Before we get the ball rolling, let me just greet all the graduates this year. Congratulations, graduates!! :) I can imagine the happiness you guys feel now that you have that inaasam asam na diploma. I’ve been there, I know the roller coaster ride you have to go through so you can wear the most beautiful OOTD you will most probably have, your toga. So c’mon guys, give yourselves a pat on the back *pat pat pat :) Now that you’ve earned a degree, it’s time to move on to your life’s next chapter. Some of you may choose to rest for a while before stepping out to the real world I call jungle. Some may still be busy at di pa tapos ang kalbaryo to review for an upcoming board exam. Some may be a little lucky to already have a job waiting for them but, MAJORITY of you will surely be on your job hunting stage. Perhaps that’s the reason why you’re here :) Suggested post before you continue reading this: Job Application Tips For Fresh Job Hunters After reading the suggested post ↑, let me help you further with these 7 tips on how to perform well in a job interview. 1. Do Yourself Justice - Give a good first impression by arriving at least 10-15 minutes earlier than your scheduled interview. This time would be enough for you to log your details in the reception area, calm yourself, and visit the restroom if needed. - Never lie to your interviewer and DON’T be arrogant. Remember, there’s a border between arrogance and confidence that most people fail to distinguish. - Bring at least 3 to 4 copies of your updated and well written resume. HR recruiters and/or manager may need a number of copies for documentation purposes. Make sure to place them in a professional looking folder or envelope. It’s just so unfortunate that up to this day, there are still candidates who submit creased resume. 2. Establish Rapport With Your Interviewer - The relevance of building a rapport with your interviewer is non negotiable since this plays a huge role in determining whether they would like to do business with you or not. - As a recruiter, I appreciate candidates who ask “How are you Jen?” after I introduce myself. It actually feels good that someone took time to check how am I doing after conducting series of interviews. Though I know most of them don’t mean it, haha I still appreciate it :) Also, do offer a firm hand shake. I repeat, FIRM hand shake. Lastly, don't forget to put a pleasant smile on your face (^_^) It’s mostly difficult not to reciprocate a pleasant smile, trust me :) 3. Do Not Apologize For Being Nervous - I often hear candidates say “I’m sorry ma’am, I’m nervous”. Doing this may make you look and sound less confident. Hey, recruiters and employers are humans too. They know and understand that it's normal and totally okay to be nervous. You did nothing wrong so stop saying sorry. Instead, just do your best to step up your game and make sure your nervousness won’t eat your brain :) - Now if saying “I’m nervous” would help you ease your nerve, then by all means, say it without apologizing. Most of the time, recruiters would help you loosen up and may instruct you to "breathe in and breathe out", at least that’s what I normally do :) 4. Do Not Speak Negatively About Yourself - Aside from the very obvious fact that pessimism isn’t a very appealing character for a future employee, think of who else would tell you how smart and good looking you are aside from your parents. Well, it’s none other than Y.O.U. :) Kidding aside, please avoid using the words ONLY, NOT, CANNOT when describing who you are and what you can do. For example: A. [-] "I am only an undergraduate” or “I only finished a vocational course" Guys, not all are given the opportunity to go to school so just be thankful. [+] “I finished three years in college” or “I completed a vocational course of…” B. [-] “I am not good in sales, but I’m willing to learn and improve” Though you stressed out your willingness to learn, it would still sound better this way: [+] “I have challenges in selling but I’m willing to learn and improve” C. [-] "I cannot do that, it’s difficult" Instead, [+]“That can be difficult but I’ll do my best to learn” It’s all about the word play, guys (insert Jason Mraz’s song ♪♪♫ ) just always try to sound positive, it does make a difference :) 5. Be Prepared With Answers For Possible Questions - This simply means do your research. Know the job description and know yourself. It sounds crazy but a number of individuals still do not know themselves i.e. their strengths and weaknesses. Remember, you can surely make yourself standout if you know your selling point. - Keep in mind that aside from the company and the position you are applying for, most, if not all questions are all about you. Even those out of the box questions are asked to reveal more about you. 6. Check Your Facebook, Twitter, IG, And Other Social Media Accounts - Now this is obviously for background check. Employers understand that these are your personal accounts and whatever you decide to post there, it's your right. However, do know that you may be judged based on how you portray yourself on your socials. It may be unfair but it's safer to set them on PRIVATE mode or better yet, just be a responsible netizen and always think before you click :) 7. Be Visually Impressive - Last but definitely not the least is communicating effectively using not just your verbal and vocal tools but also visual. I came across a communication tool diagram years ago when I first started training aspiring call center agents. It’s a diagram created by Albert Mehrabian, a psychology professor who stressed out the importance of non-verbal communication. - As you can obviously see, this diagram suggests that visual plays the biggest role in communication which apparently make sense. Here’s a real life example: **Girlfriend says “I’m not mad!” in an angry tone with a piercing stare at his boyfriend. With the tone and gesture used, we can all conclude that the girlfriend is… ahmmm ..really mad haha :) Here’s another one, a jeepney scenario: **A passenger gets in. His eyes look red and he's wearing a not so clean shirt paired with an equally unwashed tattered pants. In this situation, you may intuitively hug your bag should you have any, and along with the rest of the passengers, you will start to be more vigilant. The reaction will most likely be the opposite if the passenger who got in looked like he had enough sleep and was wearing a formal or clean casual clothes. Admit it or not, most of us can be visually judgmental. Sometimes, however, those who look like the bad guys are the real good guys. So, dress well for your interview and avoid unnecessary gestures. During a calibration I had with one of our clients, I encountered this lady applicant for a Customer Service Representative position in the waiting area. She was wearing an old lose black shirt, extra large tattered jeans, and slip-on slippers. Her way of talking and expressing herself made her look very arrogant. She actually has a good English communication skill and does have a good amount of experience for the CSR position. Even so, I doubted that she’ll make it on her initial interview and I was right. Ideal clothing for the gentlemen Ideal Clothing for the Women
Here in the Philippines, wearing flat shoes has been accepted as a norm. Just make sure to wear closed flat shoes and stick to black, brown, and nude colors. To wrap this up, allow me to preach and say Always Believe in Yourself. You see, you can never expect to end up successful on something if you don’t trust and believe that you can do it. And for you guys to be more confident, understand that RECRUITERS/INTERVIEWERS: *ARE NOT THERE TO FAIL YOU. *ARE NOT THERE TO BE A FAULT FINDER. INSTEAD, *THEY EXIST TO FIND A POTENTIAL FUTURE EMPLOYEE. *THEY ARE PAID TO FILL IN VACANT SEATS SO KNOW THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO HIRE YOU AND NOT REJECT YOU. THAT WAY, THEIR LIFE WOULD BE A LOT EASIER. All the best, -JEN- All images used are grabbed from google images |
Author
-JEN- Archives
July 2017
CategoriesThank you for dropping by :) |