I'm Out of Work, I Need a Job
Custom Search
Winning the Job Interview
Although people go to school for many reasons, one of the most important reasons people continue their education beyond the compulsory age is the hope for a good job. A person with only a high school education faces very limited employment prospects, and is likely to spend his or her entire life struggling to make enough to survive. By attaining a college degree, one finds a broader range of opportunities and better compensation which can make it possible to actually live instead of just existing from day to day, paycheck to paycheck.
But in time one's schooling ends and it is time to face the real world, which means the perils of job-hunting. Finding a job is not easy in these tough economic times, and that goes double for getting the one you want, rather than just one to endure over gritted teeth. Because both unemployment and underemployment are growing social problems, competition for open positions is extremely stiff and it is no longer sufficient to be just good enough to meet the stated qualifications for the job.
However, these statistics should not be taken as indicators of a hopeless situation. Employers are hiring, and young people do have a chance even in a job market flooded with older and more experienced workers who have been laid off from jobs they have held for years. In fact, many employers actually seek out younger workers because they are perceived as having fresher skills and being less set in their ways of doing things. In addition, new graduates can be hired for less than people with years of experience.
As a result, many companies come to job fairs held on college and university campuses and seek to make contact with people who are about to finish their education. Because these job fairs will draw thousands of people, it may seem difficult or impossible to get the job you want by going to them. However, improving your strategies for dealing with a job fair can result in increased chances of getting an interview with the company you want to work for. Far too many people regard job fairs as a place to hand out resumés and hope for good luck. In doing so, they set themselves up for failure. By being proactive and presenting yourself in the best possible way, you have the opportunity to sell yourself to twenty or more promising companies in just a couple of hours.
First, make sure that your resumé shows you in the best possible light. It should be clear and concise, with strong active verbs describing your responsibilities positively to show you as a proactive, take-charge person. Although your resume cannot win you a job by itself, it can make a prospective employer interested enough in you as a potential employee to take the time to interview you.
Second, make sure to present yourself in the best possible way. Although it may be tempting to not worry about your appearance if you are just making your way through a roomful of booths and picking up information, this can be a grave mistake. If you do encounter someone from a company you are interested in, that person may well remember you when it comes time to decide who to call back for interviews. So be sure to dress professionally, neither too flashily nor too drably. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression.
Finally, when you do get a call for an interview, make sure to be on time and prepared. Find out as much as you can about the company as soon as you know you will be interviewing with its representatives. Be ready to show your knowledge of its business and ask intelligent questions about the role of your job in it.
By keeping these points in mind, you will be able to make the most of job fairs and get an interview that you will be able to ace.
