I don't know his name and he wasn't trying to be profound. A man who worked for one of my colleagues always showed in a shirt and tie with a simple explanation: "if you look business, you is business". His grammar was faulty, but his reasoning was letter perfect and so is its timing as young folks head into the job market, either to start careers or to find summer jobs.
There are a lot of cheap shots taken at today's youth, questioning their work ethic and their intelligence. I have more faith than that in young folks. Frankly, everyone who is my age needs to have more faith in you than that for obvious reasons. I want them to succeed, which makes the following useful information. If you're among the job-seekers, clip this article. If you're the parent of one, do the same thing. Make several copies. Put one in your wallet. Tape another to refrigerator. Put another on the dashboard. Refer to it often. This speaks to the biggest hurdle in getting a job ? the interview.
I have been interviewed and have done the interviewing, so take this as it is intended ? friendly advice to help you be hired. Some of the points listed will sound silly, but each has happened. None counted in favor of the applicant
? Don't bring an entourage. No parents, no friends, no significant others, and definitely no children. Just you. If someone gave you a ride to the interview, have them wait in the car.
? If you have a cell phone, be extra sure that it is turned off. Better yet, leave it in your car or with the person who gave you a ride.
? Remember the man I mentioned at the beginning? First impressions count. Ladies: no micro skirts, no low-riders, and no bare midriffs, no visible thongs. Trust me, ladies; too much skin will not get you respect. Gentlemen: pull your pants up to your waist and tuck your shirt in. Best bet is a shirt and tie.
? Cover all tattoos. The people interviewing you don't care that body art may be trendy, and chances are that their customers won't, either.
? Pierced noses, eyebrows, and tongues are not a good idea. Limit piercings to one in each ear for females, and none at all for males. After you get the job, you can always ask what is acceptable; some workplaces are more lenient but your focus here is to get hired.
? No unnatural hair color or off-the-wall styles. Blue streaks, purple highlights, and pink tints will not help. Also, be sure it's brushed. Most workplaces don't 'get' bed head. Come to think of it, I don't get it, either. After you're hired we can talk about it.
? If you're not sure how to address the interviewer, sir and ma'am always work.Yo, bro, dude, and man do not. Please avoid 'like', 'whatever', and 'you know' as much as possible.
? Offer a firm handshake before and afterwards, thank the person for their time, and look them in the eye.
? Answer honestly, even if it's to say that you don't know. No one knows everything. Are you willing to learn?
? If you're seeking a summer jobs, accept that it will probably involve nights and weekends. If you have legitimate extracurricular conflicts ? sports or band practice, volunteer activities, etc ? say so and also offer a way to work around them. Being involved makes you look responsible.
? Finally, no gum, no toothpicks, no lollipops, etc. I'll just say that you would be amazed.
Chances are your first job will not be glamorous. Nonetheless, someone will be paying you to do the work, so remember the following three truths. First, jobs exist because there is work to be done; no work is beneath you. Do it well and you'll move up. Second, be pleasant to be around; no one wants to work with crabby people. Besides, your boss today may write you a letter of recommendation for a better job tomorrow. Third, no one owes you a job; be on time, work hard, and show your employer he made the right decision. Good luck.
Alex Lekas is VP / Corporate Communications for an Internet services company, and father of two college students, both of whom he hopes will get hired.
It's no secret that there is a lot of competition... Read More
The tragedy for millions of people is that they never... Read More
It is a well-known fact that more and more people... Read More
Working in ChinaWorking in China is very common now. Either... Read More
Our lives are tranquil and smooth so seldom, it seems.... Read More
Today, everyone is looking for the secret to business success.... Read More
The fastest way to make a good interview go bad... Read More
The right certification trainingTrainings vary a lot when it comes... Read More
TELEPHONE INTERVIEW BACKGROUNDTelephone interviews are quite common in today's job... Read More
I don't know his name and he wasn't trying to... Read More
This "fruit for thought" article is for all human beings,... Read More
Today we hear much talk of the 'global village'. People... Read More
I'll quickly cover the following:A) Why Employer Ask Illegal Interview... Read More
Marketing shouldn't be limited to advertising companies. Finding a job... Read More
Your resume (or curriculum vitae), combined with the cover letter,... Read More
She was waiting for me when I returned from a... Read More
Don't get discouraged! A "no" answer to any of the... Read More
When preparing for an interview, you need to know your... Read More
I coined this word to draw attention to the nervous... Read More
Q. "What do I do after a job goes away?"A.... Read More
Research indicates that we retain only 10% of what we... Read More
"The Baratarian pirates also offered their services. Even though an... Read More
After completing their translation training programmes at higher professional education... Read More
In today's employment environment, HR managers are faced with the... Read More
Two weeks ago, I received a newsy email from a... Read More
Let's face it. Monitoring employees' e-mail, tracking their Internet use,... Read More
Ever had that perfect life when everything seems perfect yet... Read More
In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's... Read More
Are free resume templates a viable answer to preparing a... Read More
Of course, she then offered me a six-month process, costing... Read More
Congratulations! You've just been appointed to your new job. Now... Read More
Mental preparation is probably your most important task as you... Read More
Feel somehow your life is stuck in MS-OFFICE ? The... Read More
Mystery shoppers visit businesses "disguised as normal customers," and do... Read More
A very effective and persuasive tactic when selling something is... Read More
Working abroad can be an exciting, rewarding and horizon broadening... Read More
In the current climate, many people are looking away from... Read More
Some experts say NEVER bother with resume objectives. While others... Read More
The resume objective statement is typically something that trips people... Read More
Your career, like any journey, has a beginning, an end... Read More
"Know your Ruling Star. One man is better received by... Read More
Would you like to have more energy and synergy in... Read More
There are hundreds of varieties of Consultants these days. We... Read More
Dear Job-Seeker:Just as Goldilocks was suspicious of the big bad... Read More
Are you harboring bitterness or anger towards your current or... Read More
Richard Bolles, job search guru and author of What Color... Read More
Deciding to leave a job isn't easy. In fact, quitting... Read More
In the rush of everyday work, it can be difficult... Read More
Many people in the last decade have experienced either a... Read More
Your boss is the gatekeeper of your career. Unless you... Read More
Here's a list of the top 10 tips you can... Read More
Are you lost in the wilderness when it comes to... Read More
Preparing your resume can often seem like a daunting task.... Read More
The question confronting most people who want to find a... Read More
A raise in your base salary is a permanent source... Read More
Our lives are tranquil and smooth so seldom, it seems.... Read More
So you are interested in seeking a job with an... Read More
Best Strategy using Internet Job Search EnginesThere are hundreds of... Read More
Employment finally seemed back on track during the first few... Read More
INTRODUCTIONThis article will prepare you for the difficult task of... Read More
Ugh! Arg! How can a survivor type job be good... Read More
Just about every month, there's a new research report detailing... Read More
Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained... Read More
If you've been in a job search for more than... Read More
Finding a legit telecommute job can be difficult. Telecommute jobs... Read More
Going to an interview without a plan of action is... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |