HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I found this fun video on YouTube that ties in our theme of the month, interviewing, and Halloween! ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5BdskI6hjk

P.S. Note that interviewtrue.com has been converted to interviewstream.com - a site where you can practice interviewing with your webcam!

When Your Interviewer is a Freak

What do you do if you end up seated across the desk from an eccentric person? You may feel a bit uncomfortable with his or her unorthodox approach. While your first instinct is to think that you don't want the job if this person is representative of the company, give the firm the benefit of the doubt and focus on yourself, not the interviewer. Just be yourself and say what you came to say.

The mute.
This is the person who doesn't seem to know what to ask you. He or she looks at your resume and can't formulate any questions or reach any conclusions. You get very short responses to any questions you ask. It's clear that you are going to have to help this person through the interview. Break the silence by saying "Why don't I start by giving you an overview of my experience?" Then head into your core messages.

The chatterbox.
This person runs on and on, busily talking about what she does, what the company does, the corporate climate, his life history, blah, blah, blah. The good news is that you are learning some things about the company and the work environment; the bad news is that the person is learning nothing about you. While it's best to let this person blab on, when he or she takes a breath, be prepared to inject your key messages. You might say, "This is great information, I see where my experience as a brand manager at XYZ can help the company reposition its product. For instance..." Now, you can become the chatterbox.

The quirky questioner.
This person goes beyond the expected questions such as: tell me about yourself, what are your strengths and weaknesses, where do you see yourself in five years. He or she may ask something completely out of left field like: "Did you buy that suit just for this interview?" "Do you like clowns?" "Do you think women make good managers?" "If you were a cloud, what kind would you be?" If you think the recruiter is just odd but harmless, dodge the question with a laugh and bridge to a point you want to make about yourself. You could say, "That's an interesting question, when I think of clouds it reminds me of dealing with corporate change. In my previous position I spearheaded a task force to ?" If the question is simply inappropriate, it's OK to say so.

The close talker.
Straight out of Seinfeld, this person has a different idea of how much space to leave between the two of you. If it's making you crazy, fake a cough and back up your chair. Try to find an excuse to adjust your seat by dropping your pencil or getting up for a minute to look for something in your briefcase. When you return, re-adjust your chair. If this isn't possible, try leaning into the interviewer's space. Sometimes this will cause the person to back away. If you can't create a buffer zone, don't let it bother you, consider the closeness as intense interest in you and stay focused on your key messages.

Whatever screwball behavior you encounter, take charge of theinterview. Put the question you want to answer on the table thenanswer it. You came to talk about yourself. If you can relate atleast one interesting example of how you solved a problem, achieveda goal or contributed to a team, you may actually engage theinterviewer in a dialog about you. After the interview, follow up with a brief thank-you letter that reiterates the key messages your intergalactic interviewer may or may not have heard.

DSU STUDENT EMPLOYMENT SURVEY

http://www.stellarsurvey.com/s.aspx?u=b817542f-7958-47a0-a036-2a6688e2ad2e

The Do's & Don'ts of Phone Interviews!!!

Phone interviewing has become increasingly popular over the past few years. For applicants, the goal of a phone interview is to secure an in-person meeting. For recruiters, it's to narrow their list of prospects. You can increase the odds of passing this initial screening if you follow our advice:

DO:

Do give accurate and detailed contact information in your cover letter so your interviewers can easily connect with you.

Do ensure that household members understand the importance of phone messages in your job search.

Do know what job you are interviewing for.

Do practice, if possible. Have a friend call you to do a mock phone interview so you get the feel of being interviewed over the phone. When being interviewed by phone, do make sure you are in a place where you can read notes, take notes, and concentrate. If you cannot devote enough time to a phone interview, do suggest a specific alternate time to the recruiter. It’s often best to be the one who calls back so you can be mentally prepared.

Do consider keeping some notecards or an outline in front of you to remind yourself of key points you want to cover with the interviewer. You don’t want your responses to sound scripted, but you don’t want to fumble for important points either. Do also have your resume in front of you so you can remember highlights of your experience and accomplishments.

Do ensure that you can hear and are being clearly heard.

Do consider standing when being interviewed on the phone. Some experts say you’ll sound more professional than if you’re slouching in an easy chair.

Do consider dressing nicely for the phone interview. It may sound silly since the interviewer can’t see you, but you really will project a more professional image if you’re dressed for the part instead of wearing, for example, a ratty bathrobe.

