Black Collegian Career Center

The most challenging part of your job search is the interviewing. How you approach the interviewing process determines the level of success you can expect to have. An effective job search requires a strategic plan and some luck, being at the right place at the right time. Strategic job-search planning helps you to establish behavior on your part and it will help you to reach your short-term goals. On-campus interviewing is a time when the students and employers come together through career fairs and on-line interviewing for the entry-level jobs and internships. You must research the company that best matches your qualifications, and you must cover all aspects thoroughly because employers are able to sense how prepared you are. Your knowledge of the organization is a good indicator to the employer of your level of interest. In the interviewing process, you will make many contacts; therefore, you must not lose precious time by not showing up at an interview. Make every interview count and practice answering the general questions.

Self-Assessment

Planning for the job interview starts with self-assessment, an exploration of goals, interests and personal characteristics. If you begin planning for the interview as a senior, you have wasted valuable time, but if you have held internship positions, held leadership positions in student organizations or jobs throughout your matriculation, you have garnered experience in interviewing and work, and these skills can work for you.

Planning for the job interview starts an exploration of your goals, interests, and personal characteristics. The career portfolio is one way of collecting, analyzing and evaluating information about you. It is used to keep track of your accomplishments. Having managed a career portfolio during your matriculation in college helps you to be aware of your weaknesses and your strengths. If you do not know where to start, take some of the on-line interest inventories like Discover and the Strong Interests Inventories. These inventories can help you to determine whether you have the characteristics and the skills that will help you to be successful in your chosen field of study. You have to compare your goals with those of the organization, and since people hire people, you have to convince a recruiter that you are the best fit for the job. A job search includes résumé preparation, a cover letter, negotiations, and matching job requirements with your abilities. It is not enough to start with understanding yourself; you must also understand the world of work. You have to ask yourself these questions:

What do I want to do?
What are my interests?
What are my academic skills?
What are my transferable skills?
Do I have good communication skills?

If you take the Discover inventory and print out the report, based on your answers from the interest inventory, you can actually develop a job hunting/interviewing plan. There are a number of competencies that are sought by most employers and most job descriptions describe these competencies. The skills you gained through part-time work, organization participation, internships, and extracurricular activities may be transferred to most jobs. Skills such as speaking, writing, listening, and operation of computers and other equipment are transferable.

The Résumé

The most important document of your interviewing process is the résumé. Your career center offers workshops and seminars on résumé writing and interviewing. You may have one of the counselors critique your résumé. Your mistake-free résumé is a part of the on-campus recruitment process. When you register for interviews, you will have to put your résumé on the e-recruiting system. It is this system that employers use to invite you for an interview. In addition to the seminars, company representatives conduct mock interviews for students. The student may request that the representative critique the interview with the student. Your career center can provide a list of the most asked questions by employers so that you may write the answers and practice them. It helps to stand in front of a mirror to check your body language. Using a password provided by the career center, the employer can pull up your résumé by major in the e-recruiting system and offer an internship or job. They will contact the student directly by e-mail or telephone based on what is on the résumé. Be sure that you have only facts on the résumé and that your e-mail address and telephone greetings are professional.

Anatomy of a Job Interview

Most job interviews have a general pattern; the recruiter will first try to set you at ease for about five minutes by engaging in small talk. Usually she or he will talk about current events. To prepare for this, read the front and sports pages of the local news-paper. You are evaluated even during this time on your communication and on body language such as facial expressions. Be sure to know why you chose your major and what your career goals are. There will be some time spent on discussing your background. Do not talk about your family and hobbies, but talk in terms of credentials your employer can use. Next, there will be some general questions that may not have anything to do with what is on your résumé; however, be sure that you are thoroughly knowledgeable of what is on your résumé. Within a 30-45 minute period, there are a number of questions that you will have to answer, and it is at this time that you may ask the interviewer questions. Be reminded that during that time, you have to sell yourself.

Getting the Most from the Career Fair

At campus career fairs, students and employers are brought together. This is usually the first contact, and your career center can provide a list of the companies that will be coming to the career fair. You should choose three to five companies that interest you and research them before going to the fair. The career center has a center for research, or you may use the Internet for company information. Prepare a short script for yourself and practice it. Remember that possibly other students will be preparing a script as well and that you will have about a minute for your spiel. You will have just enough time to tell your name, major, graduation year and your interests. Recruiters will ask about your G.P.A. If you do not know what it is, give an estimate and do not lie about it. Give the recruiter your résumé and then find out the next steps in their hiring process. Most career fairs consist of booths that may have two to three recruiters. Oftentimes the recruiters are alumni of your college. However, do not let your guard down and do not expect special treatment. If you get a chance, try to talk to them to find out how they made it to their positions.

Most career fairs require relaxed attire, such as "business casual," but you will make the best impression if you are in business attire. Bring several copies of your résumé tailored to your career choices, paper, and pen to write down pertinent information. Your career center may have a contact sheet on which you may write the company name, contact, location of job, process of applying, and a thank-you note. Be sure to send a thank-you note to the recruiters who talked to you. A note may make the difference in your getting a position or internship. Do not carry backpacks into the career fair arena. They tug at your clothes, they are unprofessional looking, and they make you look like a student.

Etiquette for the Career Fair

Students must be aware of good etiquette at all times. Here are a few points to remember:

• Talk to the employer's representative without interrupting fellow job seekers.
• Make good eye contact.
• Introduce yourself with a strong handshake.
• Smile freely.
• Articulate well.
• Thank the recruiter for his or her time.
• Collect business cards.
• Exhibit focus and direction.
• Shake hands to end the visit to the booth.

