Check out this article from Forbes highlighting some 5 faux pas that millennials (yup, that’s us) tend to make in job interviews. Yikes. Are you embarrassed on behalf of our generation? I’m a little embarrassed. Don’t let this be you, I guess.

So now that we’ve covered the don’ts — here are some dos. Check out this article, also from Forbes, for tips — specifically for millennials — on giving a better interview.

There are a few givens when it comes to job interviews that we can probably all agree on. Maybe don’t get four hours of sleep the night before an interview. Maybe don’t drink five shots of espresso that morning to cover up the fact that you got four hours of sleep. Maybe don’t bring your best friend to hold your hand in the lobby because you’re shaking/crying hysterically from sleep deprivation/over-caffeination. (Ideally, of course, we would all get at least eight hours of sleep, drink one standard-size cup of coffee and be sitting in the waiting area for the interview fifteen minutes early, hands clasped neatly over a tasteful Ann Taylor slacks/blazer combo. Ideally.)

But did you know that even the food you eat before your interview might give you a leg up? I know what you’re thinking. Ugh, more advice on how to be perfect. Show me the science! Is this blog post sponsored by Weybridge House? But seriously, it’s actually pretty logical. When we eat well we tend to feel well and when we feel well we tend to do well — especially in times of stress. Check out this article from LinkedIn for suggestions on what you might want to eat before an interview. (Hint: Maybe don’t pass on the quinoa fennel saute in Proctor?)

1.  Can you do the job?
2.  Will you love the job?
3.  Can we tolerate working with you?

These are only three “true” job interview questions, says this article in Forbes for LinkedIn. Check out the article to see what top recruiters have to say about these three questions, and how to best demonstrate an affirmative answer to all of these questions in an interview.

What does Wonder Woman have to do with finding a job? How can changing the way you stand increase your ability to cope with stressful situations? What is a “power pose?” New research by a Harvard social psychologist suggests that body language is more important to an interview than you might think!

Click the link below to find out answers to the above questions and watch a video on how body language can affect your interview success:

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/innovation/the-power-of-power-posing/362?sid==3Dpt&utm_source=3Dpt&utm_medium=3Den=20

SENIORS SENIORS SENIORS!
For those of you who have an interview at ECCD NY this Friday, here is a short summary of the “prep” sheet you all received from our very own T.Funk (which I’m sure you have all read…)

BIG THINGS
1. Be there 30 minutes before your first interview.
2. Wear your professional suit.
3. Theresa Funk will be there, so don’t freak out. Tyler Lovas and I will also be attending so latch onto us if you need to scream a little.
4. Good luck!

How does this Work?
1. All interviews will take place in one room and will last for 30 minutes each.
2. You must check in at the registration table when you arrive on site.
3. There will be a waiting room for those not interviewing; there will also be a row of chairs “named” for each employer for the students “on deck” to interview (5 minutes prior to interview).
4. Employers will come out of the interview area and greet you at the appropriate chair in the “on deck” area.
5. If you have back-to-back interviews, you will be asked to return to the “on deck” area for the next interview.
6. You should ask for a business card from your interviewer to send a thank-you note after the event.

What to Bring:
1. Picture ID: Student ID or Driver’s License/Passport.
2. Notebook: Very useful for note-taking, collecting business cards, carrying cash/credit cards, and of course, looking professional. You can get one of these professional Middlebury notebooks at the bookstore.
3. Resume (multiple copies!) and maybe even a copy of your unofficial transcript.
4. Cash…for food and transportation NOT bribery.
5. Homework/Reading material…leave your playboy at home.

What to Wear:
1. A suit (duh!), dress socks/stockings, comfortable, yet professional shoes.
2. A watch…or your cell phone, but remember to TURN IT OFF during your interviews.

What NOT to Wear:
1. Heavy perfume/cologne. You do not want to give your employers a headache this early on.
2. Excessive makeup. More appropriate to let your inner beauty shine.
3. Distracting jewelry.

Any questions? Swing by the Career Services. We have drop-in hours from 2-5pm.
Also, you can friend Tyler Lovas on facebook.

Interested in becoming a paralegal? How about a production assistant? Do you want to go into publishing? How about spring break in NYC? ECCD NY is the perfect place to start! It works perfectly for us Middkids because it takes place on the Friday BEFORE our last college Spring Break!

Applications are due on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2011…for those who are out of touch with this holiday).

1.     Students must create an account on the ECCD Web site at http://eccdb.experience.com/er/security/login.jsp (Students who created accounts for the ECCD Boston event should be able to use the same login info)

2.     Select March 25 from the calendar to see the list of registered employers and jobs for which they will be interviewing.

3.     Cover letters, resumes, and any “other” application materials must be uploaded and submitted to each position of interest to you.   Simply creating an account is not the same as submitting an application.

4.     Questions about the program or application process can be directed to Theresa Funk, ext. 5097 or e-mail tfunk@middlebury.edu

Remember getting your resume checked by one of our sweetastic counselors? Remember them telling you that you should use your employer’s language and incorporate it into your resume and cover letters? If not, you really should stop by the Adirondack house because the counselors do have some killer advices.

But back to my main point: you have to talk the talk in order to walk the walk.
Do you know what a triple bottom line is? What is lohas? Are you totally confused?

For those of you interested in working in green business, you might want to check out Green for All’s Green Speak, a glossary containing many of the terminologies and buzzwords frequently used in the green industry today. This guide serves as an introductory resource for anyone new to the intersection of sustainability and social justice, as well as for those who lack an exhaustive understanding of commonly used jargon.

By Katharine Brooks Ed.D.

1. First, stop apologizing for being who you are. Work with it– find your strengths and get to know them so well that they are all you think of when you are in the interview. You may never be comfortable in certain settings– but you can learn to function well in them, and then you can go home where you are comfortable. A small amount of discomfort and pain and “faking it” can go a long way. You are who you are– which means you are talented in a lot of areas and you can learn to extrovert yourself when needed. Read the rest of this entry »

Intuition told me that I wasn’t going to get this job. Actually, I really didn’t have to rely on intuition for this one. I’ll own it: I screwed up. Bam.

Here’s my way of dealing with my rejection: sharing my mistake.
Read the rest of this entry »

It’s not even a question, and yet, this command will probably be the first thing you’ll have to answer in your job interview.

Having a phone interview in just a couple hours, I am my own guinea pig for this post. I have been counting down the days since last week for this Friday. Ahora mismo, I can assure you that I’m sick to my stomach and am using all the self control in me to not projectile vomski.

“Tell me about yourself.”

Oh, how I hate those words. Ask anyone who has already done an interview. I’m giving you the greatest advice: PREPARE TO ANSWER THIS NON-QUESTION.

What the HR person really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you are and why you’re the best candidate for this position. Obviously, you won’t start off by saying, “Well, I’m 5’10 Capricorn. Love long walks on the beach. I’m the best cook I know.” Wait…that wasn’t obvious to you? (It’s ok, it actually wasn’t that obvious to me from the get-go. I almost started by saying, “I’m a tiny Asian.”) Well, this just in: job recruiters DON’T CARE. They are not interested in you as a person. Recruiters want to see if you can do the job.

I found this site to be pretty helpful. Interview Coach Sally Chopping walks you through the steps on how to answer this question that isn’t even a question but is worth about 3 questions. Read the rest of this entry »