Work It!
Nailing the job interview, from resume writing to sealing the deal.
by Cindy Haygood

TWEENS & TEENS News May/June 2008

Sarah Hanna remembers her first job interview. She was 15 years old and sat in the corner booth of the Chick-fil-A. She had dressed carefully, wearing a striped shirt, black dress pants and closed-toed black high heels. Hanna had applied a little lipstick. More importantly, however, she smiled, she listened, she spoke honestly.
Hanna got the job.

The interview “was definitely an eye opener,” says Hanna, now an 18-year-old high school senior who balances four jobs. Hanna still works at Chick-fil-A, but also gives tennis instruction, helps out at an afterschool program for elementary school students and teaches youth etiquette in Athens, Georgia.

These days, Hanna is the one catching glimpses of interviews in the corner booth, and she can tell that not everyone is going to get the job.

“What I’ve seen is nervousness, a tendency to ramble,” Hanna says, dually noting the too casual air of some prospects. “I’ve seen some people kind of laying back on the booth.”

Are you ready to seek employment? You’re not alone. According to the United States Department of Labor, every year millions of teenagers work at part-time or summer jobs.
Don’t worry if you’re nervous about the interviewing process; that’s normal. “To a certain extent, you’ll always be nervous and have butterflies,” says Michael Finnerty, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Georgia, “if it’s something you really want.”

How do you get over your anxiety and stay sharp come interview time? Take a deep breath and check out these job-getting techniques.

Before you begin
It might be your first job interview, but you should still create a resume.

“You have to sell yourself,” says John Kitchens, a human resources manager in Georgia who has been interviewing job applicants since 1989. “What do you have to offer?”

Kitchens recommends that your resume start with your objective. Also, list your educational history. Mention your GPA and perhaps specific classes you’ve taken. Include your special skills and talents, as well as any community volunteer work you’ve done. Finally, proofread your resume and make sure you can explain anything you’ve written down.

As you write your resume, think about the image it projects. If your current e-mail address sounds too personal, create a new work-specific address. Confirm that the message on your voicemail is clear and concise. And don’t forget your blog and Internet profiles on sites like MySpace. Think twice before posting negative or professionally unacceptable photographs or commentary— you never know who’ll look you up online.
While you’re online, research the company for which you’re interviewing. It might impress your future boss, and you’ll likely learn whether the company seems a good fit for you.

Don’t forget the details! Plan your outfit for the interview ahead of time and clean out your car. If the front door of the office is mere feet away from your parking space, you don’t want to be seen making your grand entrance with a stray gym sock trailing you.

At the interview
Ah, the big day. Rise and shine, and arrive at the interview ten minutes early to ensure a timely arrival. Also, you may have to fill out forms before meeting with a potential employer.

The parking attendant and secretary might not be the ones deciding whether to hire you, but they may weigh in on the decision. Consider everyone affiliated with the office as the gatekeepers and treat them respectfully.

Well, you’re there...now what? Introduce yourself by first and last name, and make eye contact. And smile. It’s really that simple! Now that your mouth is doing its job, what about the rest of your body? Project confidence by keeping your arms uncrossed, sitting up straight and shaking hands with the interviewer when he or she comes to greet you. Remind yourself who’s running the show, and let the person interviewing you show you where to sit.

Managers are sometimes young, perhaps hardly older than yourself. As they’re still the employers, treat the professional relationship with respect— even if you know you’ll see your interviewer the next day at school.

During the interview, you’re asked questions because the interviewer wants to learn about you and hear you talk. It’s a good idea to practice talking aloud the day before the interview. Do you mumble, use incomplete sentences or blurt awkward phrases? For the actual thing, it’s fine to slow down and briefly contemplate your answer before answering questions. In fact, it shows you are thoughtful.

Listening is just as important as talking. Pay attention to the questions and answer them directly. Also, use the interviewer’s name when responding. If you don’t know the answer to the question, say so. Your honesty will be appreciated.

When you leave, thank the interviewer for his or her time, and express your sincere interest in the position.

Follow up
To help your interviewer remember you, send a thank-you note by e-mail or— if you really want to impress the person— by mailing a handwritten card.

“If I interview ten people, I might get three,” says Kitchens, regarding thank-you notes. “[Sending a note] goes a long way... It shows they’re following up if nothing else.”

The note itself doesn’t need to be overly long or gushy, but do include a specific sentence about what you learned or enjoyed during the interview.

Ready?
Of course you are! Life is all about adapting to new scenarios, and it’s satisfying to know you’re flexible and adventurous enough to jump start your career.

Once You’re In
Congratulations! You’ve got the job. Keep it with the following tips.

•Listen. Remembering what was said the first time means you don’t have to ask your boss to repeat tasks later. If you need to, write things down.
•Refrain from indulging in personal activities, such as phone calls, text messages and e-mails to friends and family members, when on the job.
•Be punctual for work and after breaks. Arrange to take time off in advance.
•Learn the fine art of discretion. Use appropriate tones of voice for peers and superiors. Also, choose your words carefully, and be confident when you speak them.
•Adjust. Part of making it in the working world is taking constructive criticism well. Use comments to make self-improvements, and accept suggestions gracefully.

Clothes Call
A good rule of thumb is to dress like the position you want— or, aim big by dressing the part of the position above it. This might mean different things for different companies.

Before the interview, “Have a feel for the level of proper attire,” says Finnerty. He remembers interviewing for a camp counselor position during a weekend team-building exercise, and there was no suit or tie in sight.

Yet, whether you’re trying for a job at the local car wash or university, you must look professional.

•Check out “before and after” reality shows for some pointers on professional dressing, or for fresh ideas on using wardrobe garments in different ways.
•When it comes to color, think basics. You can’t go wrong with black, brown, navy and gray.
•Match socks, shoes and accessories. If you’re wearing a black belt, match it with black shoes.
•Leave the flip-flops and concert T-shirts at home. When in doubt, dress up, not down.
•Keep makeup and jewelry subtle. If you wear nail polish, choose clear or light-colored polish.
•Cleanliness is a virtue, and that goes for your fingernails, too.

Cindy Haygood, children’s etiquette consultant and educator, has written magazine articles as well as musicals geared for young adults. She is one of three co-owners of The Etiquette & Leadership Institute based in Athens, Georgia. The Etiquette & Leadership Institute is a leader in training and certifying etiquette consultants to prepare America’s youth to succeed in school, business and the local and global community. For further information, visit www.etiquetteleadership.com or call (888)769-5150, toll-free. Leadership Institute is a leader in training and certifying etiquette consultants to prepare America’s youth to succeed in school, business and the local and global community. For further information, visit www.etiquetteleadership.com or call (888)769-5150, toll-free.