Okay, I am sure you have a smirk on your face right now as you read my title. “Graduating College is like leaving a Party Early,” is one the most recognized college quotes I have seen. As I creep up to graduation, signs of reality are sinking in. Reality hit me when my parents got me a book for Christmas called The Everything Get-A-Job Book. The book provides the tools and strategies you need to land the job of your dreams.
What I like about this book is that it relates to all job seekers. Whether you are a recent college graduate or someone seeking a different job, the book covers all avenues. Learning from my PR professors and my experience from past interviews, a great deal of catching a job is the success of the interview. Of course, an impressive portfolio and college diplomat is essential; however, college students are notoriously inexperienced with interviewing. It makes sense; these people have been in school most of their lives. While employers may expect limited experience, they still expect you to prove yourself through, especially if you are applying for a PR position. A career in public relations is focused around relationships and communicating with people from almost every angle. Here are some interview tips I found helpful from the book:
Try to check out the interview site beforehand. This includes knowing how to get there so you are not late. Never show up for an interview late, it shows you are irresponsible and do not care about landing the job.
Arrive at least fifteen minutes early. The last thing you want to do is undermine your opportunity to make a good first impression.
Make sure your communication skills are up to par. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to communicate clearly, intelligently and professionally. Avoid using filler words such as “um” or “like.”
Do not lie about your GPA. Some employers ask for this information and others do not. Either way, if they do ask, tell the truth because it may be revealed later through your transcripts. However, if your GPA does not reflect your abilities, mention other impressive statistics that will intrigue them.
To learn more about interviewing tips, check out Dr. Tiffany Derville’s blog: TiffanyTips
Thanks for linking to me, Sonya! You mentioned a great tip about eliminating filler words. The best thing to do is to start practicing now. In place of filler words, try pausing. It took me about six months to really get this down, but it does work. As a bonus, when you’re silent, you can sound as is you are deep in thought! Speaking slowly also gives you time to know what you’ll say next.