Readers: Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis. If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Allie writes:
I’m going to be graduating from college soon and keep hearing about the
importance of gaining interviewing skills, but how am I supposed to get the
experience without going on interviews? It’s confusing to me, and I’m afraid
I am going to miss out on a great opportunity because of my lack of
interviewing practice. Help!
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
There are a few job-seekers who are naturals at job interviews, but for the
rest of us, the more experience we have with interviewing, the better we do.
Unlike other job-seekers, however, you have a big advantage -- you’re still i
n college.
Your first action should be to head directly to the career services office at
your college and request a mock interview. Typically, one of the staff members
will interview in the role of a potential employer and then critique your performance
once the interview portion is over.
Next, most colleges have career fairs and recruiters visiting campus. You
should find out when these events are happening and sign-up for interviews.
Often the folks coming back are alums, and besides giving you an interview,
some of them may give you some feedback on your performance.
While you are planning to do those two things, you should also be reading
up on job interviewing as much as you can. Read up on strategies -- the job
interview is like a sales call, where you need to sell the prospective employers
on your skills and fit -- as well as familiarize yourself with typical questions
that are asked at job interviews.
You’ll also want to be sure you have the appropriate wardrobe for interviewing.
Ideally, you’ll have at least two suits for the interviewing process. If the suit is
skirted, be sure to have the length of the skirt a conservative length -- not
nightclub length.
Finally, you can also ask others -- family members, former co-workers, etc. --
to also conduct mock interviews with you.
Looking for the best interviewing resources on the Web? Find them in this section of
Quintessential Careers: Guide to
Job Interviewing Resources.
Q:
Jamie writes:
I've read many books on how to overcome objections by stating the positive,
however I need to know how to overcome my lack of college education without
offending my interviewer. I am positive that he has a college education and by
alluding to something like "my 7 years of experience in the field is more
beneficial than a college education" or "my priorities have been focused on my
career and family life" could very easily offend someone who has been to college.
Your thoughts?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I think you have the right mindset to be focused on not offending or upsetting
the interviewer, so I don’t want to downplay the situation, but my sense is that
if the company is progressive enough to realize that extra experience can
compensate for a lack of a degree that you are in good shape. You would
not even be getting the interview if the employer did not think you were a good
potential fit for the position.
That said, you’re right. If the question arises about your lack of a college
education, you need to be prepared with an answer that is honest and positive.
So, if the question is asked about why you do not have a college education, I
would say something like, “I have always had a passion for this field, and I
when I had the chance to get started in it after high school, I just felt it was
the right choice for me to follow my passion.” If the prospective employer has
a tuition benefit program, you could always add something about always
wanting to start that college education so that you can further your career in the field.
OK. Soapbox time. Even if I was not a college professor, I would give you this
advice -- but seeing that I am a professor, you should have expected it. You
really need to try to fit college into your life in the near future, even if start just
taking one or two classes at night. And there are lots of reasons why. First, a
college education really prepares you for lifelong learning. Second, at some
point you are going to hit a plateau in your career where you can not advance
without the degree. Third, all studies show that college graduates have a
much higher lifelong earning record than those without the degree.
Tony writes:
I will be attending a job fair to seek employment opportunities in human resources.
I have a few questions regarding this job fair to ensure I am as successful as possible.
First, I sent an e-mail to the point of contact for the job fair and asked for an
advanced list of the employers who will be in attendance. My purpose was to do
some research on each employer so I could be more knowledgeable when I spoke
to their representative. However, I was told at the request of their company
sponsors, (as to avoid massive "pre Job Fair calls" to participating companies)
they were are not at liberty to release that information to me. What should I do?
Second, regarding resumes and cover letters, should I include a cover letter when
I provide copies? If so, how should I address them if I don't have a specific
name to address it to. Other research has told me to never address to "To
Whom It May Concern." Should I print them on official "resume" paper and
place in a "resume" folder to hand out?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I always appreciate job-seekers who do their research, and I applaud you for
your diligence in trying to make a positive impression at this job fair.
To your first question. I find it extremely odd -- and a bit worrisome -- that
the job fair organizer would not provide you with the list of organizations
attending. Seems kind of shady to me. You are absolutely correct in your
belief that it’s important to conduct research on the prospective employers
so that you can stand out from the crowd at the job fair. That’s just one of
many strategies job-seekers can undertake to help guarantee success. I
would either try calling back and talk with someone different or see if the job
fair has a Website. While it’s true employers don’t want to get bogged
down with phone calls, all want informed job-seekers, and ideally, most of
these organizations have Websites where you could conduct your research.
To your second question. No need for cover letters at job fairs -- and yes,
never address a cover letter to whom it may concern. If you get the list of
employers, the ideal scenario is to tailor copies of your resume to each
employer, also taking along some copies of your generic resume in case
there are last-minute additions to the hiring companies there. I think most
employers are fine with getting resumes on plain printer paper, but if you
want to stand out, a heavier weight paper often does make a nice first
impression -- and that’s especially important at a job fair. No need for a folder
because all the resumes they collect will go in a pile (or two), but do be
sure to have them in a portfolio or folder before you present them so that
they stay as pristine as possible.
Find more advice and resources related to job and career fairs in this section of
Quintessential Careers: Job
Expo and Career Fair Resources
Q:
Patty writes:
Is it appropriate to send a thank-you letter for a phone interview?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Yes, yes, yes.
Anytime you have any contact with a prospective employer, if you want to
stand out from the crowd, you should always send a thank-you letter or note.
Always. Do so after a phone interview, job fair interview, panel interview,
on-campus interview, and even after a chance encounter at a professional
meeting. Any time, any situation.
A thank-you letter can never hurt your chances (unless it is just poorly written),
and can give you just enough of a boost to push you toward the front of the line.
All you need to do is thank the person for their time -- and express your interest
in the organization and your enthusiasm for the position you are seeking.
Read more about thank-you letters in this article published on Quintessential Careers:
FAQs About Thank You Letters.
