First Job Interview - Tips?
 

I'm 16, and I'm getting my first 'real' job. There's a ski/snowboard resort nearby that is hiring people for the upcoming winter season. I'm probably going to be in the "Food/Beverages Department", serving food and beverages (duh) to the park's visitors.

Anyway, I have an job interview with a "Employment Service Representative" tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous, and don't know what to expect. Does any one have some basic tips?

The way to approach these things is to put yourself in their shoes -- what would you want to ask a high school student who applied to you for a short term job in a canteen? I'm sure that frame of mind will anticipate some of the questions.

Second, remember that a job interview is a two-way street. You get to ask questions too, so think of some things that might make or break this job for you.

Third, you're not doing this because you love hanging around canteens; you're doing it for money or the equivalent in use of the downhill facilities and lifts. Don't be shy about that.

Our Canadian friend hit the nail(s) right on the head.

However, let me amplify just a little.

Remember that, in general, the interviewer is going to be making a choice from a large applicant field. His questions are going to be geared to finding out whether you meet the needs of the employer. Your objective is to demonstrate to him that you are his best choice when compared to all of the others. You need to be able to show him that you are motivated, responsible, and competent to do the job.

As NovaScotian said, it's OK if your primary motivation is financial or peripheral to the main thrust of the job. A well-motivated employee is much less likely to be a poor performer or one who is habitually absent. However, if your motivation is "because my parents want me to get a job", chances are that you will not be considered to be a promising, responsible employee.

For an entry-level job as yours appears to be, competent does not necessarily mean experienced. If you are able to convince the interviewer that you will conscientiously apply yourself and are willing to learn the functions of the job, lack of experience is probably not a big deal.

One other point. Given that an interviewer is only going to spend a short period of time with you, impressions are important. Don't be a slob, either in appearance or behavior. Everything else being equal, a dirty, unkempt appearing or behaving person is not going to be offered any job, whether entry-level or professional.

I completely agree that an interview is a two-way street. You should find out everything you can about their expectations, pay, benefits, schedule, working conditions, etc., just to make sure you really want the job on their terms. The only tricky part here is to not come across as arrogant or combative or too demanding when you ask for this information.

Good luck.

Pete

Hi ThreeDee ,

Some very good advices have already been given. I'll just add my ideas.

I definitely agree that a interview is two way. Don't forgot that both part are searching for a winning deal.
You must have questions ready. If you're ready to accept anything, the employer will feel it and wonder why. It's usually a bad point for you.

You need to prepare for an interview. It'll help eliminating the stress, and will make you look confident.
Think (ask yourself and around you) what are your strengths and weakness.
If you tell someone that you have that strength or skill, they have no reason to believe you. If you tell them a story where you used it, they will. Tell about it. Don't expect the interviewer to guess it for you. He won't.

Don't say that you don't have any weakness. That cannot be true. It just show you aren't honest with yourself.
Explain that it won't be a problem, because you're aware of it, and what action you've taken to counter it.

As an employer, I would be looking for someone that can be trusted and is predictable.
One quote to meditate: "If you don't belong to the solution, you are part of the problem". Choose on which side you want to be.

If you have had commitments, and kept them, tell it. It doesn't need to be job-related.

Have the reasons why you want this job ready. Be prepare to explain what you're not willing to accept. If you don't get the job because of your answer to this question, you're doing yourself a favor and need to search elsewhere.
If the subject is not approached by the interviewer, you need to to it yourself.

Near the end of the interview, try to summarize what your responsibilities will be, what they will be expecting from you, and verify everybody agrees.

Last but not least: Be on time. I'll repeat it, so you don't miss it. Be on time.

After the interview, waiting for the answer, you can send a thank you note (paper, no email). That might be the small detail that will make you out of the others.

I wish you best luck. Tell us how it went.

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Ask them some intelligent questions. That creates a good balance of focus and signals that you really are interested in them, not just in yourself or in getting the job.
Do your homework and show that you are aware of the company; get them to say something about their vision, objectives and strategies, or perhaps the team spirit. Company reps like talking about the company, and that will reflect positively on you.

One of the most interesting exchances I’ve heard about was from a job interview with Norway’s second largest broadband provider. When asked why he wanted the job, the candidate for a mid-level management job answered:

"Because you have one of the worst customer service records in the business. And I would like to help do something about it."

He got the job.

Well, I'm back from the interview. I guess they weren't expecting much from me. I basically told them some of my interests were in computers and music, and that I recently joined the track & field team in my school. I got placed as a busboy. I guess it's a start.

so now all you have to do is smile... be polite and you can cash in on those 30% tips coming your way :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busboy

unless you live in the UK... where we don't tip ;)

Are they serious? I guess everyone has to start somewhere...

Andy Kaufman still worked as a bus boy when he got famous. He said it was to keep himself humble.

Even though it may not have been what you were expecting or wanting, keep a couple of things in mind.

First of all, you've overcome your first hurdle - you actually interviewed for and got a job. The next time you have to apply or interview for another one, you will not be quite so uncertain about what to expect.

Second, "I guess it's a start" is a good attitude to have. Whatever your job level, if you perform well at what you are currently assigned to do, you will have increased likelihood at getting moved upwards to the next level of compensation and responsibility when an opening occurs.

Pete

Someday maybe we'll see your name on that list :D

Well done mate, an excellent result. Is this a full time position?

