Job Searching
What are some examples of places you can locate job listings and available positions?
Job postings on Indeed, LinkedIn, Career Builder, Zip Recruiter, etc.
Jobs can also be located directly on employer websites, newspaper or advertisements, personal and social networking, etc.
How long should a resume be?
1 page
If your interview is at 9am, what time should you arrive to the place your interview is at?
You should arrive no less than 15 minutes before hand- so 8:45am!
Be sure to map out how long it will take you to get to the place you are going to before leaving that day for the interview. Account for traffic if leaving early in the morning or in the later afternoon (rush hour.)
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
These kinds of questions attempt to identify soft skills. Any answer that has similar attributes to the job would work great here!
Ex: speed- to get more accomplished
mind reading- to help others before things go bad
You don't have to explicitly lead them back to attributes the employer is looking for, but you don't want to contradict them either. If the position you work for is customer service based, you might not want to say "invisibility" since that shows you would rather hide away from the public.
If your car breaks down and it's possible that you might be late for work, you should:
A) Do nothing but wait for the tow truck and hope you can make it to work on time.
B) Call your supervisor immediately and let her know what is happening.
C) Wait until the start of your shift and then call your boss.
D.) Stay home and don't call work.
B) Call your supervisor immediately and let him/her know what is happening.
Name at least three aspects of any job that are most important to you.
This is based on your own personal interests and opinions, therefore it can be a variety of things!
Some examples include pay, benefits, adequate supervision, workplace culture, job setting/environment, etc.
True or False:
Your resume tells a lot about your personality.
False!
It is meant to be a brief way to show a potential employer your skills and experiences that relate to the job.
What are questions NOT to ask in an interview?
Examples:
How long is the interview?
How many days can I have off?
How much do I get paid?
Describe a situation where you disagreed with a supervisor. How did you handle the conflict?
These should not be stories where you bad mouth your previous employer(s), co-workers, or place of employment- this looks bad to future employers. They want to hear about how you handled this responsibly as well as speak about your professional experiences (good or bad) maturely.
If you don’t fully understand how to do something your supervisor tells you to do, you must:
A) Complain to a coworker that your boss doesn’t give good directions.
B) Try to do the task anyway and hope you get it right.
C) Call your mom and ask her what she thinks you should do.
D) Ask your supervisor to please explain how to do it one more time.
D) Ask your supervisor to please explain how to do it one more time.
Always seek more understanding! Try asking specific questions where clarification is needed.
What are some important things to think about when setting long term career goals
The training or education required
Your needs, your goals, your interests
The pay you think you will need
Resources that can help you
Location of job/home
What should you avoid putting on your resume?
A) Your date of birth
B) Your address
C) Part-time jobs
A) Your date of birth
True or false:
You should keep your cell phone on during an interview so that you can hear it in case you get a call or a text.
False.
You should keep your phone on silent or keep it in the car or at home to reduce the temptation. You should provide the interviewer with your full attention.
What is your greatest strength?
This is your time to say great things about yourself! Just make sure you are honest about your answer and can live up to this when on the job. (For example, don't say you are great at time management if you are typically late to work or coming back from breaks)
EX: Creative, detail-oriented, great team player, great at time management, flexible on a team, natural leader, great with customer service
What are some differences between a co worker and a friend?
Co workers are people you enjoy working with. You can ask them for help or collaborate with them.
A friend is someone you can confide in and discuss personal matters.
It is okay to be friends with your co-workers, but be careful to have a professional relationship only at work and leave all personal matters for after hours.
How much time (on average) do career specialists recommend that you should spend on job searching?
10 to 15 hours each week if you are currently working a full time job.
20-25 hours a week if you are working part time.
30-40 hours each week if you are currently unemployed or working less than 15 hours a week.
How long does it take the average employer to view your resume?
A) more than 1 minute
B)less than 30 seconds
C) 5 minutes
B) less than 30 seconds
What are 3 things you should avoid doing during an interview?
Some examples may include but are not limited to:
Arriving late without calling ahead, inappropriate attire, using your cellphone, chewing gum, bringing in food/drinks, being unprepared, etc.
What is your greatest weakness?
Multiple things can be said for this answer. The key is to choose a skill that is NOT ESSENTIAL to the job you're applying to and by stressing exactly how you're practically addressing your weakness .
Ex: Sometimes too detail focused, not good at task delegation, too self-critical
What are at least 3 soft skills/life skills that are important to have down before entering into your career?
Some examples are:
Childcare management, Transportation management, Budgeting, Critical thinking/decision making skills, Communication skills, Household management, Time management
How long do you wait after applying for a job to contact your potential employer?
It is said to wait at least 48-72 hours before following up after applying for a job.
How are scannable resumes different from traditional resumes?
Scannable resumes are “read” by computers and matched with employer’s job openings by matching the words in your resume with “key words” in the job description of the position(s).
Employers won't even see your resume if they have no matching "key words" on it.
What should you do after the interview is over?
Send a "thank you" email! Thank the potential employer for their time and the opportunity to interview for the position. You should use professional language when writing this.
This will set you apart from other applicants and create good relationships!
Do you have any questions?
YES! You should research the position and the company before the interview to help generate some insightful, specific questions as well.
Ex: When will you make a hiring decision?
What is the most important thing you are looking for in this position?
What is your favorite thing about this company?
Can you walk me through a typical day here at this company?
How is the workplace culture here?
Are there ways for me to advance/move up within this company?
You and your co-worker are constantly disagreeing at work. How should you handle this situation?
First, try to handle the situation yourself. Wait until you are not in the middle of work duties (possibly in the morning before you get started or in the evening when your work tasks are done.) Don't bring other employees who were not originally involved into your disagreements.
If that doesn't work, bring in a supervisor to help resolve the issue.