Please note: On a somewhat infrequent basis, Quintessential Careers asks noted
career experts five questions related to their expertise and publishes the interview
in the current issue of QuintZine,
our biweekly newsletter. Here is one such interview.
Sharon Brown is career advisor with Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Career and Counselling Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Q:
You wrote an article about how to “create positive surprise
during the interview and on the job.” Can you elaborate on that idea?
A:
I recently spoke with a friend of mine who had just hired a new staff member.
She mentioned that by the time the interview was over, this person felt so
right for the job that my friend wanted to hug her. The conversation got
me to thinking about what made this person feel so “right” over the
others interviewed. My friend told me that a large part of this feeling was
because of how often the prospective employee kept positively surprising
her during the interview. So how does one go about giving the employer
positive surprises during the interview and, after you snag the gold ring,
continuing to do so on the job?
Just what does a positive surprise entail? Well, what’s the first thing
someone usually says when surprised? Something like, “I wasn’t
expecting …” or “I can’t believe you …” or “You’ve just made my day!” So
surprise seems to be based on going beyond a person’s expectations,
exceeding the norm, or going that extra mile for someone. Think back to
the times when you’ve been surprised. How did you feel? Did you receive
a gift of some sort? Was it something concrete or as simple as an
unexpected act of kindness? Did it make you feel energized, open to
new possibilities, and filled with warm feelings for the person who
surprised you? What was involved when you were planning a surprise for
someone else? It seems to me that to create a great surprise, you also
need to have put some thought into it. It has to be a genuine and sincere
effort based on your knowledge of the other person’s needs and expectations.
So, what kinds of expectations does an employer have when interviewing
people for a position? Here are some ideas I’ve come up with based on
my own experience, talking with several other colleagues here in the
office, and on a survey we do every year with employers who have
hired through our institute. Well, we know if you were picked for the
interview that they’re pretty sure you have the technical skills for the job.
What they’re really trying to learn about, and assess in more detail, is
your level of commitment, credibility, and interest; how well do you get
along with others, and will you fit in with the rest of the crew; and how
open you are to change and learning new things. Based on these
expectations, here are some ways to go about creating positive
surprise in your interview:
Be your best self! Demonstrate a positive, upbeat attitude. Be
honest and sincere at all times. Make sure your body language
sends the same message.
Deal with challenges to your credibility by clearly communicating
your thoughts on the business issues, related skills and personal style
required in this position and how you fit in. Surprise your interviewers
with the research you did on the company before the interview and the
way in which you’ve matched your strengths to the organization’s needs.
Tell “STAR” stories about yourself that are relevant to what the
employer is looking for. Your stories and answers should reflect your
enthusiasm and willingness to learn, your spirit of cooperation, and your
respect for others.
[Editor’s note: Read more about the
STAR
technique of responding to interview questions.]
Maintain a sense of humor and openness during the interview.
Ask great questions that show you care.
Send a thank-you letter after the interview. Tell the interviewer
how much you enjoyed meeting with him or her, how excited you
are about this opportunity and that you are looking forward to hearing
a hiring decision. Going the extra mile here can often be one of the
key deciding factors in your favor.
Let’s move on now to what kinds of expectations employers have of
you on the job. They’re actually pretty similar to interview expectations
but taken one step further and involve more than just showing up each
day and “doing” your job. They expect you to be an effective part of the
team. They expect a sincerely committed professional who is
competent in what is required, enjoys the work, and who is also actively
open to new ideas and ways of doing things. Positive surprise based
on these expectations involves excellence taken one step further toward
the concept of uncompromising customer service. A customer can
be internal or external: the person who sits across from you, a client
on the phone, someone who walks in the door, your boss or even
yourself. Uncompromising service means giving the gift of your time,
effort, initiative, and compassion to these customers. It means going
the extra mile even when you are tired, having a hard day, or the clock
is almost at quitting time. It means being open to new learning
opportunities and showing a sincere interest in other people’s lives.
Actually, it’s kind of exciting to have this philosophy as the cornerstone
of your professional life because of the payback involved. Remember
how much fun, excitement and satisfaction you got out of the last
surprise you gave someone? Wouldn’t it be great to feel this way
about the work you are doing and the people you deal with? Have
you ever worked with anyone who works in this way? Isn’t it great
being in that kind of a working environment?
No one can be perfect in every way in an interview or on the job,
but it can sure be a lot of fun to put some surprise back into your
life and others’ lives by taking advantage of the opportunities
around you. Really, in the end, creating positive surprise for an
employer is all about creating your own job satisfaction and about
getting enjoyment and personal fulfillment out of your career and
your life. Give it a try; I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Q:
What’s the one job-hunting secret you share with students but that may not be widely known?
A:
I often work with graduates who are having trouble with their job search
and have booked an appointment with me to critique their resume
content/format and troubleshoot their job-search strategies. The secret
ingredient I share with them is simple. When an employer reads a cover
letter/resume or sees you in an interview; the question at the front of their
minds is “Why should I interview/hire you?” If you want the job, answer
this question. To answer it successfully, you must know the following three
things: What are the employer’s needs? How do your training, education,
experience, skills and personal qualities meet those needs? What is your
edge over the competition? If you have done your research and are clearly
focused on addressing the employer’s concerns, you will achieve your goal.
