Job Search and Interview Tips

Here's the awaited job search and interview tips post! I learned many things during my recent job search and I know there are so many people searching out there, I wanted to jot down advice from my experiences. I'm NO expert, just wanted to offer what I have learned.

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Finding/Applying for jobs

Use networking/social connection sites

• LinkedIn is a great site to re-connect with colleagues from college or previous jobs. It may surprise you the connections you may have at a company you're interested in. I also learned that you can follow companies on LinkedIn and see updates when jobs are posted. You'll also get e-mail updates on the companies you follow (as well as the people you connect with). Some companies even search profiles for qualified candidates for a position to fill, so keep your profile up to date.
•  See if your college has an alumni site (i.e. CySpace for Iowa State) to connect with people in your major, in the city you're looking for work, etc. 

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Resume

• Tweak your resume to be relevant to the position you're applying for. Read through the job description, and use some of those verbs or key words in your resume. 
• I was able to have my resume reviewed by the Iowa State Alumni Association - if you're part of your college's alumni association, this can be a great resource.
• Use action verbs 
• Keep it organized and easy to follow- many employers spend less than 30 seconds (if that!) on each resume
• I typically save mine as PDF when I'm finished so it freezes my formatting so the employer sees the same formatting when they open it.
• This site (among others) has resume tips

Cover Letter

• I know it isn't fun writing cover letters, but always submit one when possible. It really shows the employer who you are and what you have to offer. It's your chance to sell yourself and explain how your experiences would benefit their company. 
• Use key words/terms from the company's mission/values statement, as some employers may search electronically looking for specific words or phrases that are relevant to the position or company.
• This site (among others) has cover letter tips

Interview Preparations & The Interview:

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Phone interview 

• Sit tall and smile. I received this advice before my phone interviews for my new position and it made a big difference! The employer cannot see you, but they can still hear the confidence and smile in your voice. 
• Keep your resume, cover letter, and job description you're applying for in reach
• Practice the other tips below to be confident
• Here's a site I used for tips
  

Be prepared for the "tell me about yourself" question

• Typically, an employer wants to hear your professional background, what led you to the position and company, and what you have to offer. This is a great opportunity to sell yourself! Practice this out loud with a loved one to be comfortable answering this question with confidence.
• I used and liked this site to help me answer this question effectively

Research the company

• Know about the company's recent successes - take a look at a recent press releases, quarterly earnings, mission/values, history of the company, etc. You never know when the opportunity might present yourself to show your knowledge about the company. This could be incorporated in the question "Tell me why you would like to work for this company", or one of the questions you ask at the end of the interview. 
• Check out the company's website - they may have a page providing this information, and it's a good idea that you've toured their website for any beneficial information before the interview.

Practice "tell me about a time when..." scenarios

• I recommend to write out a variety of scenarios that might be asked in an interview. For example, "Tell me about a time you've faced a challenge and how you resolved it". Write out your answer and try using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result - more on that here). You can do the same with positive impacts you've had in previous roles, examples of team work, creative problem solving, and so on. This can depend on the role you're interviewing for as well. Here's a site I used with many practice questions and example answers.

 Have questions prepared for the end of the interview

• Asking questions at the end of a phone or in person interview is key. This re-affirms your interest in the company or job and is a great conversation piece. A few of my interviews were fairly "plain Jane" until we got to my questions, and many times, it opened up the interview and we could have a conversation.
• You may ask about difficulties of the position, opportunities for career growth, ask about recent initiatives, most importantly, ask a question you're interested in that applies to the job or company.
• This site has many sample examples to ask at the end of the interview

Wrap-Up Selling Point

• As the interview wraps up, rather than an awkward goodbye, it's a good idea to have a prepared statement re-emphasizing your qualifications and interest for the position and company. Depending on where it is comfortable, it may happen as finish at the table, as you stand and shake their hand, or walk from the office to your next destination.
• This site has great tips about halfway down the page and calls them 60 second commercials 
• Make it comfortable for you, it may not be necessary if you feel you've already wrapped up the interview well.

Thank you e-mail

• Write a brief e-mail to the interviewer thanking them for their time and re-emphasizing your abilities and interest in the position and company. Mine have generally been a bit more brief than this one (I combined a few of those), but here's an example from about.com:

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Other tips:

• Calm your nerves. Do whatever you need to do to calm your nervousness prior to the interview. If you seem very nervous, the employer may not be able to see your experience and abilities through your nerves. Try deep breathing, praying, listening to music or reading a magazine prior to the interview.
• Be confident. If you show confidence in yourself, the employer will hopefully see and believe you would be an asset to their team.
• Smile. Remember to smile and enjoy the conversation.

These are a few of my helpful hints from my experiences, but there are many great resources out there. Here are a few that I found to be helpful:

About.com Job Interview Tips

Target Interview Tips

The Ladders: Ways to chill out before, during, and after the interview

The Bottom Line

All that being said, here's the bottom line. You can't anticipate exactly what the interviewer will ask. Do your preparations, be confident in yourself and your abilities, and let yourself shine! That's the best you can do, and you'll learn from all of your experiences.

Do you have anything to add? If so, please share!