How to Respond to “Tell me about yourself”

Often times, the most puzzling part of an interview is the broad icebreaker: “Tell me about yourself.” When employers say “tell me about yourself”, they really mean what can you do for this business. Prepare yourself before an interview using these helpful tips as guidance.

1. Make a list of your top qualities that apply to the position you are being interviewed for. Practice a dialogue in the mirror of what you will say about yourself during the interview.

2. Be confident. Don’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments and traits that you are proud of. The interviewer wants to know why you make a better fit to the position than other candidates.

3. Begin with your most impressive accomplishments and try to relate them to how these experiences will help you in your future career.

Practice, practice, practice! And don’t forget to make eye contact!

How to Follow Up On a Job Interview

Here are some tips on how to properly communicate with a future employer to increase your chances of getting hired.

After submitting your application:

Once you send in your application, the next step is to wait to hear back from the employer. You do not want to pester the hiring manager with phone calls or emails because you never know how many hundreds of applications they have to sift through before beginning the interview process.

Post interview:

After your interview, be sure to send a “thank you” note to express gratitude for the interview and your continued interest in the position.

After a week:

Review your notes from the interview and send a thoughtful email or short phone call reflecting on points from the interview. State something memorable from the interview or try to show your value to the company.

Prep Yourself For The Future

Words of wisdom for preparing for a successful future:

1. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. The greatest barrier to achieving your potential is your comfort zone.

2. Develop a professional network to get a better understanding of the industry and for advice on how to create a successful career path of your own.

3. Be open to new opportunities. You will never know what is behind closed doors unless you open them.

4. Spend time creating a great resume and edit it to target the industry and job qualifications of where you send it.

5. Never quit when you experience a setback or frustration. Success could be right around the corner.

6. Think big, empowering thoughts and keep an open mind.

How to Build Your Network

1. Join professional or trade organizations. No better method exists for finding people who share the same professional interests and goals than joining one or more industry organizations. Get the most out of your membership by attending any meetings and conferences offered.

2. Volunteer. Providing your time and effort to a needy cause is perhaps one of the strongest venues for networking because you are working side-by-side with people who share your passion.

3. Attend networking events. Find events from community calendars online, our Career Services Office or in your local newspaper.

4. Join or ramp up your activities on social and professional networking sites. Position yourself as a knowledge leader by participating in online conversations.

5. Conduct informational interviews. As the name implies, it's an interview you initiate with someone in your profession/industry whose brain you can pick about how s/he got their start, moved up the ladder, and so forth.

6. Contact former co-workers, vendors, customers/clients. Many times as we move from job-to-job, employer-to-employer, we lose touch with former co-workers, customers, and the like. These people all had a relationship with you before and could again – you simply need to reconnect with them.

New Year’s Resolutions

As 2012 is coming to a close, it’s time to begin thinking of your New Year’s Resolution. Whether you have many plans for 2013 or none at all, here are some ideas to think about.

Take things one-step at a time – Goals are much easier to accomplish if you take your time and do not rush them. You don’t have to

Think realistically – Pick resolutions that are long-term and something you can work at all year. Be careful not to set yourself up for failure by choosing a goal that is not manageable.

Remind yourself why you made this resolution – Write down your resolution and the reasons why you chose this goal. Put this somewhere you will see it often so you are reminded why it’s important.

How To Prepare For A Phone Interview

The main point of a phone interview is to decide which applicants should come in for an in-person interview. Your goals for a phone interview are to sell yourself and build a connection with the interviewer.

You should prepare for a phone interview similar to an in-person interview.

-Research the company

-Be prepared to talk about why you are interested in the position

-Discuss what skills make you a good fit for the company

-Have questions ready to ask

Remember to speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Try to avoid ums, and ahs. Lastly, smile while you’re speaking. It will project a positive change in the tone of your voice and the interviewer will notice!

Managing your reputation...online

In the age of the Internet, it’s important to understand how social media can affect the outcome of future job opportunities. Here’s some advice on how to build a brand for yourself and manage your online reputation.

1. You don’t control your own reputation – others do based on their values and the signals you send them.

2. Perception = reality. What others perceive is your reputation, whether you like it or not.

3. Trust is everything – the perceptions you create open some doors and close others. Make sure they’re the ones you intend.

4. Social media is forever – 79% of employers check applicants’ online/social networks and 70% say they rejected candidates based on what they found.

5. Nothing is private – information that is online can be viewed by anyone. Check your digital footprint by Googling yourself and see what you find.

6. Build your digital footprint – use social networks to build content that will cast you in a positive light.