Prep for Your Interview

Interview tomorrow? In a few hours? There’s still time to properly prepare so that you can be confident! Practice answering common interview questions on InterviewStream! You can get to Interview stream through your Hire-a-Vol account.

Steps to Start Practicing:

1) Log into your MyUTK

2) Open the “Hire-a-vol” link under My Services

3) Click on the Interview Stream icon on the left (Middle)

4) Choose “Conduct an Interview” to practice on your computer or “Mobile Interview” to get a password to practice on-the-go.

5) Review your video to make proper corrections to your answers, posture, and gestures.

This will give you valuable practice and help you organize your thoughts into appropriate answers before the real deal.

Good luck on your upcoming interview! You will do great! (Make sure you have a webcam on the device you practice on)

Myth Buster Monday: Internships

Why didn’t the little skeleton go to see a scary movie?

He didn’t have the guts!

Myth: You should only apply for positions that have your field of study in the title.

Be open to all opportunities! Some companies may be recruiting for only one or two positions but you could find that your skills can be very useful in those open jobs. Always give a job a chance. Work with a recruiter to see how your skills and needs can fit into the job/internship that they’re hiring for. Many internships can be tailored to what the student is hoping to gain from the experience.

Do not judge a company by its name. It may be hard to see the value of working at a smaller company when there are so many large companies out there but you should really give them a chance. Always except an offer to interview unless you have previously committed yourself to another employer. You can practice your interview skills and who knows, maybe they will describe your ideal job or offer you an opportunity that you cannot refuse!

Students seem to get hung up on their major and finish their time at UT without internship experience or a full-time job offer. Worry less about the job title and more about how your skills can be utilized in the position you’re applying or interviewing for. If you take part in an internship that you do not enjoy, you have still learned a lot and therefore, have a better idea of what you’re looking for in a future position. Do you best in your interviews and receive an offer, then decline if you feel the position is not right for you.

Good luck this recruiting season!

Tip Tuesday: Tough Questions Interviews Ask and How to Answer Them

An interview isn't a contest to see if the interviewer can stump the job candidate. However, interviewers can ask some thought-provoking, tough questions. Here are some questions we've collected from recruiters and suggestions for answering them:

1. Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision, but didn't have all the information you needed.
   Use a real anecdote from your experience to answer this question. The answer doesn't have to be great and grand. It could be a simple situation that was handled well. It could demonstrate ability in your field. For example: You may want to tell the interviewer how you selected your college from among all the colleges you applied to. Were you satisfied with your choice? Why or why not?


2. What suggestions do you have for our organization?
   Let's say you're interviewing with a retailer and you're asked this question. Don't answer with the expected answer—anything to do with upkeep of the organization's stores. Instead, talk about merchandise that you might want to add...or how you would rearrange the stores' layout and why. Your answer should reflect your creativity.


3. What is the most significant contribution you made to the company during your internship/co-op?
   Tell a story about an accomplishment that added value to the company, demonstrating skills that show initiative or resilience. Tell the interviewer about the options and the outcome of your work.


4. What is the biggest mistake you've made?
   Be honest. You'll show credibility and integrity. While mistakes aren't rewarded, sometimes making a mistake can show that you've pushed yourself to the limit. Be careful, however, to concentrate your answer on describing what you learned from your mistake.


5. Was there anything today that you were afraid I was going to ask you? Why did it make you uncomfortable?
   The trick here is to keep your cool. Many people blurt out the question that they didn't want asked—and that could raise new questions in the interviewer's mind.

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Networking Wednesday: Introduce yourself to Employers in 60 seconds

You step into the career fair and make your way toward a representative from the top-ranked company on your job-search list. What can you say and do during the next 60 seconds to make this recruiter want to explore hiring you?

Hit them with your one-minute introduction!

Follow the formula
Use the following formula to build your 60-second introduction:

• Name
• Class (senior, junior, sophomore)
• Major
• Opportunities that you are seeking
• Relevant experience (work, internship, volunteer work)
• Highlights of skills and strengths
• Knowledge of the company

Tailor your introduction to each employer you approach based on research and knowledge of each company. (Here’s where to start: Get a list of employers attending the career fair from your career center, and check out their websites for information about products, services, and opportunities.)

