Just graduated? Congratulations but let’s talk.
The first item on your checklist is done: diploma or degree obtained. Now you want to start looking for your first job. Let’s say that you received a call for your first interview. Hold on a minute. Are you wellprepared? Let’s go over some tips:
- Start by having a good looking resume. I know you don’t have experience but at least you should have a good looking resume and why not get professional help to polish it up?
- Create a LinkedIn profile: LinkedIn is like the professional Facebook nowadays. It is going to be very useful in your job search. You can get a lot of interesting contacts and maybe even find your perfect first job or be found by your first employer.
- Practice the most common interview questions. There are tons of articles covering this topic online.
- If you know the name of the company interviewing you, research it. Check their website and know some key facts about it. It will give a really good impression to the interviewer.
- Before you leave your home, make sure you are dressed properly for the interview. A black suit with a white blouse underneath or a white blouse and black dressy pants are good enough and don’t forget the dressy polished shoes. Believe me, the first thing they will look at is how you look.
- Arrive on time or even a few minutes early. DO NOT BE LATE. I repeat DO NOT BE LATE.
- Once you arrive at the company on the day of the interview, remember to treat everyone with respect. From the security guy to the receptionist to the interviewer. Everyone you meet there is important.
- Don’t forget to turn off your phone before the interview or at least put in on silence mode. You don’t want to receive a call from your mom during the interview asking you to buy fruits for the guests arriving at your house tonight.
- When you meet the interviewer, use a firm handshake and good eye contact .It gives the impression that you are confident. I know you are nervous. Who isn’t before an interview? Everyone gets nervous but some people are better at hiding it. Work on that.
- During the interview, remember to use the names of the interviewers whenever it seems appropriate. It gives a good impression.
- Last but not least, during the interview, you should ask questions even if the interviewer does not ask if you have any questions.
I hope that you will make good use of these tips. Stay tuned for my next article.
