Job interviews are not fun. My recent experience participating in an interview panel brought to light some obvious things that should be avoided during an interview. With the hopes of providing some simple and useful tips to get through what is such a stressful experience for most of us, here is the list of do’s and don’ts I gathered:
1. Don’t say ‘I hate interviews’. No one likes interviews and now is not the time to let everyone who has gathered here know that you too, share this common opinion.
2. Stay positive. Focus on answering questions by showing what you do know, how you can contribute and what your experiences have to offer. Don’t mention that you are worried you might not have enough experience. This leads to the next point…
3. Don’t apologize for what you don’t know. The last thing you need to do is put a magnifying glass to your weaknesses. Acknowledge them as such, but put a positive spin on it – you learn fast, you are resourceful, dedicated, etc. to expanding your skills, meeting new challenges, and so on. Don’t say sorry for what you perceive is a strike against you!
4. Don’t keep talking to try to fill the void. If you answer a question briefly, don’t keep talking because you think you should have more to say. This usually muddies up the answer you already gave and makes you look unsure of yourself. Verbal diarrhea should be avoided.
5. DO come prepared – Part 1: Bring a note pad, reference papers, and a pen (unless specified not to). Taking notes during the interview helps to keep your thoughts and answers on track. It shows you care and you are ready to do what it takes to do a good job. Don’t be shy to jot notes about the questions you are asked – they are often complex, multi-part questions.
6. DO come prepared – Part 2: Do some research into the company or organization or at the very least, visit their website. Not having done so will be obvious and will not win you any points. One of the panels I was on interviewed someone for a position that consisted of providing information to high school students about how to apply to university. This person didn’t research anything about this process and it was totally obvious. This is just insulting. If you are called for the interview, the expectation is that you have done research to find out what you are getting yourself into. You don’t have to be an expert, but show that you took the initiative to learn something.
7. DO come prepared – Part 3: Have case studies, scenarios and examples at the ready. You cannot prepare for an exam without reviewing more material than what you will be tested on. An interview should be approached the same. Prepare for those questions you can almost certainly count on being asked – you know: “Tell us about a particularly difficult situation where you had to deal with a [insert situation here]” or “Give us an example of your contribution on a project that shows why you would be a good fit for this job”. Those questions. If you’re like me, you have been stumped and put on the hot seat trying desperately to think of something right then and there. To ace this part of an interview, preparation is key. Start by looking at the statement of qualifications that are outlined for the job, and then comb through your experiences for situations you can match up to illustrate these qualities. Bring cue cards with your scenarios written out. In an interview, cue cards aren’t a cheat sheet. Being prepared is a good thing! And if you don’t get asked those questions point-blank, you can bet the exercise of preparing for them has put you farther ahead, allowing you to be better able to relay your experience and qualifications.
8. Don’t use not currently being in the job as an excuse for not answering a question. Yes, this really did happen. Even if you did your research on the position you applied to and are still stuck, don’t bring attention to it. Do the best you can with your knowledge and whatever you do, avoid saying you can’t answer because “it’s hard to answer since I’m not in the job”! We know that. We are trying to find out what you would do though.
9. Keep your personal thoughts, feelings, opinions and noises to yourself. We do not need an exasperated sigh or horsey-style neigh for each difficult question you need to ponder. AVOID – AVOID-AVOID!!!!
10. And last but not least, never EVER insult or indicate in any way, shape or form that you think anything but highly of your potential future employer, or clients you might be dealing with. Again, this really did happen. Someone I interviewed for the same job I mentioned earlier (where they would be doing customer service for students on a daily basis) actually said she thought students were liars and irresponsible at keeping track of essential information. What?! The panel was incredulous. You cannot hire someone who thinks their main clientele are liars!
So that’s my advice through observation so far. Simple enough! Good luck!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Letter and a rough night
Despite the mail strike, yesterday I received a letter that I guess I had been hoping wouldn't materialize. Like a an overdue bill, it's eventual arrival was inevitable. As the time ticked down to the end of the school year, the letter came just as I had half expected,and half hoped it wouldn't.
