Chapter 7 Reading Reflection

Imagine that you're interviewing for a new job. Hopefully, you're dressed to impress and prepared to show the interviewer why you are a good fit for the job. You have about five minutes to sell someone you've never talked to before on why you're great and why they should hire you. Years and years of preparation and it all comes down to a small moment...

As illustrated by the example, interviews can be stressful situations. A lot is riding on an interview with a company for which you want to work. For that reason, it is essential to be prepared. Almost always, you have to send a resume to the company, which is the first opportunity to impress your potential employers. Resumes should be grammatically perfect and include your previous work experience, education, service, skills, and (depending on the situation) other interests or hobbies. Remember that this is a time to sell yourself! Don't lie, but make yourself sound as good as possible. 

In the interview itself, you must remember several key points:

1. Do your homework. Research the company before the interview to understand more details about its structure, mission, and history.

2. Be prepared and arrive on time. Nothing is more important than the first impression. If you arrive late, the interview has already started badly.

3. Dress appropriately and maintain good body language. Dress formally (unless told otherwise). Then, remember all the things your mother told you when you were a kid: make eye contact, smile, listen carefully, etc.

4. Speak with confidence and clarity. This is your chance to impress- take advantage of it! Don't dominate the interview, but elaborate on key points, giving thorough but concise explanations.

5. Give compelling answers. Imagine how boring it would be for an interviewer to go through the same process over and over, listening to the rehearsed answers of job candidates. You can make yourself stand out by giving creative answers and thinking outside the box.

Surprisingly, many of these points apply to giving an interview as well. It can also be added that interviewers should know when to ask more probing questions in order to gain more knowledge about the candidate. Also, each interviewee will be different. Interviewers must adjust, sometimes taking control of the interview and sometimes coaxing more information out of the interviewee.

After an interview, it is appropriate to send a brief follow-up letter, thanking the interviewer and giving the reminder that you are still interested in the job. 

Either for the resume or after the interview, recommendation letters are often requested. Go to people you trust and with whom you have a good relationship to write your recommendation. Also, it is helpful to give the person a few details, such as the company and job position to which you are applying. This allows the person writing the recommendation letter to be more informed and write a more specific recommendation.

These employment communications are essential in the business world. Everyone, at some point in their life, will have to create a resume, be interviewed, interview someone else, and seek employment. Remember that practice and preparation are the keys to success.