Do mimimize distractions. Flushing toilets, clamoring dishes and barking dogs sometimes interrupt phone interviews, recruiters report. Some experts recommend not using a cellphone.

Do create a strong finish to your phone interview with thoughtful questions

Do followup with a thank-you letter.


Don't

Don't feel you have to fill in the silences. If you’ve completed a response, but the interviewer hasn’t asked his or her next question, don’t start babbling just to fill in airtime. Instead, ask a question of your own related to your last response.

Don't panic if you have special needs. If you are hearing-impaired, for example, phone interviews are still possible. Don't snuffle, sneeze or cough. If you can’t avoid these behaviors, say “excuse me.”

Don't chew gum or food, or drink anything noisy

When in job-hunting mode, don't have a disproportionately silly or long greeting on your answering machine or voicemail.

Source: http://www.quintcareers.com/phone_interviewing-dos-donts.html

INTERVIEWING, INTERVIEWING, INTERVIEWING

Get VERY helpful interviewing information here...

http://www.rileyguide.com/interview.html

The above website touches on the below interviewing subjects:
Interviewing Advice Addressing Problems Improper Interview Questions After the Interview Variations on the Job Interview Interviewing via Video Conference

Happy Interviewing!!

dsunews.com

Do you have your RSS feed set up on dsunews.com? If not, do so asap to get the latest information from Career Services right in your email!!

Here is how to do it:
Go to www.dsunews.com
Click on RSS Feed (on top)
Choose which news feeds you want
Copy the website within the address bar
*For Career Services News the address is http://www.dsunews.com/component/option,com_rd_rss/id,7/ *
THEN go into your email account
Click on Tools, then Account Settings
Click the RSS Feed tab and then click NEW
Next, paste the address you copied above
Finally, Click ADD and CLOSE and you GOT IT....
You will see an RSS Feed folder within your inbox!

Top 10 Spooky Jobs

With Halloween fast-approaching, thrill-seekers in offices around the country are crafting creative costumes to wear to work, spooky cube décor and ways to frighten their co-workers while they're chained to their desk on their favorite day of the year. If you wish Halloween was year-round, consider one of the following 10 spooky jobs to keep you looking over your shoulder every day.

Coroner: Why it's spooky: Coroners observe corpses and investigate the cause, time and manner of death, mostly when it happens under unusual circumstances.

Scary salary: $35,866*

Ghost hunter: Why it's spooky: Ghost hunters use scientific tools to measure and collect evidence of paranormal activity in areas that are said to be haunted. Teams of these people are called paranormal investigation teams. Salary information is not available.

Mystery writer: Why it's spooky: Mystery writers need the creative mind to develop scary plots, suspenseful story lines and twisted characters to comprise compelling novels for their readers.

Scary salary: $45,442

Mortician: Why it's spooky: Morticians (also known as undertakers) oversee all funeral arrangements for the deceased, including details of body preparation for viewing and preparing the body itself.

Scary salary: $42,284

Witch doctor: Why it's spooky: Witch doctors are healers through magic and witchcraft. They believe illnesses and injuries are caused by magic and witchcraft and so they are best treated that way.

Scary salary: Salary information not available.

Embalmer: Why it's spooky: Embalmers prepare corpses for burial or cremation by washing, drying and disinfecting the body; releasing excess air from the lungs; draining blood from the circulatory system and replacing it with embalming fluid and applying cosmetics to create a more lifelike appearance.

Scary salary: $34,791

Crime scene cleanup: Why it's spooky: Crime scene cleaning crews sanitize and clean the aftermaths of crimes on all levels, from murders to domestic violence.

Scary salary: $35,000 average starting salary; can increase to $75,000 or $80,000 based on markets with higher violent death rates.

Grave digger/Cemetery worker: Why it's spooky: Grave diggers work in cemetaries digging graves before funerals, oftentimes working late into the night or early morning hours. Cemetery workers assist in the upkeep of grave and memorial sites.

Scary salary: $33,601 for grave diggers.

Obituary writer: Why it's spooky: Obituary writers are responsible for writing summaries of the lives of the deceased for such publications as newspapers, magazines and Web sites. Scary Salary: $42,150

Crematorium technician: Why it's spooky: These technicians incinerate corpses and collect the ashes to give to family and loved ones.Scary salary: $35,000.

So, are any of you changing your majors yet??

