“Preparing for a Successful Job

Interview”Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Room 3315

11:30 – 12:30 pm

27th Employment Development Week & Job Fair

Career ServicesPresenter: Luis M. Rodriguez, M. Ed.

Language Center Coordinator

School of Continuing Education & Professional Development

 School of Continuing Education & Professional Development

300 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Room 1158 Miami, Florida 33132Office: 305.237.3120

www.CommunityEducationAtWolfson.com

Goals of this Presentation

1. Identify common entry jobs requirements

2. Understand different steps for job hunting

3. Learn advantages of using Miami Dade College Career Services including Optimal Resume

4. Improve employability skills through the observation of professional etiquette and employment behavior.

Customer Service Philosophy

• Answering questions.

• Solving problems.

• Untangling corporate logjams.

• Fixing what’s broken.

• Finding what’s lost.

• Soothing the irate and reassuring the timid.

• Matching people who do business with you with just the right products, services, and solutions.

• In fact: performing the business equivalent of pulling a rabbit out of a hat…not an easy task!

Customer relations is an integral part of your job – not an extension of it. - William B. Martin

Customer Service Dimensions

Researchers have found that it cost five times more to attract

a new customer than it does to keep one you already have!!

“Customers perceive service in their own unique, idiosyncratic, emotional, irrational, end of the day, and totally human terms.

Perception is all there is!” Tom Peters, Management Guru

So, how do we get the right job?

The majority of entry-level positions are customer service oriented.

Developing skills to deal with “the customer” is very important to succeed and grow into different supervisory and management opportunities. In fact, without “the customer” there is no business, and there is no job.

Ultimately, to get the job you need to:

• Research• Look great in paper• Look great in person• Keep and advance in your job

Looking for a Job? Follow these steps1. Create a Resume or Portfolio

• Write a cover Letter

• Update your resume

2. Research:

• Local Newspapers

• One Stop Career Centers and other employment agencies

• Online Search:

e.g. Miami Dade College Career Services

Optimal Resume Portal for MDC students

Other Commercial Employment Websites

3. Prepare for the interview

/

Do you believe in love at first sight?

First impressions are extremely resistant to change

Be Calm. Look Relax.

If the interviewer perceives the candidate as unfriendly and impersonal, he/she will be watchful and will lose confidence for the candidate to represent the organization

• Be on-time to the appointment

• Identify yourself with receptionist/assistant

• Dress with a business-like approach

• Shake hands with interviewer

•Take extra copies of your resume

Importance of First Impressions

Always remember the very first impression

comes with the first ring of the phone.

Calling a Company for EmploymentCreating a positive first impression begins before you even pick up the phone.

• When you call a company looking for a job, speak clearly.

• Identify yourself by name and last name

• State the reason you are calling.

The TONE OF VOICE we use can communicate attitudes and emotions.

The listener can create good or bad impressions about the speaker:

FRIENDLYCONFIDENTSINCERECARINGSENSITIVEENTHUSIATICPLEASANT

Steps for Effective Telephone Greetings 4. Use Names.5. Speak Clearly and Audibly.6. Give Thanks.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

RUDEUNSUREFAKEINDOLENTCARELESSBORED IMPATIENTDEFENSIVETIRED

How do you impress employers at first sight?

Personal Appearance

When the employer sees you for the first time, he/she will form a lasting impression of your personal appearance. It should always be positive since a negative one will not let the costumer establish that bond with you.

Your Personal Appearance

Sometimes, it is not necessary to say a word. Our appearance will speak for you!!

Your Personal Appearance

Appropriateness of the clothing

Hair Cleanliness

Current fashion and social, peer pressure for hair styling, tattooing and piercing the skin is very trendy. The personal appearance you show for job interview demands for a more traditional appearance

and not a show-off of such attributes.

Positive Body Language 1. Acknowledge the secretary, receptionist, interviewer right away.

2. Make eye contact and smile.

3.Use salutation.

4.Define the purpose of your visit.

Avoid:

1.Chewing gum, eating or drinking.

2.Cellular phone conversation or unnecessary texting.

On Your First Contact with the Employer

You should:

• Use salutation “Good morning” / etc.

• Call the interviewer by title and last name.

• Introduce yourself by name, position if necessary.

• Listen carefully. Answer to the question without getting distracted from the topic

On Your First Contact with the Employer

The TONE OF VOICE is also very important during our face to face

communication and business interaction.

Researchers have shown that up to 40% of the message is delivered through our

tone of voice.

First impressions are very important to create the

bond with the employer.

Remember that first impressions whether on the phone, or in person

will make or break a business opportunity

To recap…

Remember

Generally, after you created a

negative impression you might not

have a second chance to fix it.

•Performance Research Associates, Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service, 2nd ed. (New York: AMACOM)

•Anderson, K. Great Customer Service on the Phone. (New York: AMACOM)

•Rodriguez, L. Journals from Working in Hospitality Management