Competitive interviewing a must for job hunters

To prospective Seattle University graduates, there may be no statistic more worrisome than the national unemployment rate. As employers forecast a 7 percent dip in job offers to new graduates this year, students may be wondering if they will be among the 9.7 percent of unemployed Americans post-commencement.

Not so for Alex Thomas, a senior marketing major who recently received a job offer from Google. He says the key to his success is a combination of academic competency, confidence and passion. He did not allow the declining job market to affect his attitude. Instead, he embraced it as a challenge.

"It's a whole new game. Be the best at everything; get out there early," he recommends.
Likewise, Daniel Pascoe, executive director of Career Services urges students to do, rather than dwell on the volatility of the job market. While it is true that some markets are declining, others are improving. It is important to educate yourself and creatively find new paths to employment.

The successful college graduate is "proactive and dynamic," Pascoe says. No longer are the days of passivity. While you cannot plan for everything, you can anticipate as yet unseen opportunities.

Some of these opportunities come in the form of coveted internships. Internships have become "hiring pipelines. They are long interviews," Pascoe says. They offer experiential learning, which is both impressive and reassuring to employers. These impressions may mean a guarantee of employment: 57 percent of internships become fulltime jobs. Even if your internship does not result in employment, the experience on your resumé may speak highly of your commitment and drive.

However, do not expect a strong resumé to be your ticket to your deam job. Employers request resumés as a filtering device to see if you have the qualifications they require. While it is important to stand out in this process, your resumé will not be what ultimately lands you the job.

Expect challenges, Thomas says. They will challenge everything. Google recruiters challenged his qualifications and even the statements on his resumé. Evaluate carefully how you portray yourself. Ensure that this portrayal is accurately reflected in your personal experiences and true character.

One way that Thomas strengthened his resumé was through strangers. He would have them read it through and write on the back what resonated most with them. If their responses did not correlate to what he intended to convey, he altered his résumé accordingly.

Again, your résumé can only take you so far, Pascoe warns. Once you make it through the filtering process, you must still demonstrate your character and ethic in the interviews. Some feel that the interview is the easiest stage in the process. Regardless, it is the most critical. An interview is the opportunity for the employer to see who you are, not what you are (i.e. student, former grocery store bagger, etc.). The best way to give them what they want is with communication and preparation.

Hiring decisions are predominantly made on the candidates' communication skills, Pascoe says. Your responsibility is to sell yourself and to sell your experience.

"Force them to say you're great," Thomas says.

You must show confidence in yourself, your experiences and your qualifications. Even if you are unqualified, communicate that you are adaptable and flexible.

"Make it impossible for them not to hire you," Pascoe advised.

Even the way in which you communicate with your interviewer is pivotal. Lean forward in your chair, make eye contact and avoid filler words. This will communicate to your interviewer that you are confident and professional.

What if you are not confident? What if you feel that liberal arts diploma weighing you down or holding you back? Again, the key is communication. Sell your degree and your knowledge.

"Employers are getting very excited about liberal arts students," Pascoe says. Liberal arts students are able to expand, adapt and think across disciplines. While specialized skills like those in science or math are important, so are what Pascoe calls "transferable skills."

If you want the job, you must be proactive and seize the opportunities that come your way. Once you do, the strongest tool you have to obtain the job is communication.

Communicate your enthusiasm, your passion, your preparation, your professionalism, your weaknesses and your adaptability. Most of all, communicate that you are the best they can get.

Tips for building a winning resume

• Journal while at your jobs and internships. Record conflicts and how you navigated those situations. What could you have done differently?
• Work a part-time or full-time job while you go to school.
• Ask the interview questions like "What do you look for in a candidate?" before the interview begins.
• Thank-you letters are not only a good idea, they are required. Tailor your letters to each interviewer. Take notes after the interview so that you can personalize the letters.
• Go to your professors' office hours. Network and communicate with them. Even if you have a 4.0 but have never gone to your professors' office hours, they may not know who you are.

Chelsea may be reached at cnehler@su-spectator.com.