INFORMATIVE VIDEOS

Check out these videos I found on CollegeGrad.com...

http://www.collegegrad.com/job-search-videos/

Dos and Don'ts of Interview Silence

You're at a meeting or job interview. You've just answered a difficult question or made an important point and are met with an unmovable silence. Oh geez!! You wait, growing a bit uneasy, but the room remains deafeningly still. What would you do? Don't panic!! Remember, some people use silence as a test to see how you respond under stress. And if you actually did goof, remaining calm will do more to defuse the situation than a stream of chatter.

Knowing what to say is important. Knowing when to stop is vital. To keep from talking yourself out of a job remember these Do's and Don'ts...

Do your homework beforehand. Anticipate questions that are likely to be asked and prepare brief (two minutes or less) compelling answers to each.

Don't spend time talking about dates, chronology or other information readily available on your resume unless asked to do so. (The employer can read...he/she will probably find it annoying that you keep talking about things they can see right in front of them)

Do pause briefly before answering a difficult question to gather your thoughts. It not only helps you organize what you want to say, but will make you appear more sincere. (Answering too eagerly or soon can make you sound fake or insincere. Make your answers stellar by taking a few seconds to ponder what you want to say)

Do pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues from the others in the room to gauge their reaction and adjust your responses accordingly.(If everyone is looking at you funny, you might want to redirect your answer...)

Do bring along a portfolio of successful projects (if applicable to your line of work) so that the interviewer can see and get a feel for what you can do and ask about the projects which interest him or her.

Become comfortable with silence. Sometimes silence is golden. Remember, eloquence is saying the proper thing... And then stopping!

from careerbuilder.com

What NOT to do in an Interview...

Please don't do this in an interivew. Check out this link and you will see why this lady did not get a call back from her interviewer. Not impressed.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EOJRuMQs7k

10 Nightmarish Handshakes to Avoid

To avoid making a bad first impression, losing a business deal or simply embarrassing yourself, take advice from careerbuilder.com's 10 terrible grips to avoid:

1. The “macho cowboy”… is the almost bone-crunching clasp many businessmen use to shake hands. What are they trying to prove, anyway? There’s no need to demonstrate your physical strength when shaking another person’s hand.

2.The wimp… is usually delivered by men who are afraid to “hurt the little lady” when shaking women’s hands. Modern female professionals expect their male counterparts to convey the same respect they’d show their male colleagues.

3.The “dead fish”… conveys no power. While there’s no need to revert to the macho cowboy death grip, a firm clasp is more powerful than one that barely grabs the hand.

4. The “four finger”… is when the person’s hand never meets your palm, and instead clasps all four fingers, crushing them together.

5.The "cold and clammy"… feels like you’re shaking hands with a snake. Warm up your hand first before grabbing someone else’s.

6. The sweaty palm… is pretty self-explanatory, and pretty gross. Talcum powder to the rescue.

7. The “I’ve got you covered” grip… happens when the other person covers your hand with his or her left hand as if your shake is secretive.

8.The “I won’t let go”… seems to go on for eternity because the other person won’t drop his or her hand. After two or three pumps, it’s time to let go. “It’s a lot like a kiss – you know when it’s over,”

9. The “southpaw”… happens when the person uses the left hand to shake because the right hand has food or a drink. Always carry your drink and plate with your left hand to keep your right one free for meet and greets.

10. The “ringed torture”… occurs when the person’s rings hurt your hand. Try to limit the number of rings you wear on the right hand to only one or two and be mindful of any that have large stones.

INSTEAD....Here are three steps to a proper handshake:

1.As you’re approaching someone, extend your right arm when you’re about three feet away.

2.Slightly angle your arm across your chest, with your thumb pointing up.

3.Lock hands, thumb joint to thumb joint. Then, firmly clasp the other person’s hand – without any bone crushing or macho posturing. Pump the other person’s hand two to three times and let go.

What Not to Wear

Top 20 Wardrobe Malfunctions
by http://www.careerbuilder.com/.

*I'm not sure what these boys are trying to do in these pictures but...it's definately NOT working...and they won't be either if they wear this to an interview!*


No one needs 'Queer Eye's' Carson Kressley to tell them that wearing shoes to an interview is a good idea, but could you be guilty of one of these top 20 fashion faux pas?

1. Carrying a backpack or fannypack instead of a briefcase or portfolio: Some image consultants suggest women ditch their purse, too! (umm...were fanny packs ever cool?)