Practice to perfection
Practice your introduction so that you can move on to the important next step—the interview. Add positive nonverbal communications—eye contact, facial expressions, body language, and posture. Practice with a mirror, a friend, and/or a career services staff member.

Ask a great question
Next, make yourself memorable by asking a question about the company. (These questions are based on information you’ve found in your research.)

• “Could you tell me more about the new (product) you are developing?”
• “Could you tell me more about your financial management training program?”
• “What type of projects do your interns work on?”

Avoid the following:

• Asking what the company does;
• Asking if the company has any jobs; and
• When asked what type of position you are seeking, saying you would be willing to do anything at the company.

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Networking Wednesday: What Interviewers Want to Know

During an interview, potential employers want to gather information to gauge whether you, the position, and the organization are a good fit.

Here are some generic questions—and examples of specific questions—an employer may ask in an interview. Use these as a guide to your preparation.

Generic Questions	Specific Examples
What do you know about the organization?	What do you think a typical day is like here? What sparked your interest in [this organization]? Do you have any suggestions for how we can make our organization better? What made you decide to apply for this job?
What do I need to know about your personal traits or characteristics?	What is your strongest attribute? What is your greatest weakness? What personality traits make you suitable for this position? If someone said one word to describe you, what would that word be?
How do you work with others?	Would you rather be micro- or macro-managed? Tell us about your best and worst boss. What is your ideal work environment? That is, what type of boss/co-workers would you like to work with?
What skills do you have relevant to this position?	What work experience have you had that is relevant to this position? Tell us about any specialized training or certifications you have. What skills do you think you need to add to your repertoire? How will you get those skills? I know about your college and work background, but what else have you done that would aid us if we were to hire you for this position?
What are your personal goals?	Why do you want us to hire you? What is your dream job? How would this position help you get there? What is your seven-year career plan? Do you have plans for graduate school?
How much do you know about your specialized area?	What are your strongest points with [two specific skills that the job requires]? What are the most important traits of a person in your field?
How have you handled specific situations? (Behavioral questions)	Can you tell me about a time when you effected a change? Give me an example of a situation that didn’t work out well. What have you done that you are most proud of? Tell us about a time when you took a unique approach to solving a problem.

Adapted from “The Job Interview," an article by Susan M. Katz in the NACE Journal.

Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Tip Tuesday: 10 Skills Job Seekers Need

When it comes to a job seeker’s skills/qualities, employers are looking for team players who can solve problems, organize their work, and communicate effectively, according to employers who responded to NACE’s Job Outlook 2014 survey.

Employers who interview and hire new college graduates were asked to rank a job candidate’s desired skills and qualities including:

• Teamwork
• Problem solving and decision making
• Organization and prioritization
• Communication

How can you demonstrate that you have these qualities? Here are some things you can do during your college years to meet these demands:

Join extracurricular activities. Being an active member of a club or an intramural sports team, organizing a volunteer project, or taking part in group tasks, will help you earn that top quality spot, “ability to work in a team structure.” Participating in extracurricular activities while maintaining a high GPA will demonstrate that you have the “ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.”

Keep Your GPA High. Good grades show that you have a good knowledge base—the “technical knowledge related to the job”—and demonstrates a strong work ethic—a quality that employers value.

Find an internship. Another way to demonstrate your knowledge of the job is to have done an internship or two in your field. You’ll have taken an opportunity to look at your future career close up while getting hands-on experience with any potential job. Your internship can put your “foot in the door” to a job opportunity with many employers and help you build a network of professionals in your field.

Make a Date With the Career Center. The career center staff can help you go a long way in preparation for selling yourself to future employers. In addition to helping you choose a major and career direction, a career counselor can help you find internships, perfect your cover letter and resume, and develop your interviewing skills. Good interview skills will help you show a potential employer know that you can “verbally communicate” with people inside and outside the organization.

Myth Buster Mondays: Phone Interviews Are Awkward

Myth:  Phone interviews are awkward

Interviews are scary enough as--a lot of people are even more scared when they hear that said interview is going to be conducted via telephone.  The whole thing is doomed to be awkward and awful from the start, right? Wrong.  Think of it this way:  you get to pick where the interview is going to take place, technically you have the home court advantage.  You don't have to worry about your hair, makeup, clothes, etc. or anything--that is definitely a plus.

