I just got an interview with the company of my dreams!
Snerks Gerks. I am now nervous and excited. This is my first interview since the disastrous literary agency one (where he pretty much said I should consider being a bookseller, for life) and to say this is a big deal is an understatement.
What to do? What to do? First thing, don't freak out. Secondly, prepare to rock this interview like my life is on the line. No pressure, right?
I scheduled it for this Monday to give me some preparing time. "How to land a job" pointers would be much appreciated as I have not been great in that department.
I'm excited. And freaking out. And pondering what I should wear and say. Oh damn, let the madness begin.
3 comments:
Yay! Okay, so: I'm a bad dresser in general, so I'll leave the clothing advice to someone else. :)
As for what to say: spend some time reading up on the position's requirements and qualifications. Figure out specific examples/experiences that meet the qualifications. If there are parts of the description you DON'T meet, be honest about that and think of ways you would compensate with what you already know.
Spend a little bit of time thinking about what makes you "you." It sounds dorky, but seriously, focusing on the unique aspects of your personality/strengths that make you better suited to the job than others helps a lot. I guess what I'm getting at is that you want to be confident about specifics, not enthusiastic about generalities.
The point is that you want to demonstrate a level of self-knowledge, of both strengths and weaknesses, and you want to be able to back up that knowledge with specific examples of past work experience. (Can you tell I've done a lot of mock interviews? :)
And you should be confident, because hey. The economy blows. A lot of people probably applied for the job, but they chose YOU to come in for an interview.
Thanks for the advice :)
I always get caught up in generalities. As I replay my past interviews over in my head, I can honestly say that I have never (fully) explained any specific examples of how I could manage the job.
In a nutshell I am great showcasing that I have personality and passion but not really the ability to perform the responsibilities of the job. Which I now know is why I have not landed anything.
The job is a sales coordinator position with an amazing production company. So i know my sales background (le sad store is useful for something) will be of use which seems to be hindering me a bit in the publishing world.
But yeah, I am totally excited about this opportunity. I just hope I can convey confidence and demonstrated skills in a manner that is unique yet professional. I'll let you know how everything goes! This is the most exciting news i've had in months :)
I second Perpetua's advice, and throw my own in:
LOOK THE PART. If you don't have one now, go buy a suit. Get low heels to wear with it. It's dress-up and it might feel wrong and weird, but it looks like you're very serious about this job, and know something about the working business world. You want to look professional now - they want to hire someone who knows what she's doing, not someone who looks like she's scared to death. So get a suit. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, it can be trousers and a jacket, but get one, and wear a button-down shirt with it. I KNOW that isn't your style. It's not anyone's style. But looks matter.
Second: Think of specific things you have done in your jobs to improve them. Think of specific things you bring to the table. Think of comparables: you may not have done XYZ, but you have done ABC, and here's how ABC will help you do XYZ.
Third: Don't complain or badmouth anyone or anything.
Fourth: You've worked at le sad store for ages now, and you've accumulated Work Experience. Not just doing what you're told, but having to think on your feet, make suggestions, handle situations. You've learned some things about working, and business, and how to sell shit (note: you've been there on the ground since that nook came out - you've seen first hand, and participated in, how a new tech trend develops. What have you learned, and how can you apply that to this job you're interviewing for? Again, specifics. If you try to think like a businessperson, you'll realize you've learned a lot about business and selling and customers and trends from le sad store. I know *I* did, and I was barely part-time.
Don't ask about pay or vacation or benefits, unless they begin to offer that info.
BUT do have one or two questions in mind, specific ones about the company or the job. It makes you look engaged.
I heartily second the advice Perpetua gives of confident specifics, rather than enthusiastic generalities. You have to sell yourself as a kind of product. BE the nook: why should anyone choose the nook over the kindle? or over a book?
Be confident. Exude confidence. Practice exuding confidence for the next three or four days. Head up, shoulders back, make eye contact. SMILE. Force yourself to be friendly and outgoing and go above & beyond. Every customer you interact with this weekend, treat as if they could be the person who makes the decision to give you this job.
Lots of universities and colleges have good links and advice for jobseekers about interviews: I'd recommend looking at a few of those, as well.
Most of all, know that you're kickass, that you're competent and smart and resourceful, and that you have a substantial cheering section behind you.
WOOT!! go get your suit and practice your confidence!!! (and seriously about the eye contact and chin up stuff. I tend to not do either, and people have pointed it out. It registers with others).
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