Thursday, March 18, 2010

Mastering the Interview

This morning I attended the career workshop, “Mastering the Interview,” which is the second half of the interview seminar I took on March 4. During this workshop, I learned how to answer the tough questions that interviewers often ask. I learned what to say that will to set me apart from the competition. (There really is a science to this!) I also learned how to discover what an interviewer is really looking for when asking certain questions and how to respond positively to those inevitable inappropriate questions. Normally, I would be happy to share some of these “secrets” with you, but I have a definite hiring advantage over you if I don’t tell you. So, until I get a job, you’ll just have to wait in suspense! (I know you’re on pins and needles right now. LOL!)

One of the neat things about the workshop I attended was the i-View. This is a really nifty online practice tool that helps a person see how well they interview. Simply put, the way it works is that I pull up the program, enter into the computer the type of job(s) I am applying for, and a list of interview questions pops up, from which I choose the questions I would like to be asked. Then, sitting in front of my computer’s camera, I answer the questions as a simulated interview takes place and is recorded online. Afterwards, I can immediately access my recording to assess my communication skills, body language and effectiveness of responses. It then goes to my career coach, who evaluates my recording and provides me with feedback to help me improve. Too cool, huh?

I am still putting together my resume, which is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I am very behind schedule, and I need to devote a couple days solely to working on it. I have become slightly overwhelmed with everything I have learned during this career transition.

I have become friends with a bunch of folks in the same unemployment boat I am in who I have met through Right Management. A group of about 5 of us has bonded, and we have decided to form a sort-of “support” group to encourage each other in our job search efforts and beyond. I’m always amazed that there are so many wonderful people in the world that I would never have met if it wasn’t for adversity, such as a job loss. My new friends are truly amazing people and seem to be highly gifted in their career fields. I am so blessed to have met them and have them in my life.