Been interviewing a lot of young candidates lately for some assistant-type positions, and I just wanted to purge some of what I wish I could say to them. Maybe this will come in handy for some of the young professionals on WF. Not all tips will apply to all jobs/professions/companies obviously.
0. This comes before #1 because if you don't understand this then the rest won't mean shit. The other people out there seeking jobs are your competition. Doesn't matter if they're seeking the same job as you, they are still your competitors. You have to say and do everything you can to differentiate yourself from them if you want to land a decent job.
1. You're being hired to do a job, not to put in hours. You are being paid the salary of someone who can complete certain tasks. If completing those tasks requires you to learn new skills, software, etc., do so quickly and on your own time. Otherwise, either don't accept the job or request a decrease to the pay level of someone who can't complete those tasks while you learn.
2. If the person interviewing you doesn't have a 2-page resume, you sure as shit better not have one.
3. If you can't read people yet, start learning. If the person interviewing you is insecure, talk about how you realize that your job is to elevate your boss and your department. If they are young, act impressed by their accomplishments but don't mention their age. If they are overconfident, act humble but hungry and extend your hand at the end of the interview and ask them for the job. This person has to work with you for the next X years, and will not hire you if they can't imagine themselves doing that.
4. When I ask you where you see yourself in 5 years, if you say "I'd like to be where you are", the interview is over. I'm not hiring someone who is already thinking about taking my job.
5. Ask questions during and after the interview. When I ask at the end if you have any questions, don't tell me we "pretty much covered everything".
6. Take notes, but ask permission before you do.
7. Bring something that I care about. Your writing samples or design portfolio are nice, but prepare something specifically to do with MY company. For example, if you want to be my new email campaign designer, get your hands on a copy of my last campaign and show me how you could increase deliverability or reduce display errors.
8. Showing up 10-15 minutes early is good. Showing up 30 minutes early makes you look like an asshole.
9. Learn the names of the people in the company before you get there. When I mention "John Smith", respond "oh, the Director of New Business Development, right?".
10. NEVER oversell or misrepresent yourself.
11. Ask every person you know with a job over the age of 30 to mock-interview and critique you.
12. Cover letters are NOT optional.
13. Post-interview thank-you emails are NOT optional.
14. Get a real email address, stop applying for jobs using BigPimp420@aol.com
15. People your age are notorious for job-hopping. People in my position hate losing good workers and trying to find new ones. Use that knowledge to tell me something about your goals that will make me want to hire you.
16. Excitement is contagious. Smile, nod, and move your hands. Make me believe that you love what you're being asked to do for a living.
17. Your college courses and projects got you the degree that got you the interview. Beyond that, I don't care that you worked with fucking "SPSS". Show me that you understand what I need and that you can consistently deliver it, not that you were the "treasurer" for your freaking sorority.
0. This comes before #1 because if you don't understand this then the rest won't mean shit. The other people out there seeking jobs are your competition. Doesn't matter if they're seeking the same job as you, they are still your competitors. You have to say and do everything you can to differentiate yourself from them if you want to land a decent job.
1. You're being hired to do a job, not to put in hours. You are being paid the salary of someone who can complete certain tasks. If completing those tasks requires you to learn new skills, software, etc., do so quickly and on your own time. Otherwise, either don't accept the job or request a decrease to the pay level of someone who can't complete those tasks while you learn.
2. If the person interviewing you doesn't have a 2-page resume, you sure as shit better not have one.
3. If you can't read people yet, start learning. If the person interviewing you is insecure, talk about how you realize that your job is to elevate your boss and your department. If they are young, act impressed by their accomplishments but don't mention their age. If they are overconfident, act humble but hungry and extend your hand at the end of the interview and ask them for the job. This person has to work with you for the next X years, and will not hire you if they can't imagine themselves doing that.
4. When I ask you where you see yourself in 5 years, if you say "I'd like to be where you are", the interview is over. I'm not hiring someone who is already thinking about taking my job.
5. Ask questions during and after the interview. When I ask at the end if you have any questions, don't tell me we "pretty much covered everything".
6. Take notes, but ask permission before you do.
7. Bring something that I care about. Your writing samples or design portfolio are nice, but prepare something specifically to do with MY company. For example, if you want to be my new email campaign designer, get your hands on a copy of my last campaign and show me how you could increase deliverability or reduce display errors.
8. Showing up 10-15 minutes early is good. Showing up 30 minutes early makes you look like an asshole.
9. Learn the names of the people in the company before you get there. When I mention "John Smith", respond "oh, the Director of New Business Development, right?".
10. NEVER oversell or misrepresent yourself.
11. Ask every person you know with a job over the age of 30 to mock-interview and critique you.
12. Cover letters are NOT optional.
13. Post-interview thank-you emails are NOT optional.
14. Get a real email address, stop applying for jobs using BigPimp420@aol.com
15. People your age are notorious for job-hopping. People in my position hate losing good workers and trying to find new ones. Use that knowledge to tell me something about your goals that will make me want to hire you.
16. Excitement is contagious. Smile, nod, and move your hands. Make me believe that you love what you're being asked to do for a living.
17. Your college courses and projects got you the degree that got you the interview. Beyond that, I don't care that you worked with fucking "SPSS". Show me that you understand what I need and that you can consistently deliver it, not that you were the "treasurer" for your freaking sorority.
