Curly Haired Bombshells

The Interview Finesse

The video I wanted to post was too long  and my music was over my voice, so this was one of the outtake videos, still some good info. Along with the video; here’s what you need to know:

1. Practice, practice, practice..Practice popular interview questions (https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-answer-the-31-most-common-interview-questions) Practice possible inquires that could come up with your resume finesse (We couldn’t find this job on your record, How long has the business been closed?, etc.) Practicing will help you so much! 

2. Research the company! (It’s super impressive when you can answer “Why do you want to work here?” with a fact about their company.) Every company has a website and “About Us” section, STUDY IT! If there is no website, that’s a red flag, especially if someone contacted you through email. 

Example: Why do you want to work here? Well, I am very passionate about breast cancer research and your company donated over 1.3 million to the National Breast Cancer Research fund as well as your employees volunteering over 10,000 hours at their different facilities Worldwide. It’s important to me that my professional and personal goals can align which is helping people struggling with illnesses and giving back to my community through donations and volunteering. 

(YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND YOU ARE SO IN THERE!!!!) I did this and they offered me the job on the spot right there in the group interview! 

3. Practice going through your new finessed resume. Practice your new job titles, responsibilities. You want a error free flawless presentation. Be ready to answer any question about the responsibilities you listed. That’s why step #1 is so important. 

4. Don’t you ever leave an interview without asking questions! Never! Here are some great questions you can ask your interviewer:

What are additional responsibilities I can expect other than the ones listed in the description?

How long have you been working here? What is the most rewarding part of your position? What do you enjoy about working for this company?

How are our positions related?

Where do you see the company in 5 years?

Is there room for advancement or growth in this opportunity?

Do you have any hesitations about my experience or qualifications?

What kind of training is in place for this position? 

What kind of benefits do you offer?

What is the anticipated start date for this position?

5. MAKE THE FIRST THING YOU SAY ABOUT EACH JOB THE MOST IMPRESSIVE!! The first bullet point under each job should also be the most impressive duty/accomplishment/task. 

6. Tell us about yourself. This is not your opportunity to tell them you’re from the South side of Chicago and you moved to Atlanta when you were 12 because your mom wanted you to have a fresh start. NO! This is your moment to give some amazing adjectives and background PROFESSIONAL experience about yourself. How long have you been in this industry? What are your strengths? What are you looking for with a new opportunity? 

7. Always have multiple copies of your resume with you. Always ask the interviewer(s) if they would like a copy. 

8. SMILE! 

CONTROL YOUR ENERGY BASED OFF THE POSITION! (Customer Service interview? Give them professional high energy! Corporate Amerikkka Interview? Give them lowkey professional demeanor with a sturdy handshake and smile.)

9. DRESS THE PART!! I do not care if you are interviewing to be a dog sitter, BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL IS THE ONLY ATTIRE ACCEPTABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW! Retail corporate, home care, medical, it doesn’t matter, dress your best! 

10. Do your research on the current salary and city/state average for the position matched with your experience and/or education. This isn’t for the interview, this is once you get an offer. 

RESOURCES:

Glassdoor.com (You can look up previous and current salaries as well as pass interview questions! This site is GOLD. Use it.) 

Salary.com (How much are people with your experience and education making? Find out here.) 

Resume Templates  (click the link) 

ATS optimized resumes!! (Available on the link above) This is the system ALMOST every employer utilizes for their candidate database. This system will be the difference between employers seeing “Cashier” vs “Customer Service Manager”. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. All cashiers go in once place, managers go in another. It also organizes by last name, age, city and all that good stuff. 

Original Post: 

Hello! For those of you who don’t know, my name is Amira Hasib and I am a senior Film/Video major at Pratt Institute. I am current looking to film my senior thesis project, but I need your help! In order to bring this project, this idea I’ve had since high school, to life, I need to raise $3,150! This money will go to set design, costume design, art direction, securing locations, transportation, and feeding the cast! Everyone is working for free and donating their time so it is only right for this project to come to life the way I see it in my head.

If you support black women in film, check out the Kickstarter page as well as the details below!

The Story

Young, black and supernaturally gifted, Nightwatcher is the story of Leila, who at the age of 7, accidentally discovers she has the super natural ability to teleport when she is being bullied by classmates. Leila then realizes that this power only emerges when she feels she is in extreme danger and/or under extreme stress.

It isn’t until 14 years later, that Leila’s power reemerges when her best friend, Lance, falls victim to a racially motivated assault. After this event, Leila then has to choose whether or not she accepts this power and who she is along with it.

Why me?

I wanted to write and direct a story about someone who defies the standard conventions of what is acceptable. I wanted a hero that had every right to be a hero–someone who has always been persecuted, outcasted, and scorned simply for existing. I wanted a black girl to be my superhero because as black women, we are everything society rejects –female, and black– versus being white, and male.

Black women have always been the pioneers of social revolution and its about time we start being depicted as the super heroes that we are. That is my goal with this film as well as all media I produce–black women deserve to be nuanced, we deserve to be depicted in ways that are true and authentic versus stereotypical and one dimensional.

A glimpse of what’s in store…

Below (which is also on the Kickstarter page) is a test shoot I did of Nightwatcher two years ago. I’ve always wnated the main character to be a woman, this is just a take on the cinematographic style and narrative I wanted to test out.

So, all in all, we have 30 days to raise $3,150! I hope you all can help me get this film made! All prizes and further details are on the Kickstarter page! 

Please keep in mind, that me raising this money is ALL or NOTHING, and I pray you all believe in this project as much as I do and will ensure I can get it made! Thank you!

SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN IN FILM AND LET’S GO, GO, GO!

Donations kinda stalled but let’s keep this going. The sooner we raise the funds the sooner we can start production! It’s a joint effort and even the smallest amounts are appreciated and I am so thankful to everyone who boosted as well as donated to this production.