I’ve been on a bunch of job interviews. I’ve been interviewed by one person, a panel of three, in multiple cities, for varying sizes of companies, and for everything from retail to administrative to creative positions. There are a few general rules for job interviewing:

Eye contact
Speak succinctly and with clarity
Allow the interviewer to lead the interview
Bring multiple copies of your resume handy
Do prior research on the company your interviewing with

These will definitely help get you out of The Shire. However, there’s one golden rule above them all that is guaranteed to make you a “can’t miss” prospect.

It’s not about what they can do for you, it’s about what you can do for them.

They called you in. They called you in to see what you can offer them. This approach will have you focus on what your strengths are, allow you to comment on what exemplifies the company you want to be apart of, and how you can become an indispensable addition, because you can contribute.

Maybe you can refill a stapler in under 6.5 seconds. Maybe you can run a half-mile in 2 minutes-whatever your skills, strengths, or accomplishments, this kind of mentality allows you to focus on those and how they work within the system you’re attempting to get involved with.

You don’t have to phrase this as in, “This is what I think you’re missing,” but rather, “This is what I love about this place, and here’s how I can add something to it.” It makes you appear proactive, eager, appreciative, and a team player. Because that’s the key to any job: remembering that you’re not going to be on your own the whole time but working with other people.

It’s not about what they can do for you, it’s about what you can do for them.

Every question they ask, think that thought. Every time you see an opening to elaborate on an answer, think that thought. It’s a way of keeping your focus in the room. You have something to offer them. Make the offer.

Always Be Closing,

The Dude

[Life after college is hard. Like really hard. But it's not so hard that you should curl up in a ball and watch E! marathons all day long. Not only are we covering the experience from a first-hand perspective, but we're now covering it from a how-to-survive-it perspective. Every week, we're going to bringing the best advice to getting through your first post-grad year. Because sometimes, your grandmother's "just go to law school" advice just doesn't cut it.]

We’re growing faster than a gangly 13-year-old girl here at CollegeCandy headquarters (well, technically our parents’, CMG headquarters) and we’re hiring up a storm. So in addition to getting to write about celebrity PDA and decorating your vagina, I also now get to conduct tons of interviews. Since I’m barely out of college myself, it’s my first time being on the other side of the desk….and ooo boy, is it an interesting experience! I’m not only learning a lot about the process (like it sucks having to turn qualified candidates down), but also about the do’s and don’ts of interviewing. For every stellar interviewee, there was one that made me say “and BOOM, that’s why you’ve been unemployed for 6 months.”

So, without further ado, here’s a quick guide to acing an interview. Read More »

[Life after college is hard. Like really hard. But it's not so hard that you should curl up in a ball and watch E! marathons all day long. Not only are we covering the experience from a first-hand perspective, but we're now covering it from a how-to-survive-it perspective. Every week, we're going to bringing the best advice to getting through your first post-grad year. Because sometimes, your grandmother's "just go to law school" advice just doesn't cut it.]

Ladies, let’s be real: finding a job is tough stuff. Before you get to sending those resumes out, before you worry about which job-related websites to start checking religiously, make sure you’ve got your basics covered. After all, what’s that they say about a good foundation being the key to a solid…something or other? It’s not just a nice platitude that encourages you to order an extra basket of nachos before a night of heavy drinking. This common sense can also be applied to…wait for it…matters of the Real World.

So what, you ask, are the key ingredients to kick of a successful job hunt? As someone who has been in and out of job interviews at the same rate that LiLo checks in and out of rehab, trust me when I say preparation is everything. And to ensure that you are prepped like none other, I present to you the ultimate job search checklist:

The Outfit
You want to come off confident and capable, but not overtly sexy or worse — dowdy. Try not to over think this one, as you might easily find yourself standing naked in front of your closet, tossing outfit after outfit on the floor. Remember it’s best to stick to the timeless elements of a successful casual-but-not-too-casual/dressy-but-not-too-dressy ensemble.

Grab some well-fitting black pants (nothing wide-leg, nothing wool, nothing pinstripe) like these hip-yet-professional skinny pants from The Gap, pair them with a bright silky top, toss a cardigan on top and add in an edited selection of accessories. Easy as pie! And don’t be afraid to drop a little extra cash on your interview look– you’ll get plenty of wear of out it, and you can later translate the various pieces into different office-ready outfits when the time comes. (For more in-depth advice, check out which color is best to wear at an interview)

Read More »

Whether you’re graduating this spring or you’re hunting for a summer internship, you’re probably stressed about acing your interviews. To help alleviate some of that stress, we reached out to the experts from Excelle and asked them for their tips on making a great first impression. Check back every Thursday for more helpful career tips and articles!

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Study this list and plan your answers ahead of time so you’ll be ready to deliver them with confidence.

1. What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: “I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful.”

2. Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: “With five years’ experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I’m confident I would be a great addition to your team.”

3. Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, “I’ve selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices.” Read More »

2010 is coming to an end and guess what? The economy still sucks. There are no jobs. The employment rate for college grads is down. Again.

