Preparation

• Learn about the company/college and the position.  Check out their web site and request information from the company’s public relations department.  Information that can prove useful is the company’s size, its history, the main products and services they provide, and current news stories.
• Double-check the time and location of the interview.  If it is an area that is new to you, consult a map or take a drive there before so you know how to get there.
• Prepare what you want to say in the interview.  Think about your greatest strengths and weaknesses, your most significant work or school experiences, your future plans and your ideal job.
• Review your resume and think about how your experiences can be matched up with the job’s requirements.  Rehearse with a mock interview.

Interview Day

• Dress appropriately.  Choose conservative clothing and keep jewelry and accessories to a minimum. 
• Be punctual.  Arrive a little early to allow yourself time to relax and focus.
• Bring along extra copies of your resume and a pad of paper and pen.  Take notes on any interesting points or questions.  Your notes will come in handy when preparing for a second interview or writing a follow-up letter.
• Be sure to listen carefully throughout the interview.  It is easy to spend all your time planning your answers, but remember this is a conversation.  Listening carefully helps you to respond appropriately.  Make eye contact with the interviewer.
• Avoid generalities. Give concrete examples when describing your work/school experience.  Always be positive.  Don’t be critical of previous co-workers or bosses.  The way you talk about your former or current boss may be seen as an indication of how you will talk about your future boss.
• Demonstrate that you have thought seriously about this career path and this company by asking intelligent questions about the position.  Draw upon your research about the company or ask about the working conditions, the chances for advancement and major projects your prospective job would entail.
• Ask your interviewers for their business card(s) to ensure that you have the proper contact information when you follow-up. 
• Emphasize you are interested in taking the process to the next step and why you are the ideal candidate.

Be yourself (sense of humor and all) and you will be on your way to being hired!

A resume is a brief description of your previous education, work experience, and additional relevant information. 

The purpose of a resume is:

• To introduce you to an employer
• To serve as an example of how you think and express yourself
• To catalogue skills, experience, training and achievements

Remember your main objective is to include:

• Name, address, city, state, zip, phone number with area code, e-mail address, fax number
• Honors, awards, fellowships and scholarships
• Licenses and certificates
• Memberships and activities, including leadership positions
• Special skills, such as computer knowledge and foreign languages
• Job history listed with most recent job first
• Previous job experience to include: title of position, name and address of employer, beginning and ending dates, job description and responsibilities
• Education with most recent or current school first, including degree, name of high school or college, address, major and graduation date

Presenting the information

• Create a scannable resume using white paper, standard fonts, and dark type
• Put most important information at the top of the page
• Be creative and professional
• Use active verbs like initiated, designed, supervised and developed
• Use past tense to describe former jobs and present tense to describe current jobs
• Spell everything out.  Do not use abbreviations or acronyms.
• Present candidates credentials in a positive manner
• Tailor the resume to the kind of job you are looking for
• Have someone proofread your resume

Qualities of a good resume

• Easy to read, concise
• Professional.  Use a typewriter or computer to print your resume, making sure copies are neat and clean.  Mail your resume in good condition preferably in a large envelope.
• Emphasize key points or expressions by using bold type or underline

Mistakes to avoid

• Too short, too long (preferred length is one page)
• Misspellings, typographical errors, poor grammar
• Irrelevant information-height, weight, gender, marital status
• Disorganization, too wordy and vague; important qualifications should stand out
• Italics, underline, shadow or reverse type, vertical and horizontal lines, graphics or boxes

Filling out an application is one of the most intimidating steps you can take when applying for a job or applying for admission to a college. Here are some suggestions:

DO:

• Review applications and directions carefully before you begin.
• Follow all instructions.  Be neat, clear and accurate.
• Be active and inclusive of all of your skills.
• Be truthful and don’t exaggerate your accomplishments.
• Make copies of the application before filling it out and practice filling in the information before completing the original.
• Make sure that everything that is supposed to be included on the application.
• Fill out your own application. Type the information yourself to avoid crucial mistakes.  Then, ask someone to proofread it for you.
• Research the college or company.
• Keep a copy and be thorough.

DON’T:

• Use correction fluid.  If you type your application, use a correctable typewriter or the liftoff strips to correct mistakes.
• Write in script. If you do not have access to a typewriter or computer, print neatly.
• Leave blank spaces. Missing information may cause your application to be discarded.
• Be unclear. If the question calls for a specific answer, don’t try to dodge it by being vague.

Before you step through the door for an interview, you should practice answering these common interview questions:

• Tell me a little bit about yourself?
• What qualifications do you have?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• Tell me about your current job?
• Why are you leaving that job?
• What did you like most about that job?
• What would you change about that job?
• Do you enjoy school? Why or why not?
• Do you plan to continue your education?
• What do you plan to do for work five years from today?
• What is your major strength?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What motivates you to do a good job?
• Are you at your best when working alone or in a group?
• What are your goals?
• Do you have any questions?  (Try to have at least one question ready).

High school graduation is just around the corner!  Most students don’t realize there are five options to consider after high school.  These options are called “gateways” and are listed below:
1. Post-Secondary Education
4-year Colleges and Universities
2-year Colleges and Community Colleges
Technical and Professional schools and colleges
2. Military
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
3. Workforce
Full-time permanent jobs
Combination of two or more part-time jobs
Contract services on short-term basis
4. Apprenticeships and Internships
Carefully monitored work experiences with intentional learning goals
5. Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship
Start a business
Buy a business
Take on a franchise
Consult or freelance

Over the next few weeks I will have employment application procedures.  The gateway model is taken from The Real Game Facilitator’s Guide.  The Real Game™ can be found at http://realgame.com .