All Blood Tests

Knowing where to start in the job arena, and it is an arena out there, can be a daunting and stressful experience. What do I wear? How’s my hair? Do I wear my nose ring or not? What skills do I really have? Are they skills they are looking for? What’ll they ask me?

All valid questions, but the answers are not as difficult as you might think. Let’s take one at a time. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on interviewing for most any office position.

1. The resume. I am a corporate recruiter. I do not read cover letters, mostly because they all say he same thing. “I feel as though my superior customer skills and attention to detail would make me an asset to any company.” Who cares. Everybody says some version of the same statement. Unless you have something really relevant and out of the ordinary to say, don’t say it.

Don’t list every single job you have ever had, especially if you have worked for temp agencies. Simply state that you worked for the FGH Agency from 1996-1998. If they want more details, they will ask.

Never hand write a resume or cover letter. I have seen more than one resume come through hand written on lined, spiral notebook paper, torn from the book with ‘chads’ and all. (I always wanted to use that word!)

You do not have to pay someone to write a resume for you, and I would not suggest using a template resume from a computer program unless you really know how to do it. Be sure to take advantage of your local state career office. They will help you put together a professional and meaningful resume.

2. Make sure to work Skills. If you have a computer at home and are able to surf the net and write n occasional letter, you do not have computer skills. Again, your local career center or library runs classes either free of charge or for a small fee. The programs you need to know are included in the Microsoft Office Suite. Note that MS Office isn’t a program unto itself, but a group of programs in a bundle. If the interviewer asks what software you have used, and you say “Microsoft Office, Word, some Excel, Internet Explorer,” you have already demonstrated that you don’t know enough.

The core programs you ought to know in any office environment are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, of course Internet Explorer, and sometimes Power Point. Make certain to take the classes, borrow beginner training books from the library. Make certain your typing is up to snuff. These skills alone will almost guarantee you a better, higher compensating job.

Learn how to use office equipment such as faxes, copiers, printers, mail meters, and learn the basics of filing and general office etiquette. Again, there are great resources out there at a career center, a library, or on the net. Volunteer to work as an intern a few days or nights per week to see how a real office runs.

3. Customer Service Skills. If you don’t have these, don’t bother. Most companies would rather hire and train someone who demonstrates great customer service skills, than hire the person with superior office skills, but could not get along with a twig. Do not misunderstand what customer service is all about either. If you don’t know, there are three different types of customers:

Internal Customers, who are your peers.

Vendors, with whom you place orders with, deliver paper, fill the snack machine, repair the copier, vacuum the floor, etc.

Then there are external customers who include everybody else, and this is where it gets interesting. Your external customers keep you in business by purchasing the product and/or services your company provides.

But did you know that they also include the coffee shop person in the lobby, the elevator attendant, the desk security person, the waiter at your favorite lunch spot, the hot dog guy, and the newspaper lady? Yes, these people are customers too, as they have the potential to become future customers, or may be in a position to help you get new customers. Think about that for a moment…Done? Okay.

Part of customer service means that you go out of your way, sincerely, to say “Good morning!” or whatever time it happens to be. Be sure to put smile ob your face as you say this, as you talk with anyone, and even when you are on the phone…the difference is astounding. Listening to your customers when they have issues, compliments, requests or even short anecdotes, within reason of course. Customer service can be picking up a newspaper someone dropped, bringing in a plate of cookies once in a while, and remembering birthdays.

The main rule of customer service is to treat others the way you’d want to be treated.

3. Don’t be too cool for school. Your potential employer will probably not be impressed by your tattoo or earring. Nor will they appreciate street slang or silly handshakes. Untied sneakers with baggy pants and shirt hanging out. For women, don’t plaster on the make up, bathe in perfume or use a bottle of hairspray. Gum chewing, short skits, tight pants, stiletto heels, cleavage and too much jewelry won’t get you the job. The employer is always cooler than you are. remember that they might be giving you a job?

Look in business magazines or at people coming in and out of office buildings. Notice what they are wearing for the most part, and go for that look. If you can’t afford a suit or business clothing, go to the thrift store or borrow form someone. There really isn’t a valid excuse. Men, remove any body jewelry, and cover any ink. Woman, go easy on perfume and makeup, were a minimal amount of jewelry, and never wear any clothing the might be provocative.

4. Slang. No matter how cool your interviewer may be, never underestimate them. Never think that they will be okay with being called “dawg” “dude” “buddy” “pal” sweetie” “honey” etc.

Also watch the bad grammar. I recently asked for interview notes from a manager and asked how he liked the person. “She was very pleasant, had the skills we need, but kept on saying things like ‘youse guys’ and mispronouncing common words.” The manager couldn’t use her because she would be making copies in a major law firm, and the attorneys would pick up on that. In some cases it is the silly things that you don’t expect that will make or break you.

There are many good books out there which delve much deeper into the art of surviving an interview. I suggest that you use some of this unemployed time not just looking for work, but reading, acquiring and brushing up on skills.

5. Be prepared for questions. Most interviewers today use a method of interviewing called “Behavioral Interviewing.” It is a technique that is guided by the principle that past performance is the best measure of future performance.

They will go over your resume, but will also ask questions such as “You left FGH Inc. because of a management change. Can you tell me more about that and why it affected you?”

or “Are you able to tell me about a time when you were really busy and getting behind in your work? What did you do in that situation?” There are many questions such as these, but just be ready to tell stories rather than answer questions. If you can’t think of one at work, tell one about real life. If all that fails, tell what you would do in that situation. It seems very uncomfortable at first, but really does get easier as you move along.

6. Be straight. Do not lie on your resume or in person. If you don’t have a degree, don’t put it down. If you never reached that $1 million dollar sales goal, don’t bother. These things always follow you around.

Another thing that I don’t understand, is that you will be asked outright if you agree to a drug test, background check, automobile check (if job requires driving) or even a credit check (for banking or finance jobs) If you don’t think you can pass any of these, please let the interviewer know. There may be some way around certain checks, but it’s a waste of your time, the interviewer’s time, and the company’s money if you know that you’ll never pass the drug test, for instance.

There you have it. Just a few pieces of information that may help you land that great job, and not be so intimidated by the interview process. Remember, that you don’t need a formal education or a degree to get a good paying, respectable job. It just takes learning, persevering, improving yourself, and a positive attitude. I’ve seen it and I know that it’s true.