What was this dreaded piece of correspondence? It was my youngest daughter's junior kindergarten intake package. Even writing the words down now (the next day), I feel a pit in my stomach and tears beginning to well up. Though I was preparing for this, I didn't expect it to hit me so hard. She really is going to school. How did this happen? Three and a half years flew by and here I am, supposed to be ready to put her on the bus. I'm not.
So with the letter in hand, I walked over to the calendar in the pantry to make a note of her first day. And that's when I lost it. Luckily the typical hum of daily life in our house made it possible for me to slip out of the room unnoticed. I went to the powder room to have a moment to myself. Sitting on the toilet seat, I cried. A lot. And hard. When did my kids grow up? I'm pretty sure I was just pregnant with my youngest and caring for a 5-year-old who was just starting kindergarten herself.
After I felt more composed, I came out to see my oldest daughter and husband snuggled on the sofa together (my youngest was staying at my parents overnight - which wasn't working in my favour as I just wanted to hold her and hug her...but I digress). Before my eldest went off to bed, I told her how proud my husband and I are of her, and that we have a hard time figuring out where the time has gone, but we are so lucky to have two amazing girls. I had trouble speaking with the lump in my throat which only got my sensitive daughter going too (yes more tears). We hugged, and lingered in that moment (I wish I could remember to do that more)and most importantly, told each other how much we love each other, something that can get away from us as we move through the routines of daily life.
Maybe as the summer moves along, it will become easier for me to accept that both girls will be in school. I am already envisioning (read: dreading) standing among the other parents and completely losing it in a weeping heap of inconsolable emotion as I watch my daughter's little body takes those giant steps onto the bus, while I watch intently to make sure she finds a seat. "Hold it together" I'm telling myself, "keep it together long enough to wave". As the bus drives off, I can see my husband consoling me while I bury my face in his chest, hiding that horrible ugly crying face that no one outside your family and closest friends should ever have to see.
Having this little movie running through my mind three months before it actually happens is perhaps not helping. I'm hoping in some perverse way the torture is somehow therapeutic. Who knows? What I do know for certain is that I am going to remember to take the time to enjoy the coming months of summer frolicking with my two girls while they are still small. Deep breaths.....
What was this dreaded piece of correspondence? It was my youngest daughter's junior kindergarten intake package. Even writing the words down now (the next day), I feel a pit in my stomach and tears beginning to well up. Though I was preparing for this, I didn't expect it to hit me so hard. She really is going to school. How did this happen? Three and a half years flew by and here I am, supposed to be ready to put her on the bus. I'm not.
So with the letter in hand, I walked over to the calendar in the pantry to make a note of her first day. And that's when I lost it. Luckily the typical hum of daily life in our house made it possible for me to slip out of the room unnoticed. I went to the powder room to have a moment to myself. Sitting on the toilet seat, I cried. A lot. And hard. When did my kids grow up? I'm pretty sure I was just pregnant with my youngest and caring for a 5-year-old who was just starting kindergarten herself.
After I felt more composed, I came out to see my oldest daughter and husband snuggled on the sofa together (my youngest was staying at my parents overnight - which wasn't working in my favour as I just wanted to hold her and hug her...but I digress). Before my eldest went off to bed, I told her how proud my husband and I are of her, and that we have a hard time figuring out where the time has gone, but we are so lucky to have two amazing girls. I had trouble speaking with the lump in my throat which only got my sensitive daughter going too (yes more tears). We hugged, and lingered in that moment (I wish I could remember to do that more)and most importantly, told each other how much we love each other, something that can get away from us as we move through the routines of daily life.
Maybe as the summer moves along, it will become easier for me to accept that both girls will be in school. I am already envisioning (read: dreading) standing among the other parents and completely losing it in a weeping heap of inconsolable emotion as I watch my daughter's little body takes those giant steps onto the bus, while I watch intently to make sure she finds a seat. "Hold it together" I'm telling myself, "keep it together long enough to wave". As the bus drives off, I can see my husband consoling me while I bury my face in his chest, hiding that horrible ugly crying face that no one outside your family and closest friends should ever have to see.
