The recent economic downfall has increased competition in the workforce as unemployment rates have skyrocketed. Those seeking to enter the workforce must be more prepared than ever and possess the right tools to succeed in this “survival of the fittest.”
Chaffey career counselor, Wendy Whitney, held a job interview workshop on Feb. 25 to provide students with the necessary techniques to make a good impression in a job interview.
“Do your homework. Research the company online ahead of time to see if you fit with that company,” Whitney said. “Look to see if you agree with their values and mission statement. Students thinking about their future should also ask themselves if this job will lead them into the next opportunity in their career.”
The main goals of job seekers should be to impress the employer and stand out from the crowd of candidates. Aside from dressing appropriately and being in control of body language, Whitney offers other unique tips to impress interviewers.
“You should get a detailed job description of the position you are applying for. You want to tailor your interview questions to your skills, your abilities, and how they apply to that job description and how they apply to that company,” Whitney said. “You want to have that information to pull key words from that job description and use them in your actual interview.”
Another great idea is to share at least three achievement stories.
“For some students it’s being able to come back to school and graduate after not being able to go to college; that’s an achievement story,” Whitney said. “Again you should tailor your achievement story to show how it’s going to help the company.”
Some effective skills to implement during an interview include maintaining nerves under control and not becoming too familiar with the interviewer by using appropriate language.
Candidates should be concise and not talk too much and should provide examples of their skills.
To make the interviewing process less nerve-racking, Whitney suggests that job seekers go on numerous interviews without the intention of getting a job, but rather to build their skills.
“The more you do it, the more confident you become and the easier it gets,” Whitney said.
Students are encouraged to attend the free workshops at the Global Career Center to improve their job seeking skills.
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