Make the employer’s job of deciding that you are the right person for the
company as easy as possible.
Research how to’s: Target companies offering the kind of career
opportunities you really want. Read ads carefully and circle key concepts
and words. Make notes on how you fit the bill. Refer to the company Web
site for further details on the job, company philosophy, and operating information.
Think about what is important to the company. Take some time to stop
by in person and get a feel for the place. Consider what makes you special.
How can you make that uniqueness into your edge over the competition?
What key industry vocabulary should you be incorporating into your
descriptions of yourself? Be sure to make use of this research in your
interview preparation.
Q:
What’s the biggest “reality check” your students face once they
successfully make it into the workplace? What surprises them the most?
A:
During your first week on the job you may feel overwhelmed by the
realization of what the job really requires besides the diploma.
You realize that you’re not as prepared as you thought you were.
In college you were the expert, and now you’re back at the beginner
level. It’s school-smarts versus life-skills-smarts. How does it all go
in the world of work? Ways to deal with your angst:
Learn as much as possible in the days ahead
Be open minded and deal effectively with stress
Be a good team player
Ask for advice. Find the office “old gray dog” and stick with that person.
Be professional, organized, and on time
Smile! Laugh! Breathe! Tell yourself “How hard can it be?”
Remember, they wouldn’t have hired you if they didn’t think you could do it.
Often, the biggest surprise in the first few months is that the learning never stops.
How many times have we heard someone say, “I’ll never have to take another
course again!” Then you get your first job in your field and realize that lifelong
learning is the cornerstone of professional success. Use it or lose it! The
people who get laid off first are usually the ones who didn’t take this
philosophy to heart! Keep trying to make yourself more valuable. Continue
to grow professionally by upgrading your skills, taking on new challenges,
and staying open to change. Make sure this process involves staying current
with industry changes and innovations. Enhance your job performance by
maintaining a varied personal and professional life.
Q:
What’s the biggest mistake job-seekers make that your advice could correct or prevent?
A:
The biggest mistake they make is in not having the right attitude about their
job search. You have to treat looking for a job as a job in itself and not
underestimate the power of personal contact. A lot of students I have
worked with have forgotten to take the time to research every aspect
of what’s involved with getting that perfect job. Or they know what’s involved
but don’t really believe the process will work for them or that they need to
put in the effort. They’ve assumed that because they have the diploma/degree,
they will have a lock on any interview. Then after three months, they’re
wondering why they don’t have a job! Attitude is everything in job search.
If you don’t make a sincere effort based on a combination of your research
and marketing yourself to employers, you won’t get anywhere.
Once the research is done, you have to actually apply what you’ve
learned to your job search to make it really effective. Marketing success
means knowing what you want and knowing what the employer wants
and how you meet the company’s needs over the competition. Many
students think their job is done once they’ve established some contacts
or sent out their resume. They are often surprised when I ask them what they
have done to follow up. Follow-up is where the personal touch comes in. As
an employer, who are you going to remember? Probably the person who
took the time to research the company, remember your name, follow up
after applying, knows what you want and how they fit the bill, and who
sent you a thank you note after the interview. Take the time to personalize
your job search. Demonstrate that you are sincere and have thought
about what’s needed to succeed, and the job offers will come. Remember
that every job has something valuable to offer; use it as a steppingstone
toward achieving your future career goals.
Q:
Are there any significant differences between the Canadian
career development/career counseling field and the American
one? Are there issues and concerns that are big in Canada
but not in the U.S. and vice versa?
A:
I guess the main difference would be the same as the one
key difference between the Northern Alberta Institute of
Technology (where I work as a career advisor) and most
of the other colleges/universities in Alberta. Our focus is
on career training, where hands-on learning and technology
connect to produce graduates who have the job-ready skills
and training to make an immediate impact on any
organization they join. Because of this focus, the type
of career advising we do is also focused on assisting
students with their career training goals and with graduate
placement.
I think the issues and concerns are really the same for both
Canadians and Americans. Everyone wants the same thing --
a career that will allow meaningful contributions and the
opportunity to live the kind of life that emphasizes personal
values -- which means finding out what career path is the
right one for you and finding the right learning institution to
provide education and training in a format that works for
you. It also means talking with people like career advisors
to arm yourself with as much information as possible to
enable you to make the right choice. I think everyone
involved with career advising on both sides of the border
does the best they can within their spheres of influence to
assist people in making the best choice possible. In the
end though, people have to step up to the plate and hit their
own home runs. And we get to cheer from the stands as
they take off for first base!
Sharon Brown is career advisor with Northern Alberta Institute
of Technology Career and Counselling Services, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. Her office’s focus is on career training,
where hands-on learning and technology connect to produce
graduates who have the job-ready skills and training to make
an immediate impact on any organization they join. Sharon
has worked in the education field for 20 years, specializing
in adult education and career planning/job search for the last
10 years. She often writes articles on job search and
employment for the student newspaper, the NAIT Nugget. Sharon
invites readers to visit the NAIT Career
Services website, which she calls, "an absolutely fabulous
site filled with information about educational/career planning
and job search. Students will find it very user-friendly, and it
will help them greatly in making the right career choice for them,
even if that doesn’t include attending NAIT. Although, of course,
it would be great if you did decide that NAIT is right for you!"