Having this little movie running through my mind three months before it actually happens is perhaps not helping. I'm hoping in some perverse way the torture is somehow therapeutic. Who knows? What I do know for certain is that I am going to remember to take the time to enjoy the coming months of summer frolicking with my two girls while they are still small. Deep breaths.....
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Stop looking! This is the BEST mascara out there. Period.
If you could only add one more thing to your beauty arsenal for the rest of your life, hands down, it would HAVE to be Fresh's Supernova mascara. This is the stuff of mascara commercials and airbrushing dreams. It gives you Eva Longoria-esque lashes without the falsies. It's so good you may even dare to wear it without other make up. I'm not exaggerating. I have never had comments on my lashes before I started wearing this stuff!
Sensitive eyes
I switched to this brand after suddenly developing eye sensitivities. Supernova has been a dream come true. Not itchy or flaky or clumpy. Just awesome. And if it doesn't work out for you, Sephora (the only place it is sold in Ottawa, maybe in Canada?), has a fabulous policy that allows you to return products.
At $30 a tube, it is pricey but so well worth it. If you can, try it out in a mini tube. Fresh offers a mascara duo in trial sizes for only $11.95! You get Supernova and Firebird Magic Mini Wands Duo. They are amazing on their own or layered together. Either way, this mini duo lasts about 5 or 6 months! What a bargain.
Sephora ships to Canada, but there are also stores across Canada.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Yummy Summer Bevvie: The Chill Pink Lady
Yes, I did name this myself. :-)
I see a cool pitcher of this in my future:
• 2L Cooled passion tea (Starbucks loose tea bags - the big ones!)
• Juice from half a lime (or to taste)
• Sugar, simple syrup or artificial sweetener*, to taste.
• Vodka, I guess this would also be to taste, however, I would recommend about 4 or 5 oz. per litre of iced tea
• Lime wedges or slices to float in the tea.
*Sugar makes hangovers worse. Using artificial sweetener instead can help with that!
Add ice to the pitcher when you are ready to serve, but be careful not to water down the tea too much. You could also brew the tea stronger (more tea bags, not steeped longer) to compensate for ice being added later. For 1 L of tea, I recommend 3 tea bags, steeped for about 4 or 5 minutes. Keep checking on it - you don't want the tea to be too strong and therefore too bitter. If you prefer a stronger taste, add another tea bag rather than steeping longer.
Mint leaves would also be a nice addition to the tea flavours.
Enjoy! Do you have a recipe you'd like to share? Post it in the comments!
I see a cool pitcher of this in my future:
• 2L Cooled passion tea (Starbucks loose tea bags - the big ones!)
• Juice from half a lime (or to taste)
• Sugar, simple syrup or artificial sweetener*, to taste.
• Vodka, I guess this would also be to taste, however, I would recommend about 4 or 5 oz. per litre of iced tea
• Lime wedges or slices to float in the tea.
*Sugar makes hangovers worse. Using artificial sweetener instead can help with that!
Add ice to the pitcher when you are ready to serve, but be careful not to water down the tea too much. You could also brew the tea stronger (more tea bags, not steeped longer) to compensate for ice being added later. For 1 L of tea, I recommend 3 tea bags, steeped for about 4 or 5 minutes. Keep checking on it - you don't want the tea to be too strong and therefore too bitter. If you prefer a stronger taste, add another tea bag rather than steeping longer.
Mint leaves would also be a nice addition to the tea flavours.
Enjoy! Do you have a recipe you'd like to share? Post it in the comments!
Yay - Boo: Vacation
Yay – vacation is good. Vacation is relaxing. Vacation is a break from routine. Boo- vacation makes me lazy. Vacation makes me not care about working out. Vacation makes me realize you can’t accomplish all that you thought you would with your ‘free’ time.
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