Here are some tips to ensure that your phone interview goes as smooth as possible:

• Turn off all distractions (TV, computer, etc.)
• Have all of you tools in one place (resume, pen/paper, questions to ask interviewer, outline of points you would like to cover)
• Dress the part (you'll act more professional if you dress the part)
• Stand up to talk
• Talk only when necessary (avoid the awkward interruption/cut off)
• Let the employer end the interview and then thank then for their time (make sure to repeat your interest in the position)
• Write a thank you note

Remember, phone interviews are only awkward if you allow them to be.  Phone interviews are meant to be convenient and stress-free so relax, take a deep breath, and be yourself.

Dress For Success!

Okay all you VOLS! With all of you preparing to go out there into the professional world, we’re sure you have been given the basic rules of presentation and attire by now. Yet, working in career services, we still see quite a few people that come through with questions on what is and is not appropriate interview, business professional, and business casual attire. Well, we are here to give a few more tips to add to your knowledge of the dos and don’ts of business attire.

Image from: techterryscholars.weebly.com

Business Professional: Should be worn in the most professional situations (i.e. presentations, meetings).

Men

· Mismatch suits- with good taste of course.

· Ties dress up business professional looks, while sweaters dress them down. Both are acceptable.

Women

· Best choice is the long shirt/ pants suit in a neutral color.

· Collared shirt or simple shell top underneath the suit (subtle, flattering colors.)

· Nude or black pantyhose under skirts.

· Dress shoes.

· Tops and bottoms don’t necessarily need to match; complimenting colors and subtle patterns are okay.

Business Casual

Men

· Collared Polo shirts paired with nice slacks.

·  Khaki pants.

·  Sweater or nice collared shirt without a tie. Shirt should always be tucked in.

·  Dress shoes.

Women

·  Pants (NOT JEANS!) or skirts (a split below the knee is okay.)

·  Blouses or sweaters. All clothing must be comfortable and flattering.

·  WARNING!  Variety of combinations as long as they are not too short, tight, or revealing. Avoid ruffles and flounces.

·  Dress shoes.

Other notables: No hats, unless for religious purposes. Limit jewelry, makeup, perfume and cologne. Limit visible body piercings, with good taste. 

For more info, visit the sites:

http://www.ou.edu/oubigxii/Excellent%20Dress.pdf

http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-dress-professionally-business-dress-code-basics/

http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_code.htm

Should You Have A Creative Resume?

So you are new to the job market, and facing the stressful process of creating a resume. You’re a millennial employee, not bound by the conservative ways of the older generations, and your mother said you were the most creative child in the world. You are determined to show all this in your resume. You figure, who wants to read another plain, white, nicely formatted resume? That’s just too boring for our generation. Let’s make it yellow! Maybe you can throw in a photo you took of yourself, too. After all, the company needs to know how good-looking the applicant is, right? Oh, you can also use the cursive font-style, to make your name look Declaration of Independence worthy. While we’re at it, why not add a logo, a graph, some glitter, and-

Not so fast.

While colorful and creative might help your resume stand out from the white and mundane stack of papers (or win you a spot on the refrigerator), it may not have the persuasive power that you hope for in getting the job. In fact, the creative resume idea could just backfire on you and your job searching dreams. Notice I said that it “could backfire,” not “will backfire.”

"It's pink and scented! Adds a little something extra, don't you think?" -Elle Woods

The Mundane Majority

In reality, it all depends on the company. But the odds are not in your favor. In a survey done by The Creative Group, 70% of employers preferred a traditional resume (that is, white paper, clear format, and no selfies).¹ But why? Remember those old-school, conservative folks that you were determined to set yourself apart from? Well as it turns out, they are the ones doing most of the hiring. And it is very likely that they simply aren’t interested in all of your “creativity” shenanigans. Debbie Millman, president of Sterling Brands, mentioned in an interview for Forbes that she would “discourage [job seekers] from using any colors, icons, fancy fonts, background designs, or infographs.” Other employers in the same interview mentioned any sort of graphic resumes as being distracting, and as evidence that the seeker is trying too hard to be noticed.² A Human Resource specialist on even went so far as to say that creative resumes are “tricks… used by less competitive candidates.” ³ 

It’s also important to take into consideration that many resumes must go through an applicant tracking system (ATS), which in short is a machine that searches for key phrases in your resume in order to determine if you meet minimum qualifications. While most of these systems can pick up of phrases in resumes that are formatted differently, some can’t. This is one of those times when you have to decide if it’s worth the risk of your beautiful designs never even being seen by a human eye.

