| Graduates should prepare for interviews By David Uffington They got the grades, and they got the degree. But will new graduates get the job? Chances are that a bad case of nerves sets in every time the subject of interviewing comes up. Barbara Pachter, business etiquette expert, has written a guide to help your graduate enter the business world. "When the Little Things Count ... And They Always Count" (Marlowe & Co., $13.95) offers 601 tips that everyone in business needs to know. The interview is the biggest obstacle to getting a job, mostly because new grads don't have the experience to fight the nerves that everyone feels. Pachter offers these tips: Have your stories ready. Think of examples from previous work you've done, and be ready to offer them when you answer questions in the interview. Role play ahead of time. Friends and family will be able to point out any nervous gestures you might have. Read books about business leaders. Mentioning a particular leader's way of solving a problem shows that you've thought ahead of time about how you might do the same. Wear a suit, even if the company has a casual dress policy. For a job that isn't corporate, slacks or a skirt will do, but keep it neat. Adapt to the work environment. No gum chewing, no cell phone and no multiple piercings. Shake hands twice when you arrive and when the interview is over. If others are in the room, make sure to shake the hand of everyone present. Be enthusiastic. Smile, answer the questions clearly and sit up straight. Be proactive, not passive. Let your demeanor show that you want the job. Fake it until you feel it. Act confident, even if you're nervous. Eventually you really will feel more confident. Send thank you notes to each person who interviewed you. No e-mail. Give it a personal touch and send a handwritten note. Learn from each interview. Can you improve anything? What questions were asked, and how did you answer them? For more tips or a copy of Pachter's newsletter, Competitive Edge, go to www.pachter.com. Click on Newsletter for back issues or to subscribe. Scroll to the bottom of any newsletter for information on ordering the book. Write to David Uffington in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or send e-mail to letters.kfws@hearstsc.com. (c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc. |
