Personal Advancement
Don't call us, we'll call youCongratulations, new graduate, you landed your first interview. But don't expect that shiny new degree, or even your resume, to do all the talking for you. |
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 [ 2007-05-23 ] |
© 2007 Jupiterimages Corporation
You'll stand out from the pack by following a few simple tips, according to Barbara Pachter, author of New Rules at Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead.
- Be prepared. Know how to relate your relevant experience, including from school clubs or summer jobs. Think of examples ahead of time, Pachter said.
- Make a strong first impression. Wear a suit, turn off your cellphone and for goodness' sake, don't chew gum. "It's more than just clothes. Do you look the person in the eye? Do you shake hands?" she said.
- Fake it until you feel it. Behave confidently even if your knees are knocking; your interviewer won't know the difference.
- Send a thank you note. Sounds simple, but even a small touch can set you apart.
- Accept an interview even if you don't want the job. You'll gain valuable practice and a better position might become available at the company.
FROM HIRE TO FIRE
Now it's your turn, employers. Your inbox is flooded with resumes from eager new grads, so how do you hire the right one? Or at least avoid hiring the wrong one?
Most importantly, know what kind of personality and skills you need. You might be tempted to hire the smooth talker, but the quiet, meek candidate might be better suited to the position, said Ruth Haag, author of Hiring and Firing.
Read resumes carefully to weed out weak candidates; for example, if you've had to fire graduates from a certain school or training institution in the past, don't hire another one, Haag said.
No matter how honed your screening process, you might still have to hand out a pink slip.
First, be sure you did everything possible to help the employee succeed, such as provide proper training and equipment. Then, have a one-on-one meeting to explain specifically where the employee falls short and give them two weeks to shape up.
If things still don't change, follow through and bring down the ax, Haag said. "Keep them any longer and it poisons the staff," she said. Finally, dive back into that stack of resumes.
How many hours a week do you work?