There is still hope for the Infographs

While 70% of employers prefer traditional resumes, the remaining 30% do not. This is where your major comes into play. Are you majoring in Finance? Sorry, whatever creativity you have will have to stay at home. For more formal, corporate positions, resumes need to be traditional and concise. Are you pursuing a career in design or advertising? Then the creative resume may just be down your alley! For jobs in which graphics and creativity are a must, it only makes sense to give the employer a “sample” of your expertise, so have at it. There are also companies who are becoming much more intertwined with the non-traditional work style. These companies, clearly, would also be more accepting of creative resumes. Google, for example, recently hired a man who formatted his resume to mimic, you guessed it, a Google results page. Google also has its board meetings in beanbag chairs. Need I say more? That being said, if you do decide to take the creative path, make sure whatever creation you come up with remains relevant to the position (Glitter is still pushing it). And always, ALWAYS, have a back-up, traditional resume.

The Golden Rule

Whether you choose decide to go for broke on your resume, or take the easier, more traditional path, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t inform you of the golden rule of ALL resumes: Content is what matters most. If anything in your resume requires the slightest sacrifice of lean, qualifying content, drop it and don’t look back.

Need help with your resume? Swing by Career Services any time between 3 and 5, Monday-Thursday for our walk-in resume critiques!

Links concerning creative resumes:

1. http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/06/28/will-a-graphic-resume-get-you-the-job-the-experts-respond/

2. http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2013/08/22/do-employers-want-creative-resumes.htm

3. http://www.everydayfamily.com/blog/do-creative-resumes-really-get-you-the-job/

Image from: collegejuice.com

How to Stand Out in a Group Interview

Group interviews are popular among companies because it allows the employers to get more accomplished in one sitting. Employers also value group interviews because it allows them to see how well you perform under pressure. These interviews can be a nightmare for the unprepared candidate. You don’t want to seem too aggressive; however you don’t want to be too passive. What is the fine line between saying just enough to show you’re knowledgeable and being overshadowed by the other candidates in the interview? How do you show all interviewers that you are equally interested? Don’t fear UT Career Services is here! Here we will discuss some great tips for succeeding at group interviews and feeling comfortable while doing so. 

The same rules apply when preparing for a group interview as does a regular interview. Before going into a group interview (or any interview) you want to make sure you’ve done your research on the company or organization for which you are interviewing. This will come in handy when asked questions that pertain to why you want to be an employee of the company. You want to be prepared to answer behavioral questions as well as have a list of questions prepared to ask the employers when given the opportunity.

Image from: templefma.com

If your group interview has more than one interviewee:

 

Be sure to maximize on questions in which everyone is given the opportunity to answer. For a shy person this can be your moment to shine. If you’re not a shy person then by all means tackle the question head on. If you are not quite the talkative person and are afraid of not standing out in a group interview see this as an opportunity to step out of your shell a little. It may be less intimidating for you if you expound on what others are saying in the interview so that you do not feel as if you are taking over the interview and not giving anyone else a chance to speak. Keep in mind that you could be competing with aggressive people who may not have much regard for others in the interview so it is essential that you make it your mission to be heard. Group interviews can work in your favor if you show that how well you can serve the company.
 

If your group interview as more than one interviewer:

 

You want to find out as much information as you can about the panel you will be interviewing with. Feel free to ask for their job titles and possibly departments if that information has not already been given. It is a good idea to connect with all interviewers. This can be done by making eye contact with the individual who asked the question but also periodically looking around to the other interviewers to show that you understand that they are a part of this process as well. Be sure to pay attention to group dynamics. Make note of how well the group interacts. Finally, when given the opportunity to pose questions you may gear them towards a person’s specific title or department.