Thirteen things to learn before entering the job market

I'm having issues with my newly graduated niece.  I was talking to a friend in our HR department and she was telling me about some of the interviews she's been conducting with the class of 2010 (and in some cases 2009).  I came up with this list.  I ran it by her and she said "GREAT!  As long as there are no names and so forth."

So, no names.  Here are thirteen things you need to know before entering the job market.

INTERVIEWS AND SUCH

1) No one "'owes" you a job because you have a new piece of parchment. 

Yes--it is often who you know.  But if you walk in to the interview acting like your [insert relative's name here] has promised you this job, you will turn the lovely HR people against you.  They will find a way to not give you this job--or if they do they will tell your [insert relative] what a jerk you were in interview.  Is that how you want to start out?

2) You are no longer a college student--don't dress like one.

Love your flip-flops?  Good--don't wear them for the interview.  That goes for T-shirts, tank tops (unless they are covered by a stylish blazer) oh...just go here.   Big no-no--that new suit looks great but make sure you've cut the tags off--otherwise the interviewer will wonder what else you miss. 

3) Thank You Notes are HUGE!

In this day of email, there is no excuse why the person who interviewed you shouldn't have a thank-you note in his/her email box when she/he gets to work in the morning.  No thank you note will usually equal no job offer.  If you meet with several people you send each one a separate thank you note--NO COPYING AND PASTING.  If you show how you go the distance before you get the job, the interviewers will imagine how you will be when you get the job.

4) Ask Questions

My HR friend said how disheartening it was that after what she thought was a great interview, the interviewee didn't ask any questions.  To her, it was like they weren't interested if they couldn't come up with one thing about the industry that they wanted to know more about.   That being said...

5) Ask the RIGHT Questions

Questions that were asked at (first) interviews my friend has conducted. (I mention that these were first interviews because some of these are appropriate at second and third interviews)

• How much vacation time do I get?
• Do I get only an hour for lunch?
• Will the company buy me a laptop/cell phone/etc? (This interview is about what you will do for the company.)
• How much sick time do I get?
• Does someone check on me if I call in sick?
• What is the policy on interoffice dating?
• Do I get an expense account?

6) For the love of Gd do not bring your pets on an interview. 

(This is not a service animal, this is like the little dog in Legally Blonde).  I laughed because I thought my friend was joking.  She wasn't--and it happened more than once. 

7) Ditto your children.

8) Turn off your cell phones

This does not mean put them on vibrate this means turn them--OFF.  DO NOT answer your cell phone or check your text messages during an interview.  (The only time this is acceptable is if there is an emergency.)

9) You know what is true or not--tell the truth.

They have your resume in front of you.  Did you graduate with a 3.5 or a 2.5?  Don't lie--it is easy to check.  Also google yourself.  Google any part of your resume you can and see if you have exaggerated too much.  

10) Do not eat or drink in the interview. 

My sweet D is the only one I know who bucked this rule and got the job.  That being said, he's a diabetic and if he didn't eat he'd have had a seizure.  The fact that the interviewer knew what to do was heartening as well.  

11) Mind your manners and your mouth.

Wait until offered a chair to sit down.  Shake hands.  Smile.  Do. Not. Swear.  It makes you look course.  Even if your interviewer swears, do not reply in kind.  

12) Treat everyone you meet with respect and courtesy.

You do not know who might be asked about their impression of you.  They might ask the receptionist, or their assistant.  If you treat them like peons, you will not get the job. 

13) Be self aware

Have you been interviewing a lot?  Not got that job yet?  Yes the market is the worst any of us have ever seen.  That being said, give yourself a run down after every interview to see if there was something you can do better for next time.  Make sure you are realistic, because sometimes it isn't them--it is you. 

What things would you tell someone new to the job hunt?

For more thursday thirteens go here.

Comments

[Deb]

Wow. I work with teenagers and I know they are bad, but some of those floored me. It's a bit of a worry if people don't understand things that are so basic.

[Brenda]

Great tips. Some are funny but true. Thanks.

[Heather]

Excellent advise! Something else they should remember is to be careful what they post online. More and more employers are googling applicants and checking out social networking sites. Be careful what you say about a company or its employees both before and after interviewing. Also, unless you're applying at a bar or strip club, risque photos and pics of drinking parties should NOT be posted.

[luna]

this is a great list. some really important advice here. (can't really remember my last interview, it was so long ago, but I do interview others often and always offer a drink and hope they take one because it shows they can be comfortable.)

for my last hire, every applicant I interviewed emailed me a thank you right away. except my first choice. I thought, how odd. two days later, a good old fashioned card arrived via snail mail. she was old school! loved it. hired her.

[Adelle Laudan]

I think I'll print this out for my girls. Some sound advice here. Happy T13!

[Rikki]

Great list. I can't believe people ask those questions at a first interview.

[Norma]

This is a great list--and believe it or not--some of these I recall from when I interviewed "young people" back in the 80s, who looked like they were refugees from their high school days in the 70s. Peasant blouses, sandals, long stringy hair, and no questions. Although no one brought a pet, I did see a lot of pet hair. No one brought a baby, but I did see baby spit up on shoulders.

http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2010/06/thursday-thirteen-13-buttons-pushed.html

[Willa]

I am in a search of job right now and your post is truly helping. :)

[Harriet]

No kidding! Great list :)

Have a great Thursday!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2010/06/want-to-get-famous-13-blog-tips/

[jehara]

Wow. Some of these are amazing. I can't believe someone would bring their dog to an interview. Or wear flip-flops.

[CountryDew]

Great list. I have heard such horror stories from other HR folks.

[Jia]

great advice!! though I hope more people than not wouldn't need to be told to not bring their pet along. LOL

[Kristen]

This is a great list; good for anyone of any age. It's hard to believe someone would bring a pet to an interview!

[Librarylady61]

Tell them if they submit a resume with countless spelling errors, poor grammar and incoherent off-topic babblings they won't even get to the interview. We routinely reject a lot of resumes because if they don't care enough to do it write, they won't do well in a library!

[Librarylady61]

And I turned to talk to my boss and hit "send" before proofreading what I wrote, and wrote "write" instead of "right". Embarrassing or Freudian? :D

[Holistic Health]

Really a great list.It will really help many.