Job Interviews: The new first date

You spend hours in front of the mirror deciding what to wear, analyzing your options and asking yourself, how do I look in this? Is this color too bright? Knowing how important first impressions are, you rehearse conversations starters, your smile and perhaps your handshake. You are nervous and excited at the same time because the possibility of a great future is within reach, yet there are so many unknown factors that determine whether this will be a prefect match.

This may sound like preparation for a first date, but what I’m describing is a typical night before a job interview. Interestingly, the rules apply to both, and that is why interviewing for a job is a lot like a first date.

In both situations you show up looking your best and on your best behavior. To make a good impression you exhibit your best qualities to the other person. So as they begin asking you questions about yourself your replies are positive, upbeat and put you in the most positive light.

Chances are that you have done some homework too, finding out about the other person’s interests and qualities. Not only does this show your interest in them, but it’s also your time to determine it THEY are what you are looking for. Interviews, like first dates, work both ways, the match has to be good for both parties. Considering the amount of time we spend at work, it truly is an investment of our time and future; you want to make sure the company is going to offer you the professional environment, challenges and opportunities that will keep you active and engaged. We all have our mental checklist of qualities that we are looking for in a mate and an employer, so whether the interrogation is over dinner or across a desk the interviewer is deciding whether you meet their requirements, and vice a versa.

The following is my advice for scoring a second interview . . . or a second date:

• Dress to impress
The key is appropriateness for the occasion. In the case of an interview that usually means a suit, but it can vary among companies and industries. Do not wear any clothing, accessories or fragrances that are overpowering or distract the interviewer from what you are saying. Your clothes should be clean, ironed and fit properly.

• Don’t look desperate
Showing up too early can read desperation. At an interview it can make hiring managers uncomfortable or feel rushed. It’s best to arrive 15-20 minutes early; this sends the message that you are punctual yet appropriate. Arriving late is a definite DON’T! It is disrespectful and irresponsible and will hurt your first impression, and most likely destroy your chances of a second interview . . . or second date.

• Maintain the mystery
On a first date, you would never announce that you snore or bite your finger nails. These truths tend to come to light as a relationship progresses, and by then they can be classified a quirks rather then character flaws. The same goes for an interview. While of course you never want to misrepresent yourself, do not display all of your negatives, but rather highlight the positives. Always display your greatest attributes and if you lack experience in a specific area, acknowledge it and present your skills that are closely related or your ability to learn quickly.

• Let them know you had a good time
If you feel that you hit it off and are interested in continuing the relationship, let them know that you had a good time and that you look forward to seeing them again. Companies are more willing to offer the job to someone they think is interested in them. Before walking away, take the time to let the interviewer know that you enjoyed meeting with them, like the job and why you think you would be a great fit. And follow up with a thank you note, chivalry is not dead!

Although our personal and professional lives are very different, dating and interviewing are both about people trying to impress one another. I hope my tips are helpful in your job search, or love connection whichever you are searching for!

Online Profiles as Resumes

Cover letter? Check. Resume? Check. LinkedIn profile? Huh?

Long gone are the days when a grammatically perfect cover letter and a resume brimming with action verbs and key phrases, such as, team player and ability to multitask suffice for a successful job search. As many know most job openings are filled by word of mouth. This trend still holds true in today’s job market, but what has changed is that word of mouth now extends WAY beyond a friend of a friend whose company is hiring.

With the growing success of social networking sites the ability to network, search job openings and be seen by employers has exponential possibilities. There are hundreds of internet sites that are used to connect with friends and people who share similar interests, but for the purposes of seeking employment, I think that LinkedIn has the most to offer. With over 15 million members, it is among the largest online social network for business professionals.

Tips for using your LinkedIn Profile as a Resume

• Create a profile that includes your employment history, education/training and industry. Include key phrases and professional achievements from your resume to highlight areas of expertise and accomplishments.
• Include keywords from your resume to increase opportunities for your profile to appear in search results.
• Set Contact Settings to let others know what opportunities you would like to be contact about (career opportunities, expertise requests, consulting offers, business deals, new ventures, personal reference requests, job inquiries, request to reconnect).
• Make your profile public so that it can be viewed by everyone. With that said, remember that everyone includes colleagues, potential employers or business contacts so keep it professional.

To the All things Workforce readers, please share your experience, insights and social networking best practices. And for those of you who are interested in learning more about effective social networking, I suggested Inner Architect. Susan and Dean are the social networking gurus and have tons of ideas on how to maximize the use of this media!

Can’t wait to read your comments!

All Things Workforce

Hello employers, employees and job seekers, welcome to the ICD Workforce blog. I'm Gina, the Adult Programs Manager here at the Institute for Career Development (ICD) and the purpose of this blog is to discuss all things Workforce. My goal is to share with you what I learn, discover and stumble upon that will shed some insight on today’s job market, employability and job search.

We all know that in this rough economic time obtaining employment is more challenging then ever. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, California has reached an escalated unemployment rate of 11.2%. Locally, Santa Clara County has an unemployment rate of 10.8%. With no clear end to this bumpy road in sight we must all prepare for the challenges and uncertainties that such a difficult time brings. Job seekers try to increase their marketability as they scurry to seek out and obtain the scarce job openings that are out there. Current employees are juggling additional responsibilities, often taking on the workload that was once allocated to two or three people. Employers strategize on how to get meet the same productivity goals with a leaner workforce. We are all feeling the pressure!

Here at ICD we deal with this reality everyday because workforce development is what we do. Our staff works diligently to assist people with barriers to employment in successfully obtaining and retaining employment. We provide our clients with vocational training, employment counseling, job placement assistance and soft-skills development opportunities. We believe that career success requires more then technical skill attainment; therefore our holistic approach to vocational training provides an array of services all geared towards making our clients ready to take the leap back into the workforce, armed with the tools to succeed.

As we continue to keep a watchful eye on job market trends, employability skills and best practices, I will share with you what my staff and I assess, consider and ponder as we assist our clients in reaching their career goals.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts and reading your comments!