Tips for a successful college interview
Computer Skills: With more and more employers relying on the use
of computers in the workplace, you should include a section where
you list any computer programs, hardware, software and/or
INTERNET functions with which you have working knowledge.Maybe
the underwater basket-weaving club president was responsible for
hosting meetings, planning events and organizing a fundraiser.
But if she didnt actually accomplish any of those things, she
cant add them to her resume. So consider both your
responsibilities and accomplishments, whether in a club, on a
team, at a job, through a service project, etc. and then think of
those accomplishments in terms of numbers.You may also be asked
some more in-depth questions about your plans during your college
career or if you have any goals. Examples include:
1. Why are you interested in pursuing your major?
2. What skills do you expect to develop through your degree
program?
3. Do you plan to continue your education?
4. What career fields interest you?
5. Will you seek financial aid?
6. What are your plans after you graduate college?
7. Where do you hope to be career-wise in 10 years?
8. What are some academic goals you hope to accomplish in
college?
9. What skills do you hope to develop in college?
10. Do you plan to participate in activities outside of class?Get
this: you can also include if you were selected for something.
(Examples: 1 of 200 students selected to serve as student/admin
liaison or 1 of 4 students chosen to represent our school at the
national conference.)
Watch for anonymity. If it is difficult to find an address, actual contact, company name, etc. , this is cause to proceed with caution. Fraud postings are illegal, so scammers will try to keep themselves well-hidden. You might be asked this question to assess your awareness of your academic weaknesses and how you plan to develop or improve your various academic skills. Keep your answer honest and include one or two main skills you would like to develop. Example: "I don't have an exact plan for after graduation, however, I do plan to pursue my career in political science. I hope that by moving into this career field, I can also travel to some parts of the world that I've been wanting to see. " Example: "I can see myself pursuing a higher degree after undergraduate school, though I do not quite know yet if that is something I want to do. I feel like I will have a better idea of my higher education goals after attending my program for a while. " The first thing potential employers should see is a section at the top of your resume with your name, contact information and a link to your professional profile or website if you have one. In this section, you should include: Be Punctual. Never be late for an interview.
Resume for college interview - FYI - Questions asked during an interview are intended for the potential employer to determine whether or not your skills and abilities may be beneficial to the organization. Civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, marital status, disability, etc. Therefore, interviewers are not permitted to ask questions about such subjects prior to making an offer of employment if the information is irrelevant to your ability to perform the job. Once you accept the offer, however, issues such as number of dependents, date of birth, disabilities, etc. become necessary information for medical and retirement benefits, accommodations for disabilities, etc. Though such inappropriate preemployment inquiries are rare, check with CCS if you have have questions about an interviewer's actions. Detailed information about appropriate preemployment inquiries is available in the Center for Career Services.
Try to arrive early enough to allow time to check your appearance and collect your thoughts. If you arrive very early, however, do not introduce yourself to the interviewer or receptionist more than ten minutes before the scheduled time of the interview. If for some reason you will be late, call ahead. Example: "I would love to increase my knowledge of applied mathematics and earn top scores in my political science classes by the end of my first year in college. I feel that by accomplishing these goals I can further develop my critical and creative thinking. " A resumé is a brief, easy to read summary of your skills and experience. Your resumé should be honest, positive, and most of all, concise. Remember, on the first review an employer only spends about thirty or forty seconds reviewing your resumé, and it is the first impression you will make. An effective resumé will serve its purpose of getting you an interview. Clearly Defining Your Goals Before the Interview. Employers look favorably upon candidates who have specific and well-defined career goals. Many job seekers mistakenly believe that the more general they are about what they want to do, the better their chance of getting a job.
An applicant tracking system is software used by companies to review, rank and sort applications received for a job or internship posting. An ATS prioritizes and ranks resumes according to their use of the specified keywords related to the job posting. Resumes with the least amount of keywords or those not formatted for an ATS are ranked lowest.A business letter is often your first point of contact with an employer. As such, it needs to represent you in a positive light, set the tone for future contacts, and be consistent with standard business practices.This statement, also called a "career objective," "resume summary" or "objective statement," goes below your contact information and is usually composed of one to two sentences that sum up your short-term professional goals and why youre seeking employment. Your objective statement should be brief and focus specifically on your current career-related experience as well as your developed skills. Keep this section under 50 words or two to three lines in length.