Business Math in Action

Chapter 13: Personnel

Achieving Job Interview Success

Your first experience in the job market is probably going to be as a worker, not a boss. How do you convince a potential employer that you are right for the job if you have little or no work experience? You do it by making a positive impression during your interview. Here are the traits employers are looking for when they interview young people:

Dependability Plan on showing up early for your interview. If you show up late, the employer will assume you will show up late for work, too.

Neatness and good grooming Wear an ironed shirt, blouse, or dress. Employees notice little things, such as dirty fingernails or overly flashy jewelry.

Good spelling and neat handwriting Fill out the application and any other paperwork carefully.

Friendliness Make eye contact and smile.

A firm, confident handshake Practice on people you know until you can do it without feeling silly or awkward.

A positive, upbeat attitude Smile when it is appropriate to do so, and put a good spin on your past experiences, rather than apologizing for them.

A willingness to learn new things Employers like open-minded applicants looking for an opportunity to grow and gain valuable experience, and not just a paycheck.

A convincing reason for wanting to work at the company Be as specific and as honest as you can. For instance, if you are applying for a job at a restaurant, you might mention that you like to eat there, or that you enjoy the atmosphere. Or you could say that the employees seem to be happy and it looks like a good place to work. The boss will want to hire someone who seems to have a positive attitude about the company.

If you are applying for your first job, you might consider asking a teacher to write you a letter of recommendation. Teachers can verify many of the traits employers value. Are you punctual? Are you rarely absent? Do you turn in homework assignments on time? Do you work well with other students or take a leadership role in group projects? These are all positive characteristics the teacher can write about regardless of the grade you may be getting.

When you are being interviewed, remember to keep eye contact and listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying. Ask questions about the type of work you will be doing, not about your pay or hours. Save those questions for the end of the interview. If all goes well, you will have plenty of time to find out the details when they offer you the job. Even if the job interview does not turn out well, it is still valuable practice for the next one.

English Language Arts/Writing

Interview Questions

A common and often difficult job interview situation is being asked to describe a time when you had to solve a problem on the job or in everyday life. Write a short paragraph in which you answer this question.