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Career Tips

Interview Skills

Why Should I Hire You?

Most job interviews are focused on this question: Why should I hire you? The interviewer may never ask the question directly, but believe it. The question is always in the back of the interviewer’s mind.  Your job then is to be prepared to answer the question even when it isn’t asked. You have to convince the interviewer that you are the best applicant for this job. To do this, you need to do some research. Find out all you can about the company and the specific job you are applying for. What skills are most important in order to do well in this job? Do you have those skills? If not, talk about your ability to learn new things. Tell about a time when you had to train for a job and how that went. Think about ‘soft skills’, such as your ability to get along with others, to work as part of a team, to communicate with others, and to be motivated to do the best job possible. Be prepared to give examples. Convince the interviewer that you have lots to offer the company. End the interview with a firm handshake and a thank you. Good luck.

Knowing Where to Go

You might think you know where to go for the interview, but check for sure. Call the office and confirm the address. Be sure you know the name of the person you are meeting. If you’re not familiar with the address, use tools like GPS, Google Maps, etc. Do not be late for an interview and do not bring anyone with you to this meeting. You don’t have to be an hour early for an interview, but do arrive at least 10 minutes early.  

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When you step inside for your interview, identify yourself:  name and why you are there.  Be sure you know the name of the person you are meeting. Have your resume handy. It’s normal to feel nervous before an interview. Take a deep breath or two and remind yourself that you are the person for this job! Good luck.

Personal Qualities Matter

How do people describe you? Are you kind, helpful, energetic, someone who “would give you the shirt of his back”? Or are you grouchy, hard to get along with, always late, a ‘know-it-all’?  Which type of person would you most like to work with? Consider your personal qualities and think about how you can be the person that people would like to work with. It’s never too late to change the way you relate to others. Be the best person you can be. That might get you a job and promotions. Good luck.

Present Yourself as Professional

The first bit of information a prospective future employer has about you may be your email address. Better make sure it is professional. Swiggums won’t do for an email name! The same can be said for your Facebook posts. You might want to clean some things up. Remember that if something is posted online, others can access it, even future employers. You want to project the most positive, most professional image that you can. The same can be said regarding how you present yourself at an interview. Be clean, neat, and put together. Get a haircut or a trim. Wear your best. No need for a three piece suit, but a nice pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt with a collar will impress the interviewer a lot more positively than ragged jeans, flip flops, and a dirty tee shirt.  

​Job Searching

Use Online Resources

Most job openings are now listed online. A good online site is Indeed.com. On Indeed.com, you can search for jobs in your area, apply for jobs, post your resume, etc. When you search for jobs, you will be able to read a job description, find out what the job pays, and learn how to apply for it. This is a good site to use for posting your resume so that you can access it easily when you do future job searches.  

Maine Career Center

All services at the various Maine Career Centers are free and all of the centers have comprehensive websites. You can do an interest inventory online, search for jobs, learn about training opportunities, and find career fairs listed. If you register on Joblink, you can look for jobs, post your resume, and receive job alerts. The Career Center in our area is located in Springvale at 9 Bodwell Court. The phone number is 207 324 5460. The website for the Maine Career Centers is www.mainecareercenter.com. You will find all the resources you need at the Career Center to help you with your job search. Their free publication, Job Hunting in Maine: Putting the Pieces Together, includes lessons on how to construct a resume, how to interview successfully, and more.

Other

How do people describe you? Are you kind, helpful, energetic, someone who “would give you the shirt of his back”? Or are you grouchy, hard to get along with, always late, a ‘know-it-all’?  Which type of person would you most like to work with? Consider your personal qualities and think about how you can be the person that people would like to work with. It’s never too late to change the way you relate to others. Be the best person you can be. That might get you a job and promotions. Good luck.

Other

The first bit of information a prospective future employer has about you may be your email address. Better make sure it is professional. Swiggums won’t do for an email name! The same can be said for your Facebook posts. You might want to clean some things up. Remember that if something is posted online, others can access it, even future employers. You want to project the most positive, most professional image that you can. The same can be said regarding how you present yourself at an interview. Be clean, neat, and put together. Get a haircut or a trim. Wear your best. No need for a three piece suit, but a nice pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt with a collar will impress the interviewer a lot more positively than ragged jeans, flip flops, and a dirty tee shirt.  

Networking

Who You Know Is Important

Networking means reaching out to connect with people who could help you with your job search. These people might work for the company where you want to work. They might have the same type of job you want. They might know other people who could help you. Who you know can matter.  Think of yourself as a detective. Think of all the people who might be able to help you, such as parents, friends, relatives, teachers, etc. You’re trying to answer the question:  How can I get a job at this company?  When you talk with any of your network folks, have a list of questions written down that you want to ask.  Write down the answers. It’s easy to forget what someone said. Be sure to thank the people who help you. 

Good luck.

Networking Events

All services at the various Maine Career Centers are free and all of the centers have comprehensive websites. You can do an interest inventory online, search for jobs, learn about training opportunities, and find career fairs listed. If you register on Joblink, you can look for jobs, post your resume, and receive job alerts. The Career Center in our area is located in Springvale at 9 Bodwell Court. The phone number is 207 324 5460. The website for the Maine Career Centers is www.mainecareercenter.com. You will find all the resources you need at the Career Center to help you with your job search. Their free publication, Job Hunting in Maine: Putting the Pieces Together, includes lessons on how to construct a resume, how to interview successfully, and more.

Other

How do people describe you? Are you kind, helpful, energetic, someone who “would give you the shirt of his back”? Or are you grouchy, hard to get along with, always late, a ‘know-it-all’?  Which type of person would you most like to work with? Consider your personal qualities and think about how you can be the person that people would like to work with. It’s never too late to change the way you relate to others. Be the best person you can be. That might get you a job and promotions. Good luck.

Other

The first bit of information a prospective future employer has about you may be your email address. Better make sure it is professional. Swiggums won’t do for an email name! The same can be said for your Facebook posts. You might want to clean some things up. Remember that if something is posted online, others can access it, even future employers. You want to project the most positive, most professional image that you can. The same can be said regarding how you present yourself at an interview. Be clean, neat, and put together. Get a haircut or a trim. Wear your best. No need for a three piece suit, but a nice pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt with a collar will impress the interviewer a lot more positively than ragged jeans, flip flops, and a dirty tee shirt.  

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