interview tips Archives - Page 2 of 2

Make a Good First Impression

In the job market, a first impression can be the biggest factor standing between you and that dream job. Be mindful of how you come across to potential employers, because their view of you may be the tiny make-it-or-break-it factor that gets you the job – or doesn’t. Here are a few things to consider when preparing yourself to jump into the job search, feet first.

1. Your Resume and Cover Letter

99.99% of the time, your resume and cover letter will be your potential employer’s first impression of you. Even though they are simply written documents on paper, you need to make them count! Make sure both are formatted properly, flow well, have no grammatical or spelling errors, are specifically tailored to the company of interest, and display your best achievements and most relevant experience. Check out our other blogs for a more in-depth look at resume do’s and dont’s.

2. Your Correspondence

If a potential employer takes the time to reach out to you for any reason (be it to thank you for the submission of your resume or to request an interview), be sure to respond in a timely manner! Even a short email with a “Thank you” will suffice and show the potential employer that you can be counted on.

3. Your Appearance

If you make it far enough to be invited in for an interview, make sure you dress the part! Though dress codes can vary dramatically nowadays based on company culture, it is always better to show up overdressed than underdressed. A good pair of slacks and a collared shirt (for men) or a conservative blouse (for women) are great choices to consider. Likewise, make sure that your personal hygiene is in check – clean hair and nails, and trimmed or shaved facial hair for men – and consider skipping the excessive perfume before an interview. Some overpowering scents can have an aversive effect on people, and it’s better to skip the fragrance than to risk giving your interviewer a headache.

4. Your Timeliness

Your physical appearance is not the only factor that you should consider before an interview. Timeliness is also incredibly pivotal – especially in our culture, where “time is money.” Most hiring managers will meet with multiple job prospects in a day – you don’t want to be that one person that throws off their entire schedule because you are late. In fact, a good rule-of-thumb to follow when showing up for interviews is to get to the site fifteen minutes early. Spend the extra time rehearsing your “self-pitch” in your head, or use it to catch up on world news in the paper. Do not however, take that time to check your phone and text your best friends. Some employers – particularly if they have a secretary that sits in the lobby with you while you wait to be called in – make note of the behavior of their prospective employees before interviews.

Remember, first impressions make a big impact. Next time you apply for a job, wow your prospective employer with how incredible you are – right off the bat!

Jobs in South Texas: Are You Asking The Right Questions?

Texas now accounts for 48 percent of U.S. oil and gas rigs and nearly a quarter of the world’s rigs with 848 open working rigs in the state. With the job boom from the oil and gas industry, many jobs are opening up. We have found that about 1,500 jobs were added from June to July in the Corpus Christi area, alone. This increase dropped the unemployment rate to 6.3 percent. This is much lower than the national unemployment rate of 7.4 percent. Last year the unemployment rate was 7.0 percent for the Corpus Christi area July 2012.

With all of these new jobs opening up in the South Texas area, being informed in your job search is more important than ever. Since so many jobs are becoming available in the area, you will need to be vigilant in finding a career that will fit your skills and ambitions. You should come to your interview armed with the right questions to ask your potential employer.

What do you expect me to accomplish in the first 2 or 3 months I work here?
This question shows the employer you are ready to work and gives you a good look at what the employer will expect from you. It is important to know what skills you will be expected to have when you first start your job to see if that position is best suited for your level of experience.

What are some key traits you expect someone in this position to have?
This question will tell your employer that you are in this job long-term; that you hope to be a good employee and make this position the best that it can be. The answer the employer gives will tell you more about the job. If the employer says you will need to be “creative” or “independent” you will probably be on your own. If they say you need to be “patient” or a “leader” it could mean the opposite.

Do you like working here? What made you choose to work here?
The answers or lack of an answer to these questions will tell you quite a bit about the company. Though you might love the company as an outsider, the interviewer can give you an insiders perspective. The interviewer will also like to reflect on their own opinions to answer this question. If they like their job, this should be easy.

What improvements or changes would you like a new person to bring into this position?
This question can fill the potential employer with optimism. It will help them to think about how this position can help their company to grow. The answers will tell you how the employer wants the business to grow and how you will be utilized.

How do you plan to deal with…?
There will always be challenges in any field. This challenge may have to do with new technology or shifting economic trends. If this is a job created in the South Texas boom, you may want to ask what will happen when the boom ends and how your employer will deal with that challenge. This will show your employer that you care about the company for the long run. The answers will tell you how the employer deals with change, how stable your job is in the future, and what the employer’s long term plans are for the company.

We hope this advice helps you with your job search. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more tips and information!

How To Differentiate Yourself In Your Job Search

In the next five years, there will be an expected 65,000 jobs with high demand in healthcare, construction, welding and engineering. The job boom is going to build the South Texas economy, give jobs to many locals, and also potentially bring many people to the Corpus Christi area for job opportunities. That being said, how will you differentiate yourself from other applicants to get the job you want? Here are some tips that can help set you apart.

Be yourself. Make sure that you are honest about everything in your resume and never lie about your skills or experience during an interview.

Have a skill. Be an expert at something in your field. Make sure you are at the cutting edge of this niche and research this particular skill as often as you can. Your expertise will be an excellent way to set yourself apart from other applicants in the job market.

Be well-rounded. Outside of having a skill, you should be knowledgeable on a number of topics in your field. This will help your job flexibility. You will be able to fit into a number of job openings and even if you miss out on a particular job, the company may be more likely to hire you for a future position.

Be creative. Depending on the job you want, you should try something that helps you stick out. Bring up a unique experience about an internship you had during your interview to describe one of your skills. You can even try presenting your resume in a fun way that will ensure the company remembers your name.

Brighten the room. Try to look happy during your time at the company. Dress appropriately for the interview and then let your experience and creativity shine. Self-confidence can be your best friend in getting a job. An employer is much more likely to hire someone that can bring that spark of excitement to the organization!

We hope this advice helps you with your job search. Be sure to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more tips and information!