Good luck vibes for ili and Jenny, and interview tips!!!
Ok Jenny and ili need some serious good luck to wend its way in their direction, because they both need jobs...Jenny slightly more desperately than ili, although 6-10 hours a week hardly qualifies as a job, so ili is pretty desperate, too.
So send them some good thoughts, people!
This does prompt me to post some well-learned advice about job-hunting. I've got plenty of experience, and considering I work as a Graphic Designer without an ounce of formal training as such, and got here by working my way up, I think I am by now an expert on successful interviewing and job hunting. I have never, I repeat never, been turned down for a job I actually interviewed for. Which means I'm doing something right.
1. Send thank you cards to EVERYONE who interviews you. While this is the last thing you do in the interview process, I put it first, because it is hugely important, and forgotten by almost everyone I know. Not only is it polite, but given how many people DON'T send cards, it ensures that you will stand out among the rest. I actually bring a card with me, already filled out with the address and stamped, and immediately following the interview, while it's fresh in my mind, I write a short note thanking them for their time, and mentioning something specific from the interview, like "I enjoyed discussing music with you...if I get the chance to work for [company], I'll be sure to bring in the latest Sheryl Crow album - I think it's your style!" Then I drop it in the nearest mailbox. In most cases, it arrives the next day and makes a HUGE impression.
2. Make sure your resume looks awesome. And NEVER print it on white paper unless your type is in color, or you have some other colorful thing on it. Black & white blends in with everyone else's resumes.
3. RELAX. This isn't the end of the world. It's an interview. The worst that can happen is you don't get the job, which remember, YOU DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE, so it's not like you're losing anything. You only stand to GAIN, so try not to think of it as a potential LOSS.
4. Smile and don't be afraid to show excitement for the company and the position. The worst thing you can do is act like you're NOT excited, because guess what? They WANT you to be. They won't hire you if they think you don't really want it. So show some emotion. Just don't act like a crazed fool...too much can make them think you're manic.
5. Laugh. It's infectious. If you can get them to laugh with you, you're in...or at least one big step closer.
6. Wear something they'll remember. Whether it's a brightly colored tie or hat or belt or a pin or whatever, just make sure that even if they don't remember your name at first, they'll remember "the girl wearing the green striped shirt" or "the guy with the Jerry Garcia tie."
7. Do NOT smoke before an interview. Most people view that as an instant turn-off, and many people are specifically looking for non-smokers. I have worked at several companies that asked for non-smokers, so make sure you don't smell like an ash-tray. Even if you do smoke, give them no reason to even ask. If your car smells, you may want to consider cleaning it out so the smell doesn't wear off on you. This is nothing personal, it's just the way things are.
8. Come with a list of well thought out questions. They love when you have taken the time to do that. It shows that you're concientous, and you're interested.
9. Before you leave, ask what the next steps are. This should be your last question. It makes them tell you their process and lets you know how soon to expect them to call, and when to give up hope, if necessary, so you're not wondering three weeks later whatever happened.
10. CALL THEM TO FOLLOW UP. This is a must. The ball is in YOUR court. There is no harm in calling them, once or even twice. The best time of day to call is around 10-11 AM. Do it about 3-5 days after the interview, and if they haven't made a decision or don't answer or call you back, call again in another week. If you haven't heard anything by then, then you can give up and move on.
Happy hunting!
~J~
So send them some good thoughts, people!
This does prompt me to post some well-learned advice about job-hunting. I've got plenty of experience, and considering I work as a Graphic Designer without an ounce of formal training as such, and got here by working my way up, I think I am by now an expert on successful interviewing and job hunting. I have never, I repeat never, been turned down for a job I actually interviewed for. Which means I'm doing something right.
1. Send thank you cards to EVERYONE who interviews you. While this is the last thing you do in the interview process, I put it first, because it is hugely important, and forgotten by almost everyone I know. Not only is it polite, but given how many people DON'T send cards, it ensures that you will stand out among the rest. I actually bring a card with me, already filled out with the address and stamped, and immediately following the interview, while it's fresh in my mind, I write a short note thanking them for their time, and mentioning something specific from the interview, like "I enjoyed discussing music with you...if I get the chance to work for [company], I'll be sure to bring in the latest Sheryl Crow album - I think it's your style!" Then I drop it in the nearest mailbox. In most cases, it arrives the next day and makes a HUGE impression.
2. Make sure your resume looks awesome. And NEVER print it on white paper unless your type is in color, or you have some other colorful thing on it. Black & white blends in with everyone else's resumes.
3. RELAX. This isn't the end of the world. It's an interview. The worst that can happen is you don't get the job, which remember, YOU DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE, so it's not like you're losing anything. You only stand to GAIN, so try not to think of it as a potential LOSS.
4. Smile and don't be afraid to show excitement for the company and the position. The worst thing you can do is act like you're NOT excited, because guess what? They WANT you to be. They won't hire you if they think you don't really want it. So show some emotion. Just don't act like a crazed fool...too much can make them think you're manic.
5. Laugh. It's infectious. If you can get them to laugh with you, you're in...or at least one big step closer.
6. Wear something they'll remember. Whether it's a brightly colored tie or hat or belt or a pin or whatever, just make sure that even if they don't remember your name at first, they'll remember "the girl wearing the green striped shirt" or "the guy with the Jerry Garcia tie."
7. Do NOT smoke before an interview. Most people view that as an instant turn-off, and many people are specifically looking for non-smokers. I have worked at several companies that asked for non-smokers, so make sure you don't smell like an ash-tray. Even if you do smoke, give them no reason to even ask. If your car smells, you may want to consider cleaning it out so the smell doesn't wear off on you. This is nothing personal, it's just the way things are.
8. Come with a list of well thought out questions. They love when you have taken the time to do that. It shows that you're concientous, and you're interested.
9. Before you leave, ask what the next steps are. This should be your last question. It makes them tell you their process and lets you know how soon to expect them to call, and when to give up hope, if necessary, so you're not wondering three weeks later whatever happened.
10. CALL THEM TO FOLLOW UP. This is a must. The ball is in YOUR court. There is no harm in calling them, once or even twice. The best time of day to call is around 10-11 AM. Do it about 3-5 days after the interview, and if they haven't made a decision or don't answer or call you back, call again in another week. If you haven't heard anything by then, then you can give up and move on.
Happy hunting!
~J~
posted by Jadyn at 12:19 PM
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