How-To Guide to Finding Employment

As you read over the positions we have posted so far, you may be feeling overwhelmed or wondering what the best way to go about gaining employment is. Today we're going to give you tips on the process of finding a job as well as go over job interview skills.

Many of our listed jobs require an online application. After filling this out, it would be a good idea to follow these steps.

-Follow up with a phone call in the next few days, telling them you submitted an application online and wanted to check its progress.

-Offer to come in and meet with the person in charge of hiring.

By making the call and offering to come in, you will distinguish yourself from the pool of faceless, online applicants and prevent yourself from becoming just another number. It shows that you care! Apathy is a killer in the job market.

Now, let's say you go in for an interview, or even just to meet with a manager. Before you step foot inside, there is preparation to be done that will greatly improve your chances of landing the job.

-Have a resume ready on real resume paper to hand to the interviewer. If you do not have one, many samples can be found online. Making one is well worth the time, trust us.

-Do some research on the company you're applying to and come up with some intelligent questions. This shows you have taken outside initiative, an impressive fact considering you do not even have the job yet.

-Get a good night's sleep. It sounds obvious, but you want your full faculties on hand during the interview. Oh, and it is probably a bad idea to show up hung over.

-Dress to impress. The T-shirt and jeans you go out in at night won't cut it. A polo and khaki pants for guys should be fine. For girls, there are more options. You can't go wrong though with a nice blouse and slacks or a business skirt. Use your judgment on what to wear depending on the job.

Next, we'll discuss the interview itself.

-First impressions are huge. Look the interviewer in the eye and shake his/her hand with a strong handshake. A strong handshake is an indicator of confidence, an attribute every employer is attracted to.

-Have answers ready for the typical questions they will ask. This includes your strengths AND weaknesses as an employees. With your weaknesses, however, don't be too self-deprecating. Remember that you still are trying to sell yourself!

-They will ask you about previous job or work experiences, especially those involving leadership. Be ready for questions like this.

-At the end of the interview they will ask if you have any questions. Make sure you have a few. Here are a few examples:

1. Why did you decide to work for _____?

2. What do you like about working for _____?

3. How long have you worked for _____?

4. What steps is _____ taking to expand/new initiatives or projects?

Again, intelligent questions make you look good.

-DO NOT ask questions about breaks or perks such as "When's lunch?" or "How many vacation days do I get?" This will look like you're already trying to take the easy way out. Also, avoid personal questions about the interviewer and questions that could easily be answered by the company's home page. With more in-depth research, questions should be thoughtful and applicable to the position you are applying to. Come across as dedicated, sincere and a hard worker.

We hope if you took the time to read this it was helpful. Good luck applying and if you have any additional questions, feel free to post comments on the blog or email us at greenburghny1@gmail.com. Have a good day!