Talk The Talk
As graduation draws near, students all over the country are looking for jobs in this volatile job market. Kashima Grant, a City College senior, spends most of her free time looking for job or internship opportunity, trying to get her foot in the door. The interview is the hardest part for her."No matter how much I prepare, I feel like I'm never ready," says Grant, 22, whose nervousness sometimes gets the best of her. "I never know what to expect, and that's the worst part."Grant isn't the only one.Finding a job has become a major issue for graduating college students and more and more are worried that they have to settle for a job that's below their qualifications. In the United States, about 2.4 million students will graduate with bachelors and associate degrees as a part of the class of 2011, says the National Center of Education Statistics.Past students are very aware of how hard it can be to secure a job after graduation in this economy. "I graduated in 2008 and I've yet to find a job in my field," says Sharnalee Stewart, 24, CCNY 2008 graduate. "I know I want a great job, and I know I have what it takes to get it." Stewart in currently enrolled in the Metropolitan College of New York where she is currently working on her master's degree.Now that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that for each opening five job seekers are waiting in line, having a good interview is crucial."Understand that looking for a job is a full-time job and it requires effort," says Rhea Faniel, associate director of recruitment at CCNY's Career Center.Below, both Faniel and the book "Career GPS," co-written by Linda Villarosa, head of the CCNY Journalism Program, offer advice for nailing a job interview. Faniel refers to this process as "the steps to the dancePreparation is key. Before going on an interview you must conduct research on the company you're applying to. Knowing the background of the company is important to help you generate questions for the employer.Think through whether the company and position are right for you.What jobs are available? Do your skills match the position's required skill-set? Do you have the experience required?Ask questions: You may be the interviewee, but you must always ask questions. They may include details about the position like what is a day like for a person in the job? How is the training conducted? And what traits do they seek for the position? "Be sure not to just focus on how much you will be making as this may be a turn off for the employer," says Faniel.Say thank you. At the end of the interview always remember to thank the interviewer, shake hands firmly, and make eye contact.Follow up with a note right away. A hand-written thank-you on nice stationary is a nice touch. It should be short and graceful, expressing gratitude for the interviewer's time and reiterating your interest in the position.Those who have been through the interview process understand that the advice above works: "Listen, I've been on a few interviews, so I know," says Andrew Downer, 27, a former real estate agent who returned to CCNY to finish his degree. "I've seen friends that didn't get the job because they didn't know anything about the company, or didn't have any questions to ask the interviewer. Being prepared is the key."
