interview tips – Baby T's Fashion Diaries

Say Whaat?!

My first job out of university, I was let go… just after a raise and before the one year mark.

I honestly never thought I would be fired in my life. Immediately I felt relieved…I don’t think that is supposed to be your reaction.

But afterwards the stigma attached to this circumstance hit me.

Is this going to affect my future?

I knew I had what it takes to be successful, but would someone take a chance with me now?!

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Don’t Dwell- Get Going!

Instead of dwelling on all the uncertainty faced before me, I put it in my rear-view mirror and looked forward to the future.

Whatever my feelings were about the company and the circumstance i was in… were irrelevant now- they weren’t going to change what happened.

So,

I updated my resume, and dived head first into my job search. Spending most of every day on it- essentially treating it as my new job.

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Take Advice where you can get it!

During my first job interview- my interviewer gave me some advice:

1. Ditch the cover letter- most interviewers don’t read it anyway

2. Use the achievement style resume – Information on achievement style resume

Obviously i did not get this job- but he did give me some valuable advice.

And the results were amazing.

The amount of callbacks for my resume increased substantially, and it landed me a job offer two weeks after I changed my resume!

Obviously I also took the time to send a thank you email for his advice.

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It’s not the end of the world

Of course during interviews the question came up: “What was the reasoning for leaving your last employment?”

Don’t lie- it will just come back to bite you in the end.

Turn the conversation back to the future and the possible position.

Example: “Although my last job wasn’t the right fit; This job is a perfect fit for the following reasons…”

Don’t complain about or slander your last company- it is only making you look bad.

Instead a company would prefer to hear that you learned from the experience.

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When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens!

I learned a great deal from my first employment. Although i was let go, it was definitely the reason why I got the job i was offered.

I gained so much more confidence in myself from the experience I gathered there.

I know I can handle anything a job can throw at me.

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I am appreciative to my past- but Elated and Excited for the future at my new job!

It’s hunting season: all the recent grads are looking to start their new career.

Its pretty cut throat out there. But i have some advice, as little as it may be!

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Either you have “it” or you don’t. Interviews are black and white.

We have all been subjected to the mind-numbing repetitive interview questions. You are expected to give the standard correct answer with examples to back it up- You will be judged on any variation from that standard.

And the same goes for your interview fashion.

Black and White is the standard, and any variation from this standard you can bet the interviewer will be thinking more about what you are wearing than what you are saying.

There is nothing more fierce than a colour pant suit. It speaks to female power.

Think Samantha from Sex and the city.

But unless you have the extensive experience, references, and balls to back up this suit like Samantha could than its not the best idea to wear it for an interview.

But don’t be afraid!

Giving an answer that varies from the standard can make you stand out- But make sure it makes you stand out in a positive light.

The same goes for your outfit. A splash of colour can be refreshing to the monotone assembly line of interviewees.

This outfit represents perfectly what I’m talking about.

Walking into an interview in this outfit will be a breathe of fresh air to the interviewer.

But when you go and sit down the jacket comes off and the bag is put down. And all the interviewer will see is your classic black and white work outfit. So NOW they can concentrate fully on what you are saying.

This outfit will ensure you will be remembered visually and verbally (well that part is up to you!)

Good Luck out there.