A little background. I haven’t had a ‘real job’ for 12 years. The first 10 I was doing the ‘stay at home mom’ thing to my 4 kids. For the last 2 years I have done volunteer work for a non-profit. And although I wasn’t paid, the responsibilities were real and the work was important.
But now it’s time for a real, paying job, and I’ve got to admit the job market is tough for someone like me. But I have an interview on Friday! But I haven’t interviewed for a job in over a decade, and I’m looking for some pointers. The job is at a local college as a program coordinator. I think I would do well in the job, and would enjoy it.
But back to the interview: what to do and what not to do? Help!
Be cool! Be confident. Be positive. Have an idea of how to answer questions you KNOW they are going to ask (what are your strengths/weaknesses/goals). Think about your recent life experience and how it positively relates to skills needed at this new position. Never tell them you’ve been fired. If they ask about a negative work experience or person at a prior position you had trouble with, be honest but end with how it may have helped you grow as a workplace professional (or something similar).
You’ll do great!! Goodluck!
P.S. - know when to shut up! That means don’t ramble; answer the question and smile!
Come prepared with a few questions. Examples: Tell me what my typical day would be like? What do you consider the most challenging aspect of this position? Use this information to end the interview with a STRONG CLOSE where you say why you are a great fit and that you WANT the job. Over the past 2 years I’ve interviewed a lot of people and I’m always amazed how lackadaisical people are. Also, a lot of people ramble. It’s okay to take a second to come up with a response. Be concise and if you realize you are going on and on, stop.
Arrive 10 minutes early. Dress professionally. Watch the interviewer’s reactions to gauge whether (s)he wants more info or has heard enough. Don’t tell negative anecdotes about your prior work experience. Prepare a variety of questions about the position.
I think you or another Doper gave this advice in another thread once. Ask a couple of good questions about the challenges/needs of the job, then close with a concise and confident statement about how the X skills you possess will fill Y needs for the position. I took this advice when I applied for my dream job (program development for a nonprofit.) I said, ‘‘This is why I’m the best fit for the position. 1) I’m an excellent writer - here are some more writing samples if you are interested. 2) I have very strong research skills, so if you want to know something, I will find a way, 3) I know this community, I’ve worked in this neighborhood before and understand the needs of the people, and 4) I have a passion and commitment to addressing those needs as demonstrated by X Y Z experiences.’’
It boggles my mind that an applicant would even bring a cell phone into the building of a business they are interviewing for. But maybe I’m a touch paranoid.
Be prepared for a certain amount of negativity about your lack of work. You might be grilled a little on it, so have a few lines ready about your volunteering for the last few years, the rewarding nature of being a stay-at-home mom, whatever.
It may not come up at all of course, but a lot of people who have been out of work for a long time report the resume gap as a big hurdle.
When you’re talking about what you’ve been doing for the past 12 years, be realistic - focus on the volunteering you’ve done - if you try to contort being a stay at home mum with being the CEO of a big corporation, you’re going to look like a fool. (I interviewed a woman who did this - it was cringe worthy.)
Have some positive work stories ready - by positive I mean things like ‘at work we had problem X, I solved it by doing Y.’
Bring a proper list of references with you - make sure they are professional references - no one gives a crap if your friend Becky thinks your cupcakes are top drawer.
It was me, I am frequently shocked when we ask the candidate at the end of the interview, “So, do you have anything else you’d like to say?” and they say “no, that’s it.” Show some passion, show you want the job, tell me why you’ll be great at it! We’ve given you plenty of job info during the interview, are you smart enough to USE IT??
If you’re interviewing directly with the people you will be working with (as opposed to an HR person), remember they will be just as interested in the personality of the person they have to work with everyday, as they are your skill set. I tend to be just a tad more jovial and personal if I’m speaking with my future cow-orkers.
