Tip 1: Employers will assume that you have done a good amount of research on their company. When they ask you what you know about them, you'll get off to a good start by being able to discuss several pertinent points about the Company. To do this you must be sure your research includes:
* What the company's mission is * Sales and revenue (if public) * What their growth rate has been * Major products and services * Who their competitors are * Key management team * Latest news on the company * Clients, suppliers * Company structure & culture
Employers want to know that you are interested in working for them and that you have the curiosity and energy to plan ahead for your meetings. This research technique will also help you come up with smart questions to ask your interviewer when they offer to answer any questions you may have. P.S. Always have questions!
Tip 2: Employers expect you to be able to discuss your strengths, give examples of your strengths in action and tell how your strengths will benefit them. In addition to your academic performance and experience (internships, etc., if applicable) a few other areas assessed during an interview are:
* Team work ? how will you work and interact with others * Self knowledge ? a realistic assessment of who you are * Personality ? how will you fit into their culture * Image ? how you present yourself as well as your overall appearance * Work ethic ? reliability, integrity * Confidence ? ability to openly discuss goals and accomplishments
Tip 3: Employers expect you to tell them "What's In It For Them" if they hire you. Gone are the days when you ask the employer why they think you should work for them. Be ready with 3 top reasons you are a good choice for the employer.
Tip 4: Employers will expect you to be able to provide them with some self-disclosure so they can get to know you better. You should be prepared to answer questions around:
* Weaknesses (and never use something lame like - "I just tend to work too hard" that's a real eye roller) * Your problem solving abilities * Extra curricular activities * Community involvement and/or volunteer services * Why you chose your career field and information about your long term career goals
Remember, employers want top talent and you must be able to articulate your value and the benefit you will bring to an organization. If you prepare in advance you will bring confidence, enthusiasm and a positive attitude with you and it will show. So, turn your interview into a success story by preparing ahead. Get ready to beat the competition!
New College graduates face unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to getting that first job. Many employers, however, want fresh new ideas and employees with lots of future potential. With 20% of all workers with college degrees either unemployed or employed in jobs requiring only high school skills, there is help for the college grad who doesn't want to settle for a job in which they are undervalued and under-challenged.
Our experience in working with new graduates has consistently reinforced our belief that the most important skills needed are in interviewing. Knowing how to approach an interview, how to anticipate and respond to difficult questions, and knowing how to project confidence in the interview are the skills most often lacking in new grads.
In the last 10 years we have worked with thousands of job seekers who face various challenges. Our philosophy is that life is too short to be stuck in a boring, unfulfilling, dead-end job. One of the major challenges for new graduates is to believe it is possible to get an exciting, fulfilling job that offers opportunity for growth and advancement. We work with far too many people who are depressed, bored, and entirely too focused on their jobs. When we love what we do, work becomes energizing. Just as boredom and depression on the job will spill over into one's personal life, so do happiness, energy, and fulfillment.
People who feel stuck in inappropriate jobs tend to spend more hours working than people who are happy in their jobs. One reason for this increase in work hours is low productivity. A vicious circle results from job misery. Unhappiness makes us less productive; lower productivity requires us to work more; working more in a job we hate makes us unhappy.
Our advice to every graduating senior this year is that your preparation for your job search and your knowledge of what you want can help you find the job of your dreams. You will be successful in landing the perfect job if you can learn and accept certain critical job-seeking principles:
?You don't have to settle for a job in which you will be miserable ?Fresh ideas and new insights are valuable assets ?You can go after the job of your dreams ?You can learn to ace the interview ?You can get a job that allows you to maintain balance in your life
With a positive attitude and preparation around the following questions, you can find the job of your dreams and ace the hiring process:
?How do you answer a question about experience when you have none? ?How do you explain that you want a job you can be passionate about? ?How do you respond to the statement "everyone begins with an unsatisfying job"? ?How do you successfully handle the first phone call from an employer? ?How do you prepare a powerful professional pitch? ?How do you present the best image? ?How do you deliver a solid interview, leaving a positive, lasting impression? ?How do you stand out from the pack?
Preparation around these and other critical questions can make the difference between landing your dream job and getting stuck in a boring job with no future. Why not plan to land the job of your dreams?
Robin Ogden has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recent Graduate, Affiliate Programs and Recent Graduate. About the AuthorRobin Ogden is a founder of FiredUP Careers, a career coaching company focusing on career products and services for professionals who wish to stay aligned with their careers, achieve success and truly dig what they do. For more informatio. Robin Ogden's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.