Category Archives: Interviewing

Preparing for interview success

How to Prepare for ECCD NY for Dummies

Leave a reply


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.

ECCD in NYC: Interview Sign Ups March 8

Leave a reply

Congratulations Seniors!

Just a quick reminder:
Interview Sign-up Timeline:

-Tuesday, March 8: Beginning at 9:30am, all “accepted” students will have access to sign up for interviews through the system. If an accepted student does not sign up before March 11th, alternates have access and will likely take your interview slot.

-Friday, March 11: Beginning at 9:30am, students selected as “alternates” will have access to sign up for interviews through the system. This is first-come, first-served.

-Tuesday, March 15: At midnight, students will no longer have access to sign up for interviews.

-Monday, March 21: Employers receive interview schedules. Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to your interview are subject to review and may result in forfeiture of your access to recruiting resources provided you via Career Services.

ALSO!!!!!
Practice Interview!!!!
Come in and schedule one today!!!

ECCD in NYC. Deadline February 14!

1 Reply

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

A Green Vocabulary Lesson

2 Replies

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.

10 Interview Tips for the Shy Job Seeker

Leave a reply

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. Continue reading →

Interview Question: Tell me about yourself.

Leave a reply

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. Continue reading →

Eastern College Career Day – Boston

Leave a reply

Need to get away? Have an urge to go to Boston on a Friday? Well here is a great way to get off campus seniors!

Eastern College Career Day (ECCD)

You will have the opportunity to interview with Boston/New England employers for jobs in fields like Accounting, Education (certification not required!), Law, Marketing, Sales, Economics Research, Consulting, Banking, Investments, Technology, and Mental Health/Human Services, and more.

When: Friday, November 12, 2010
Where: Bay Back Events Center. Boston, MA
Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 5, 2010 (11:59 pm)
Register and apply at: http://eccdb.experience.com/er/security/login.jsp

Continue reading →

Forget about Sex – Let’s Talk about Hair

Leave a reply

By Frances Cole Jones

frances

For those of you scratching your heads (Sorry, I’m in a punning kind of mood) at the title—and the topic—of this piece, here’s a newsflash: many, many people spend as much (or more) time thinking about how they’re going to wear their hair at their presentation as they do thinking about what they’re going to say at their presentation.

(And while I will admit the preponderance of these conversations tend to be with women, I have had in-depth hair conversations with my male clients, too.)

My trouble is that I can think of few people in the world less qualified to talk about hair than myself. Mine mystifies me, which is why I outsourced the whole project to my wonderful stylist, Dickey, and why I sat down with him recently to get the answers to some of your most pressing questions:

Continue reading →

Employers Reveal the Outrageous and Common Mistakes Candidates Make

Leave a reply

01-zac-efron-suit-flip-flops

Career Expert Offers Tips on How to Stand Out for the Right Reasons

CHICAGO, February 24, 2010 – With competition hot for open positions, the pressure is on for job seekers to have flawless interview skills. Sometimes that pressure can cause candidates to make unusual, and sometimes unfavorable, interview mistakes. A new CareerRookie.com survey of more than 2,700 hiring managers reveals the outrageous and common mistakes that some candidates have made in job interviews.

  • Candidate wore a business suit with flip flops.
  • Candidate asked if the interviewer wanted to meet for a drink after.
  • Candidate had applied for an accounting job, yet said he was “bad at managing money.”
  • Candidate ate food in the employee break room after the interview.
  • Candidate recited poetry.

    • Continue reading →

7 Phone Interview Tips

2 Replies

telephone-interview

By Kevin Cormac

In some cases, telephone interviews are a way for employers to “pre-screen” possible job candidates before they are granted an in-person interview. In other cases, employers will conduct the full interview over the phone. Whether you are required to go through a pre-screening or have already been given the interview, you must be more prepared than you would be for an in-person interview, even if you are allowed to interview in your PJ’s. Below are some telephone interview tips to keep in mind so your next phone interview is a success.

Telephone Interview Tips

Continue reading →

After the Interview: How to Write an Effective Interview Thank You Note

4 Replies

thank-you

By Andrea Rice

Anatomy of a Thank You Note

Keep 3 things in mind when you write your thank you note. It should be immediate, short, and specific.

  1. Immediate – Get the note written and out the door within 24 hours. Make sure you ask for their contact information during the interview so you’re not scrambling trying to figure out their email or snail mail address.
  2. Short – This should be a quick expression of gratitude and interest. 3-4 sentences should be fine.
  3. Specific – Your note should reference something specific you discussed or took away from the interview.  You can also reinforce your skill set as a good match for the job requirements.

Continue reading →

Etiquette Tip of the Week: Waiting Room Shocker

Leave a reply

womenwaitcell

By Culture and Manners Institute

There is one story that, when I tell it in a university setting, I can see the whites around the eyes of the students.

A woman approached me after a talk in Oklahoma and said, “I am the receptionist in my office. The hiring manager has asked me to keep an eye on the job candidates in the waiting room and report back to him which ones are talking on their cell phones, checking messages or texting. Those are the candidates we do not hire.

Avoid using your cell phone or text messaging while sitting in the waiting room before an interview or even a sales call (which is in itself, an interview).