In a depressing market like that, people need to step up their game to get ahead of their competition. You gotta prepare. You gotta know your ish. You gotta do whatever you can to prove to that hiring manager that you’re a better candidate than the 300 other recent grads sitting vying for the same job (from their parents’ living rooms).

But how do you do that?

Monster.com has you covered.

Being that Monster is one of the biggest job searching websites in the world, they’ve helped millions of people find the jobs of their dreams. Now, to say thanks, those people are sharing their tips for success with the people who need it most. And they want you to do the same.

Are you a recent grad with an awesome new gig?
A current student who found a sweet summer job on Monster.com?
Or maybe the perfect internship for next semester?

Share your tip on Monster.com’s success site and you will be entered to win a brand spanking new MACBOOK AIR! Yes, it’s true. Here’s how it works: Read More »

[When moving into either a dorm or an off-campus apartment, your wardrobe will face two major challenges: 1. A major lack of funding (to add more to it), and 2. A major lack of storage space (for all the crap you've got). For these two reasons, maximizing what you already own becomes essential. That's why you need to learn to Shop Your Closet. Each week, I’ll show you how to wear 1 item 3 ways – with the stuff you most likely already own! – to get the most out of your purchases.]

Whether or not you ever wear it, you probably have a white button-up shirt in your closet. If your mom bought it for you, thinking it would be a good wardrobe foundation (she was right!) or it’s one of your go-tos for job interviews, it’s a pretty common piece to own. I know, a white oxford seems like the blandest thing in your closet that you’d only wear for something more profesh, but it’s a really classic piece that is easy to wear and easily adaptable.

Yes, you can wear one of these shirts pretty much ANYWHERE. It can be dressed up, dressed down, worn conservatively or given a little life to make it more fun. Still with me? Here are three ways to make that button-up shirt work with your wardrobe. Read More »

[When moving into either a dorm or an off-campus apartment, your wardrobe will face two major challenges: 1. A major lack of funding (to add more to it), and 2. A major lack of storage space. For these two reasons, maximizing what you already own becomes essential. That's why you need to learn to Shop Your Closet. Each week, I’ll show you how to wear 1 item 3 ways – with the stuff you most likely already own! – to get the most out of your purchases.]

This week I’ve decided to choose a fall trend that you may not already own but totally, totally should: the leather skirt. Stay with me, K?

The leather skirt is super versatile and can be worn with a wide variety of items for many different occasions. Though this item may seem tricky to incorporate into your wardrobe, it’s a challenge everyone should take on. Especially because it’s possible to build outfits around a leather skirt with stuff you’ve already got lying around (because lord knows you haven’t had time to hang anything up since midterms started….). And since the leather skirt is so popular right now, everyone from uber expensive Michael Kors to budget friendly Forever 21 has a version to try.

So try it! And then try one of these looks: Read More »

It’s almost that time of year again. Time to pack up those boxes and head back to campus to endure the infamous walk of shame walk to class, cafeteria food, cute boys in uniform, and a little math problem I like to call “peppermint schnapps + chocolate milk = excellent football game material.”  Cheers to that.

If you’re as excited as I am, it’s time to get a jump start and fill up your dresser drawers with some Fall-ish suga – aka the perfect fall wardrobe.  Lucky for me, this season (because I’m obsessed with it) gray is the new neutral.  Bye bye lint rolling the shiz out of all of my black clothes, right!?!  Aren’t you ecstatic?! Gray is such a soft, easy color and goes with absolutely everything under the sun.  So instead of running for cover in an end-of-summer sale rack of black, high tail it on over to the grays.

You won’t re-gray it. Sorry, couldn’t resist. Read More »

The following post is courtesy of our uber fashionable friends at CollegeFashion.net!

As we get closer to the end of the school year, many of us are going on internship/summer job interviews- myself included. On College Fashion, we have already covered How to Dress for a Job Interview and How to Get the Internship of Your Dreams. However, in addition to dressing to impress, your makeup and hair needs to look natural and polished for interview success.

Interview beauty can be tricky because you want to make sure you’re making a good impression, while still looking natural and chic. This post will help you achieve the perfect interview look to help you score the job/internship of your dreams! Read More »

It’s that time of year again – the time to start hunting for summer jobs or internships (if you haven’t already), or start hunting for job or internship wardrobes (if you’ve already secured the gig). If you’re working in an office or a professional environment chances are you’re going to need to pick up a few pieces. Contrary to what some people think, Uggs and flip flops are not acceptable at most office jobs.

But don’t worry – you don’t have to pre-spend all that money you’re about to earn on a new work wardrobe. There are a few basics that can help make getting dressed for interviews or a work day simple. Just mix-and-match these with your everyday stuff and you’ll have plenty of options all summer long.

Well-fitted basics are the groundwork for a put together, streamlined outfit.  Dressing these up with accessories, or fun extras – tops, cardigans, or shoes – add personality to simple pieces and keep you lookin’ like you (and not some dowdy old lady).  If you want to hold onto these pieces for the future, it’s always good to spend a bit more and invest in pieces that fit well and are good quality. However, if you have a limited budget, many discount stores offer cheaper alternatives that will get you through your summer gig. Read More »