job?
*Why should I hire you?
*Why do you want to work here?
*How do you work under stress?
*What are your short and long term goals?
*How has your education prepared you for a career?
*What are your current and long-term salary expectations?
This list is of course just a few of the possible questions you may be asked. Being prepared and giving concise answers to these questions will separate you from the other job seekers who will not be as prepared as you will be!
Of course the job interview is a two-way street. The interview is your opportunity to check if the job is appropriate for you! At the job interview it is perfectly acceptable to ask a few questions of your own. However, you should be careful to not go overboard and dominate the interview by trying to get all of your questions answered! Having your own list of prepared questions will ensure that you don’t forget to ask something that was important to you, and also convey to the interviewer that you are a serious and professional candidate. Here is a brief list of some questions you may want to ask:
*Why is this position open?
*What kind of turnover does this division / company experience?
*Why do people generally leave this position / company?
*What is the ideal candidate for this job?
*What kind of orientation and training are available to new employees?
*Will I work independently or with others?
*What do you see as the biggest challenge for the person taking this job?
*What happens next? When will you be deciding? Shall I call you?
If you were unsure as to the exact location of the interview based on the directions you received when the interview was scheduled, it would be a good idea to make a "dry run" and locate the place at least the day before the actual time. This simple advice will help eliminate some of the stress you will be experiencing on interview day. Consider the route and how traffic may affect your arrival time. Plan for any foreseeable contingencies and arrive 10 – 15 minutes early.
Introduce yourself to the receptionist or secretary by giving your first and last name, why you are there, who you are scheduled to see, and what time you are scheduled to see them. Remember the first impression rule. The secretary may be asked later by the interviewer what his or her impression was of you! Be courteous and respectful to everyone you meet.
When being introduced to the interviewer and other company employees you may meet during your interview, be sure to firmly shake the person’s hand, give eye contact, smile, and repeat the person’s name back to them. When addressing the people you have met, ensure that you use Mister, Miss, or Misses appropriately, and using their last name, unless asked to do otherwise. If unsure as to whether the woman is a Miss or Misses, use Miss.
Enter the interview room only when you are asked to do so. Do not sit down until you are asked to do so. When speaking during the interview use only proper English. Do not use slang or technical jargon that the interviewer may not understand. Answer with yes rather than the sloppy "yeah" or "uh-huh" etc. Never use profanity in an interview, even if the interviewer does.
Be aware during the interview of your body language. Your unspoken word is just as powerful, if not more powerful than your spoken one. Do not fidget with your clothing or hair. Do not yawn during the interview and do not look at your watch, both indicate boredom and impatience! Keep your hands away from your face, this looks like you are hiding something and are insecure. Further, having your hands in your face may cause you to sound as if you are mumbling. Remember that self-confidence is an important asset that you want to portray to your potential employer!
Listen actively during the interview. When asked a question by your interviewer, pause for a moment before speaking. By pausing before speaking you are demonstrating that you are giving careful consideration to their question and that you are methodical and intuitive, not just waiting to speak. Take notes during the interview to show your attention to the speaker, and also to be able to follow-up in detail later, if needed.
When the interview has finished, again part with a firm handshake, not crushing or limp, smile, look the interviewer in the eye, and thank them for the opportunity to interview for the job.
After the Interview
After the interview, away from the location of the interview, write down a few notes to yourself while the interview is still fresh in your mind. Reflect and document what you think went well with this interview. Write what did not go so well with the interview as well. If you could do this interview again, what would you have done or said differently? Make a few notes as to what you will do different at your next interview. Remember the experience of the interview is a valuable learning tool, don’t waste it!
A Thank-You letter should be sent within 24 hours of every interview you attend. The thank-you should be addressed directly to the person who conducted your interview. Spelling is imperative, ensure that you spell the interviewer’s name correctly! The Thank-You should be short and simple and expressing your thanks for the interviewer’s time and your consideration. The Thank-You will separate you from the rest of the applicants and again put your name in front of your potential employer, that’s a good thing!
If you receive a Rejection Letter, don’t despair; remember the learning process is a valuable experience! Again, send a Thank-You Letter thanking them for your consideration of the job! Ask in the Thank-You that they keep your name on file for six months for future considerations! Again, you have separated yourself from the pack and put your name in the front! Again, this is a good thing!
The Job Offer
Congratulations, you’ve been offered the job you were pursuing! Before accepting the job, ask yourself again, does this job meet my career goals? Is this job going to help me achieve my goals? Will I fit into the social and political structure of the organization? Of course you should have been evaluating the job position all along, however now it will be more permanent if you accept!
Does the salary meet your expectations? When researching the company you should also have bee