| Technology has allowed us to communicate instantly and to send and check information immediately. The scanning of resumes and the use of the Internet as sources for positions and resume storage are changing the face of searching for positions. Personality, integrity, and drug tests are adding a new dimension to the process.
We have become a part of the global economy and are undergoing a second industrial revolution moving from a manufacturing to a service and information-oriented society. The best positions in the future will go to those who understand and are prepared for the selection process. You must know yourself, the position, and the organization in order to persuade an employer to select you from hundreds of other applicants. The job search must be extensive and rely more on networking and hard work than merely appearing at your college career center for an interview. Your resumes and cover letters must be thorough, professional, attractive, adapted to specific positions with specific organizations, and persuasive.
Interviewing skills are increasingly important because employers are looking for employees with communication, interpersonal, and people skills. You can exhibit these best during the interview. Take an active part in the opening, answer questions thoroughly and to the point, and ask carefully phrased questions about the position and the organization. Take an active part in the closing, and be sure the interviewer knows you want this position. Close on a high note.
Follow up the interview with a carefully crafted thank-you letter that expresses again your interest in this position and organization. And do an insightful post-interview evaluation that addresses strengths and weaknesses with future interviews in mind. |
2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education