Take out a notebook and study your notes (for surely you have done your research on this company — their leadership, mission statement, sales figures, etc.) Go over the answers to tricky questions in your head. Even if you usually review notes on your phone or PDA, use something else so you don’t appear to be checking messages. Leave the impression that you are focused on the business at hand and not distracted by other things in your life.

Had Enough of Just Sitting There?

Dearest Senior, is this you?bored

What are you doing right now?

  1. Final J-term class
  2. Ski/Snowboard at Snow Bowl
  3. Foods R’ us: Ross or Proctor
  4. Friends/Entourage/House Marathon
  5. Holiday Pounds Work off at Gym or Pool
  6. Varsity Basketball Game
  7. Varsity Hockey Game
  8. Purple Jesus Prep
  9. FFF
  10. Wednesday night Bingo/Trivia

If you have done everything and have nothing to do now, why not come visit me at the CSO office! We have tons of books that can help you see into the future. From 2:00pm-5:00pm, we have counselors who are more than happy to answer your “I-have-no-clue-what-to-do” questions. Set up an appointment with a counselor who can help you practice your interviewing skills and polish your professional skills .

Bring in your resume for corrections! Bring in your cover letters for refinement! Bring in your cold bodies for some CSO warmth (the office is ideal temperature)!

Make this Yay-term even Yayer with a step forward.

The Best Questions to Ask in the Job Interview and What Message They Give to the Interviewer

hireme

By Tatiana Varenik

1. Could you describe a typical day/week in this position? The typical client/customer I would be dealing with? How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? These questions not only show your interest in the position, but also help you to clearly understand your role and the tasks that you would be expected to undertake.

2. Can you tell me about the opportunities for learning and development? or What is the company’s policy on providing training, seminars and workshops so employees can keep up their skills or acquire new ones? This will help you to understand where the job might lead and what skills you might acquire. It also indicates that you are ambitious and thinking ahead.

Continue reading →

15 Ways to Blow your Job Interview

screwup

By John Q Recruiter

  1. Giving attitude to the receptionist? Not such a good idea. She works for us, too.
  2. I may in fact be “hot” or “smoking”, but sharing that with me in the interview is kind of negative.
  3. When I give you a chance to ask me a few questions, your very first inquiry should not be, “When can I take vacations?”
  4. Attending a meeting is not the same as “co-leading team events or “serving as part of project brain trust.”
  5. Since email accounts are free, how about a basic first initial/last name combo instead of snoopyluv@aol.com?
  6. Yes, we hire smokers. That being said, we prefer employees who don’t smell like they moonlight as chimney sweeps.
  7. Wondering if today’s applicant applied her perfume with a hose instead of a mister…Jeez.
  8. I get that you want to keep your resume to one page, but agate is for stock tables and box scores, not resumes.
  9. Telling me about the girl you are dating at work that you need to get away from isn’t a good answer to why you want a new job.
  10. Our website has 100 pages of content and we’re in the press daily. So how is it that you know absolutely nothing about what we do?
  11. A weekend beard may work for your interview at GQ, but now here.
  12. Telling me that you’re hanging onto this job until what you “really” want comes along doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
  13. You wouldn’t have your [friends] to an in-person interview. So why would you have them with you on a phone interview?
  14. Seriously? The candidate went to the University of Connecticut and identifies it on her resume as YUKON?
  15. “You’re my first interview since the summer.” Me (in my head): “Great, every employer had the sense to pass on this guy except me.”

Continue reading →

Why this Job?

Finding a job is all about crafting your own personal story that meshes with the needs of the employers that you’re pursuing. One of the questions that interviewers ask most commonly is “Why us?” Your personal story has many elements and one “critical element in developing your Personal Story is communicating why you want to work at a particular company. Organizations want people who want to be there. You need to make a compelling case for why this specific company is the place for you as opposed to a competitor.” Gotta Mentor.com outlines the key elements to make your case.  Check out their site to read more.

The 10 Most Common Questions

You thought you were just supposed to be honest? Well, you’re sort of right. Gottamentor.com posted this article on what interviewers really want to hear when they ask you the most common interview questions.

What are the top ten questions, you ask?

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. Why should we hire you?
  3. Why are you interested in this company?
  4. Why are you interested in this job?
  5. What is your greatest weakness?
  6. What are your salary expectations?
  7. What are your long-term goals?
  8. Tell me about a problem and how you solved it.
  9. Tell me about a time you had to lead a team.
  10. How would your best friend describe you?

Do you have any idea how you’d answer these questions? See what Gina Chung at Gotta Mentor suggests.

Harvard Business Blog: Acing The Interview

The wise editors of the Harvard Business blog suggest that you focus on these three things in order to convince an interviewer that you’re the right person for the job:

1. Do research about the interviewer, the job, and the company

2. Show interest in the job and the interviewer

3. Don’t forget to listen to what the interviewer has to say

These tips sound simple, but it takes some skill to sound interested without sounding like a stalker.

Read the full article for explanations and advice from David Silverman at the Harvard blog.

(The Harvard Business blog is a great resource for career advice. You’ll be seeing a lot of posts from them here!)