Job Club Journal

Days 11 and 12 –  Time to take a second look

We are reviewing the unannounced interviews we each had with Chris; and/or the interview we each had with an SEC Board member (This includes the Job Club members in Elyria and Youngstown).  The following points are a synopsis of the individual critiques.

·         Sit up straight and a little forward in your chair – this makes Job Seeker appear alert, as if he/she is eagerly anticipating what is being said.  Appear enthusiastic without being out of control.

·         Make Eye Contact with the Interviewer and smile.  Don’t be gawking around the room when the Interviewer is speaking.

·         Tighten up your answers, be concise while also giving a full answer to the ? being asked.  Use as few words as possible to explain yourself.  Practice!!!

·         Don’t get into your personal history: don’t talk about childhood details, marriage details, religion, political affiliation, etc.  This is a job interview, restrict comments to work-related topics, even your stories!

·         Stories are good to illustrate a point; however, they must be close to the 25-30-second time limit.  Practice!!!

·          Don’t touch your face with your hands.  Keep hands loosely in your lap – make your gestures fit in the box between your shoulders and your lap and the width of your body.  If your hands are all over the place, you may seem threatening to the Interviewer.

·         If you want to change the type of work you do, make certain you know what skills you already have that are transferrable to the new type of work.  If appropriate, take additional training, or classes to prepare yourself for the new type of work.  Be willing to learn!

Follow up:

·         Be certain you can answer a question about what your dream job would be.

·         Tell the Interviewer what you can do, what you have done, and what you’re willing to do – CUT TO THE CHASE!  BE CONCISE!

·         DON’T MENTION AGE, OR THAT YOU ARE RETIRED, OR EVEN THAT YOU RETIRED AT SOME POINT – COVER GAPS IN EMPLOYMENT WITH NEEDING TO TAKE CARE OF FAMILY MEMBER, OR GOING TO SCHOOL, OR VOLUNTEER WORK.  (Being retired means you don’t have to work!)

·         FOCUS ON SKILLS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO, YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE COUNTS!

·         If you have perfect attendance, or have received Awards for Excellent Attendance, say so –

Attendance is often a problem with younger workers, so this is your advantage.

·         Attitude is important – LISTEN!  If you didn’t hear a question or need a minute to think, ask the interviewer to repeat the question or, if you don’t understand, to re-phrase the question.  It is important to answer correctly!

·         Be prepared to answer:  Do you think things generally fall in place for you or do you have to work?  Are you lucky?  Your 30-second commercial may work here.  Or, you could say that you work to create your luck and tell a little story about how you do that; for example, “A little bit of both, will make extra effort to make it (whatever it is) work for the customer.”

·         You may be asked:  Who was your worst employer?  REMEMBER YOU CAN’T TRASH ANYBODY

OR ANY COMPANY, SO BE NICE.  Tell something that you tried to change.  Maintain a positive

attitude.  One person said, “I always tried to stay on the good side of employer and do what they wanted.”