2. Sunglasses on top of your head or headphones around your neck: Be sure to remove all your "transit gear" and tuck it in your briefcase before entering the lobby (don't forget to remove all your Madison Metro transit gear before heading into Heston Hall)

3. Too-short skirts: Forget what some of those gals on 'The Apprentice' are wearing. Your skirt should cover your thighs when you are seated.

4. The wrong tie: Ties should be made of silk, no less than three and a quarter inches wide with a conservative pattern. Image consultants say the best colors are red or burgundy. (leave the Vikings tie at home buddy...save if for Sunday)



5. Overly bright or large-patterned clothing: With the possible exception of creative fields like advertising or computer programming, it's best to stick with navy, black or gray.

6. Heavy makeup on women (or any makeup on a man) (umm...is make up on a man an issue?? ahh....)

7. Earrings on men: In fact, men should avoid wearing any jewelry unless it is a wedding ring, class ring or metal watch. (save the bling bling for later)

8. More than one set of earrings on women

9. Facial piercings, tongue jewelry or visible tattoos (you might think that giant tatoo of a scorpion is pretty sweet...but trust me...no one else does...especially your employer!)

10. Ill-fitting clothes. Few people can wear things straight off the rack. Spending a little extra to have your garments tailored is a worthwhile investment.

11. Long fingernails, especially with bright or specialty polishes. Nails should look clean and be trimmed to a length that doesn't leave an observer wondering how you keep from stabbing yourself. (ewwww....)

12. Unnatural hair colors or styles. Remember, Donald Trump was a billionaire well before he began wearing a comb-over. If you're balding, try a close-cropped cut like Bruce Willis or Matt Lauer. (agreed...comb-overs are never cool)

13. Short-sleeved shirts, even worse when worn with a tie

14. Fishnets, patterned hosiery or bare legs (no matter how tan you are). Women should stick with neutral color hosiery that complements their suit. (save the fishnets for the club...wait...who wears fishnets anyways???)

15. Men whose socks don't match their shoes, or whose socks are too short and leave a gap of flesh when they are seated (guys...this fashion error screams DORKY!!! please match your socks...we'll be more than glad to help if you find you need assitance in this area)

16. Rumpled or stained clothing: If interviewing late in the day, try to change to a fresh suit beforehand.

17. Scuffed or inappropriate footwear, including sneakers, stilettos, open-toed shoes and sandals (save the flip flops for the beach)

18. Strong aftershaves, perfumes or colognes: Many people are allergic to certain scents. For a subtle fragrance, use a good quality bath soap. (believe me...no one wants to remember you by the way you left their office smelling)

19. Belts and shoes that don't match: Shoes and belts should be made of leather or leather-like materials and the best colors for men are black or cordovan. (its kind of like the socks...they should match)

20. Telltale signs that your wearing a new suit. Remove all tags and extra buttons -- and remember to cut off the zigzag thread that keeps pockets and slits closed! ( oh geez...just make sure you look good!)

Don't be a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. (Remember what happened to Janet Jackson??? Do I need to replay the event?) Plan and lay out what you're going to wear several days before the interview, so you'll have time to shop or get garments pressed and cleaned.Save "innovative" or revealing garb for the club (or your couch) and strive for crisp, clean and professional. Remember, you want the interviewer to be listening to what you're saying, not critiquing what you're wearing.

Can you talk the talk?

I know...I know....Everyone hates quizzes. However, here's one that will actually be useful! With all the interviews taking place in our office (and off campus for those of you pursuing part time employment) we want you to be prepared. Take this quiz and see if you know what to say to impress you potential future employer! The best thing about this quiz....It's not graded!! What more could you ask for? :)
http://resources.monster.com/tools/quizport.asp?file=admin_support_virtual_interview

AHHH! INTERVIEWS!!!!!

What do I expect in an interview... What do I wear...I have no idea what this company is about...What if I get nervous...Interviews are so awkward...what if they dont' like me...What if I'm late...What if I don't know the answer to a question...Oh no! I have a coffee stain on my shirt... and my socks don't match...

Does this picture look like you when you hear the "I" word? Don't be scared! We've got you covered! Career Services is dedicating the month of October to the word "INTERVIEW." We will answer all your questions and give you excellent tips and advice for acing your next interview!! With all the on-campus interviews going on, it never hurts to be too prepared for your next interivew. Whether you're looking for part time or full time positions, having a great interview is your key to success!!! We'll cover all the topics mentioned above and more!!!...but your on your own about the coffee stain and the mismatched socks

Happy October! Check back daily for more interview information!!! Also...let us know any questions you have about interviews-we would love to talk about what our students want to know!