#gettinghired

With about 3 million students expected to have graduated with both an associate and bachelor degrees in 2016-2017 academic year as reported by National Center for Education Statistics, the job market has come to be the case of Darwinian survival theory. It has become very imperative for job seekers to be very primed in this brutally competitive market.

For the past 3 years, I’ve been to 5 interviews and had 5 job offers based on my diligent preparedness to navigate through the murky waters of job hunting. I have met different interviewers and can deduce the dos and don’ts that resulted in successfully landing each job.

The following are the things you should and shouldn’t do in a job interview to secure your dream job:

1. Do keep your answers short and concise. It’s imperative to talk less. You can talk less but very detailed with your response. Tackle every question thrown at you methodically by stating the situation/problem, your action/response to the situation and results of your actions. Do not emphasize much on yourself but how your skills can help the company. Yes, it’s about you but now it’s more about what you can offer the company. You should be able to know what any question entails or the response required of you. For instance, you should be able to differentiate between decision making skills and problem solving skills. They are similar but not totally the same.

Decision making skills knows the right option to choose from while problem solving skills involves knowing how to apply the best strategy in solving practical issues. One can make the right decision but not know the practical way of reaching his expected end.

2. Do be specific when asked about your past accomplishments. It is anticipated that you use examples. Do not be naively modest. If you have worked with a team before in achieving benchmarks for your previous employer use “I” and not “WE” for the purpose of your interview.

3. Do read about the job descriptions and about the company. Do not ask self-centered questions when given an opportunity to ask questions. What are self centered questions? Asking about the job pay, vacations or anything centering on self. Save questions like that for when the company comes with the actual job offer not during your initial interview

4. Do show high energy or enthusiasm makes the interviewer feel your desire to work for the company and in the position. Avoid being too high on the compensation and expectations from the company. When you are asked what your compensation expectation are you should be able to have researched what compensation is likely to be obtainable for the job. Informing the interviewer you will be okay with anything undermines your qualities; position and how you value the skills you have to offer the company. Do not forget to ask questions. You know how the interviewer asks, “so do you have any questions for me”? Please, don’t be the candidate who says, “No, I don’t”

5. Do smile, laugh (if something funny is mentioned) and be friendly during the interview. You are human and not a robot. It is normal to be nervous but learn to manage it. These are communication skills and and shows an ability to easily integrate into your new job. Do not show up unprepared or unrehearsed. Unprepared means you are empty handed and unrehearsed means you are empty headed. Go with your resume, pen and note at hand. Rehearse and be fully prepared for it will boost your confidence. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”- Abraham Lincoln.

The first stop Optimism, 

       You're all excited. You just got or are about to get this super awesome degree! You're so proud of yourself, you've made it this far & have done something to better yourself!....Now u apply to a few places & begin the waiting game.....

Now one or two of u might get off after just a short ride because you just got hired!! (Nobody likes u & they all give u dirty looks for getting off this early) jk we're all really happy for you & wish you congratulations!! Yay!!

Now the rest of us on the train are headed for the next stop...Self Doubt

        We start questioning our whole existence. Whether or not we even learned anything in school. We start thinking, maybe I'm not qualified, good, pretty, or smart enough, whatever...Now you can dust yourself off get off here & fig out another option or continue on to stop 3...

The depression spiral,

         Now this is a long road, in some deep dark tunnel. Hopefully the ride through isn't so long & unbearable...some of you might get off after this stop and decide hey, I'm cool with living with my parents forever but don't do that!! You've come this far! Have a good cry then move on! Continue applying, change how you're doing it, get a little more aggressive, & realize there is a light at the end of the tunnel u might not see it now but you will make it through! Promise!

Consider this an interim post for now. Any developer, or systems engineer, should have a look at this post by Matthew Skelton.