Attire for the Interview

You have received your schedule for interviewing through e-recruiting. Your first impression is the only impression you will make when you enter the interview room. Be comfortable in your clothes. Do not pull at them or adjust them while in the interview. On the bases of your appearance, from the time that the recruiter sees you, he or she will determine whether they want to spend any time talking with you.

Attire for Women:

• Suits: (skirt/jacket) in colors of navy blue, dark gray, or black
• Blouse: White plain neckline or collar. No plunging necklines
• Hose: Skin tone, off black or beige
• Hair: Conservative hairstyle that does not attract attention
• Jewelry: Simple jewelry, one earring per ear, one ring per finger
• Handbag: Small. Do not carry a handbag and briefcase
• Make-up: Natural
• Extras: Tissues, lipstick, extra hose, and mints
• Perfume: None
• Fingernails: Short with subtle nail polish, manicured
• Hemline: At the knee

Attire For Men:

• Suit: Single breasted in black, dark gray, or navy blue
• Shirt: Long sleeve, white cotton with classic collar, professionally pressed
• Socks: Over the calf, matching or complimentary to the suit
• Ties: Silk with modest print in contrast to suit, no bow tie
• Hair: Neatly trimmed, professional image
• Jewelry: None. Wedding ring only
• Perfume: None. After-shave only
• Fingernails: Manicured, clean
• Mints: Use mints for clean breath.

Clothes should be well pressed and in good condition. Belts should match shoes and males should carry a handkerchief in their pocket. No matter how good you look, if you do not have social poise, your look is in vain. Arrive at your appointment at least 10 minutes early, but do not take a seat unless you have been invited to do so. Do not chew gum or appear nervous. Think positive thoughts and show enthusiasm. Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview.

Interviews

There are several types of interviews that recruiters use and it is hard to tell which one they will use. The screening interview is a preliminary interview used on-line through e-recruiting or by telephone. This interview is for basic qualifications. Most interviews are structured so that the interviewers use written descriptions of the candidate's skills and experiences. If the interviewer does not use a script, then the interview is unstructured. You may have multiple interviews with different persons within the company, and they will compare notes on you. There are interviews to see how you handle stress and interviews to stimulate your thought processes by giving you a situation to critique. You may be interviewed by a group of representatives. If you have prepared well, you should be able to handle any of these interviews. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and learn something about the culture of the company.

The Interview Process

During the interview, there is a two-way discussion between you and the interviewer as you try to determine if you have the qualifications that the company needs. The three phases of interviewing are: an introductory phase, which consists of small talk, a question-and-answer phase, and a closing phase. In the closing phase you can ask questions about the company and find out the next steps in the hiring process. After the interview, be sure to send a thank-you note within 24 hours. This note should be hand-written, on good quality, white or cream paper. Make the note simple and brief. Indicate that you are interested in the job. Don't assume that the interviewer knows that you want the job. You must ask for it. After one week, follow-up with a phone call regarding the decision to hire. If you did not get the job, try to find out why. These are some of the points on an evaluation of your interview:

1. Punctuality
2. Appearance/grooming
3. Eye contact
4. Non-verbal communication (gestures, poise)
5. Communication skills/articulation
6. Knowledge of the company/agency
7. Knowledge of major field of study
8. Self-confidence and initiative
9. Quality of résumé
10. Overall impression of student

Do not discuss a compensation package until you have been offered the job and it is the job you want. Consider all benefits:

1. Sick leave, including short-and long- term
2. Vacation
3. Health insurance
4. Tuition reimbursement

There may be other benefits that the company may offer, so be sure you completely understand everything before you sign a contract. If you need time to decide, ask for more time to do so and get the offer in writing.

Telephone Interviews

Because of budgetary constraints, some companies cannot come to college campuses to conduct interviews. In this case, they may request a telephone interview to screen applicants. If the interview is scheduled, you have time to prepare. If you receive a call for an interview by phone and the room is not conducive to conversation, kindly ask to reschedule the interview. Background noise can cause you to miss some of the information. Use these guidelines for the telephone interview:

1. Sit in a straight back chair. Do not slouch.
2. Have your résumé, cover letter, portfolio, reference letter, transcript and any other documentation you think is of interest.
3. Dress in business casual attire. For better results, dress in business attire. Business attire will help you to feel more professional.
4. Practice your voice tone before the interview. Talk naturally.
5. Be sure that you are talking to the recruiter. Get correct spelling of the name for the thank-you note.
6. Have a note-pad for the information you want to remember.
7. Smile and listen.
8. The recruiter will control the agenda and set the tone.
9. Have prepared questions to ask the recruiter.
10. The approach to the telephone interview should be treated as though it were face to face.

"No Shows"

Students who miss a scheduled interview without calling the career center to cancel within 24 hours are considered "No Shows" and are subject to having their e-recruiting account deactivated. "No Shows" will not be able to schedule other interviews. Additionally, the student has to write the employer a letter of apology that must be approved by the director of the career center.

On-campus interviewing is not for everyone. Most organizations that recruit on campuses are generally large companies that need many employees and have the budget and the people to go from campus to campus. The career center can help students whose fields are not represented by the companies that recruit on campus.

To summarize, use these strategies to make you an "interview expert":

• Learn all you can about the company beforehand.
• Study your qualifications and abilities for a brief presentation.
• Have references available.
• Be well-groomed.
• Get to the interview 10 minutes early.
• Be friendly and outgoing.
• Give a firm hand shake
• Wait to be invited to sit down.
• Use the restroom before the appointment.
• Maintain good eye contact.
• Stand if you are introduced to someone.
• Before leaving the interview, ask for the approximate time for the company's decision.
• Dress appropriately.

Vivian Wrenn David is director of the Hampton University Career Center Hampton, VA..