It's About Us - Teen Employment Resources

How to RULE at Your
Job Interview

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		Do your research. Find out everything you can about the company you have applied to work for. Many company's have a corporate website that will outline company history, current projects, customer relations, and often contain an Annual Report and company structure. Read and learn as much as you can. This will give you an advantage when you're being interviewed because it shows you have taken the time to find out about the company. It shows you care. It will also give you a bit of inside information - like who your boss would be, what kind of projects you would be working on and may even reveal the roll your interviewer plays in the company. Having this information will allow you to tailor your responses to questions, showing to the interviewer that you have skills that the company needs.

		The second step is to prepare answers to the common questions asked at interviewers. If you've been to an interview before, you'll know the type of things I'm talking about. Questions often asked include: Why do you want to work for our company? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? How would you describe yourself? Are you a team player or do you work better individually? What skills do you have that would benefit our company? Tell me about yourself? What do you like to do outside of work hours? These kinds of questions are asked at just about every interview in some form or another. It is wise to prepare answers to these questions so when you are asked "what are your weaknesses" you can answer the question thoughtfully rather than saying "gee, I don't know, I've never thought about it" - that answer just shows that you don't have a very in-depth understanding of your skills or your personal strengths. A good response is to say "Well, some people had said that I can be a bit quiet, but at the same time, I'm a good listener and a dedicated staff member, so sometimes that can be mistaken as being 'quiet', but I know I have to work on being a little more outgoing." Something like that. Likewise, think about your strengths. Perhaps your flexible, punctual, hardworking, dedicated, honest, reliable, friendly, outgoing, a quick learner, loyal etc Pick character traits that really do represent who you are.

		The clothes you wear to your interview will create a strong first impression. If you wear the right clothes, you will be perceived in a more positive light by your interviewer. But if you wear clothes that are inappropriate for the type of job you would be doing, you will almost certainly lose the job. Your appearance says a lot about how you feel about yourself. The right clothes will help the interviewer to take you seriously - because you have taken the time to take the interview seriously by dressing appropriately. For both men and women, the safest look for an interview is to opt for conservative clothes. Make sure you buy one or two outfits that are suitable for an interview. There's nothing worse than turning up in clothes that look like they've come from mother's, father's or best friend's wardrobe.

		Now that you've done your research, prepared answers to likely questions and got your outfit right, you're ready for the interview. Because of all your hard work the interview should go well. But there are still a few things to remember. Be friendly with the interviewers but not over-the-top. Return a firm, but not harsh, handshake and be polite at all times. Don't tell any silly jokes or make smart remarks. Instead, look at the interviewers when they are talking to you and be an active listener. Answer the questions succinctly and logically. You want to come across as a warm, friendly, capable person.

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