I'm surprised it hasn't been changed to busperson by the gender nazis.

Congrats ThreeDee.

Had you tried the Wikipedia link, you would have seen that they are working on this, too. :(

Pete

Congratulations.
If you want to move up quickly, try to keep an open eye and take initiative to light the work load of person above you. If you perform well, they are likely to think of you for the next promotion. Though, beware to not disrupt the organization, and always have your duties completed.

I think I just don't have the clue!:D
I don't know how to pass the interview successfully. I have visited loads of companies in my search for a job. I've been to BP, for example. I was applying for an assistant to one of the managers. My duties would have been to translate from/into English + meeting organization, sorting e-mails and other work that personal assistants usually do. The position is high and they pay well for it. But somehow I failed. I passed all their tests and even had a meeting with my 'future' boss. This was to be the last one and then they just didn't contact me...
And I wonder what's the matter. I saw well that my level of knowledge was suitable for the position. My English is not bad at all, I graduated from one of the leading universities of linguistics. According to the test results, my result was good...
I think that the main reason is lacking of experience. This is my first job after graduation. I have worked, and I'm working now at the office now, of course - it's been about a year of working experience in IT-sphere.
Maybe there's some secret about having personal conversations with potential employers. I always try to sound firm and determined. I try to be serious to make a good impression of myself. Can it be possible that people want their personal assistants to be less 'formal'? Maybe I'm over-serious?
Thanks!

Did you contact them? Often, companies are overload and expect you to get back to them.

If they give you a negative answer, ask (politely) for the reasons. Once they said no, they won't change their mind, so don't try to.
But tell them you want to improve yourself and would like to know what was good and what wasn't. I think most of them will answer to you.

To the best of my understanding, the proper protocol after the interview is to write an immediate letter of acknowledgement and appreciation for the interview. If you have not been contacted after ~3-5 days, call and inquire when you can expect to hear from them, repeat every ~3-5 days until they respond back with a yes or no.

If you sit back and wait on them, there are a million things that can go wrong. They can decide you really aren't that interested, someone in the chain between the person making the hiring decision and the one who actually mails the offer letter may have dropped the ball, etc., etc., etc.

Always make sure you get a definitive yes or no. Never, ever just have the interview and then just do nothing but wait for them.

Lutin's comment is entirely appropriate. It is common courtesy on their part to give you an answer and to explain the reason, if asked. Unfortunately, the most common answer you'll get for a "no" answer is that they found someone who is better suited than you - which really is not a big help.

Pete

Thanks for advice, what you say is really very sensible.
The fact is, that I was trying to apply for a job in this company through an independent employment agency. You all know how it works - this agency is searching for suitable people for the vacancy, then the candidate has an interview with one of the agency's employees. If successful, they let the big company know that someone interested them. And then the big company that stands behind this agency contact you through the same agency to appoint an interview. That's how here in Russia big companies search for personnel.
The fact that the only contacts I had were the ones of the employment agency. The only thing they could tell me is that currently the company is studying other candidates (I'd be to stupid to believe that I was the only one).
I can't say that I'm disheartened, because I'm 22 y.o. and this was а "trial shot" for me. But, definitely, I'll take into consideration what you say now.
And, no, I didn't mail anyone right after the interview:)

I have to say I'm not acquainted with the proper protocol for interviews with an employment agency, but off the top of my head I would guess that following the same guidelines as for a direct interview would be unlikely to hurt you. As a matter of fact, it might even be more important to keep after them, as they represent at least one additional link in the chain that might result in the ball being dropped. I really don't know, others may well disagree.

One thing I didn't include in my previous post which I should mention: Suggested practice in the acknowledgement letter following the interview is including a brief recapitulation of why you are qualified for the job and why their hiring you will benefit their company. Obviously you must take care not to come across as an egotistical blowhard when you include that.

Good luck on your next opportunity.

Pete

I have done over the phone interviews, informal interviews (at a bar or coffee shop) and the formal sit down and meet and greet kind of interview. Really, the best thing you can do is just relax, because one huge factor they are looking into is if you would work out. Most employers want people who are easy to get along with and would do a good job. Remember that most employers offer some sort of training so knowing the exact job is not needed totally but having a decent background or experience is very highly recommended.

Social networking is also important, and doing your time to build experience. It is not really who you know, it is really more like who knows you. I have had lots of off the record job offers because of the people I know and have worked with in the past. Off the record means they don't want to post the job publicly and sit through a ton of interviews, they just want to hire someone in. My new job I just got because I used to work with one of the IT managers years and years ago and he remembered me and contacted me and offered the job to me. I know manage 17 xserves, and just over 5,000 macs. Of course I started out as a PC tech way back in the day at a warranty repair facility and worked my way up through certs and experience.

Remember, you have to put your time in somewhere, you can't just expect to get hired in over entry level. I think that is the problem with a lot of people this day. They get a degree or a certificate and think they deserve a higher level job than entry level, but they haven't put their time in and earned any experience.

I've worked help desk, customer service, hauled equipment around in trucks (once deployed over 70 laser printers in three weeks, each weighing around 60lbs each), network support, tech support, assembled furniture, swept out the company trucks, repaired technology, basically done about everything so I think I have put my time in but at the same time if something needs to be done I just do it. I don't play that's not my job game like some people do.