C A R E E R’ S
– Stephanie Make sure you don’t just research the company as a whole. Think about what you’ll need to know
about your potential supervisor(s) and the role itself.
Then, ask yourself, “How can I eloquently show that I
know these details in my interview?”
3. Not Handling Difficult Questions About Previous Job History Well
I had a job interview once in which my interviewer was
not convinced I was interested in his company’s work.
Because my resume had a lot to do with sexuality activism and writing, he was convinced I would be bored with
no clients related to that field. I tried countless ways to
show him that I was interested in expanding my horizons
as a young professional, but to no avail.I wish I had said
more clearly in the interview why my past experiences
had given me skills that spanned into multiple career
paths. Even though I didn’t perform perfectly in the interview, I knew I was being judged for my slightly scandalous resume that said ‘sex’ all over it. I knew that someone who didn’t trust my word and was hung up about my
interest in sexuality was not the right boss for me.
– Gwen As Gwen learned, trying to show hiring managers and potential employers that your skills from one job
or industry are transferable in another can be tricky. How
can you go about showing that these skills can apply,
even though they may seem unrelated on the surface?
First, be honest in acknowledging that your previous
jobs aren’t necessarily the same thing as the role you’re
applying for. Then, be clear about the skills you bring to
the table (make sure they relate back to the job listing)
and provide at least one or two concrete examples that
prove your point. Here’s what this answer looks like in
practice: “On the surface, it may look like being a receptionist is different than being an account relationship
manager. However, both roles call for someone who
effectively forms bonds, manages expectations and
requests from others and is extremely organized at all
times. During my time as a receptionist, I had to keep
track of our office logistics, interact with clients over
the phone and in person and make sure the office as a
whole ran smoothly.”
4. Getting Psyched Out Before The Interview
Even Begins
My biggest job interview regret would have to be getting
overly anxious. When I [get] anxious, I [wind] up talking in circles and sounding far less articulate. It’s something I’ve always struggled with while being interviewed
for jobs, and [it] has definitely cost me a job opportunity
or two that would have been great experience to have
under my belt. The instance that stands out in my mind
would have to be the day I interviewed at a well-known
magazine compa