Phone Interview Preparation

By Vinessa Burnett, Toppel Peer Advisor

For most people, phone interviews can be a huge source of angst and awkwardness –and rightfully so. It can be hard talking to a stranger over the phone while trying to portray your best self. Somehow you have to say all the right things without using eye contact or a smile to help get your message across.

While phone interviews can certainly be difficult, there are definitely ways to prepare beforehand that can make them a little less stressful. Here are several tips that you’ll be able to use to your advantage next time you have a phone interview!

Useful Phone Interview Tips:

Relax and be yourself 
This is by far the most important tip! Before you answer the phone call take a couple of deep breaths and tell yourself, “I got this!” Once you’re on the phone, speak how you would normally speak and stay true to who you are when answering each question. Even through a phone line, if you relax and be yourself, your awesome personality will still come across!

Print out everything you need
The best part about a phone interview is that (unlike an in-person interview) you can have all the documents that you need right in front of you! Be sure to print out the following documents beforehand and have them visible so that you can refer to them throughout the interview:

• Print out your resume
• Print out the job description
• Print out any documents that you submitted as part of your application (ex: essays, cover letters, supplemental activities etc.)

Look up the company on Glassdoor.com and read what questions other people who interviewed for the position were asked. Copy these questions and type out your answer to them before the interview. When asked one of those questions, all you have to do is look on the page and your response is already there!

Take notes
Have a sheet of paper and a pen to take notes throughout the interview. Be sure to write down the interviewer(s) name(s) so that you can mention them towards the end. You never know what useful information your interviewer might have for you, such as important dates and next steps! Also, if you take notes as the interview progresses, you may be able to refer back to something that was previously stated.

Close it the right way
Remember that a phone interview is also a chance for you to get to know the company. Always ask your interviewer(s) at least two to three questions at the end of the interview. These closing questions can be related to the position, the company, or the timeline of when you can expect to hear back. Lastly, make sure the interviewer hangs up first – do not hang up or say goodbye before they do!

Next time you have a phone interview… don’t freak out! Stay calm, cool, and collected by referring to the above tips. Best of luck!

Interviews Are Two-Way Streets!

By Trish Vega, Toppel Peer Advisor

Interviews can be nerve-wracking. There can be so many things to keep in mind in order to help sell yourself to your interviewer:  Am I sitting up straight? I gotta make sure I’m not using too many “ums”! Am I talking too fast?

But we can chill a little bit and take some pressure off. In a way, you are an interviewer too! Interviews are a great way to figure out if a company or position is a great fit for you and your professional development. Here’s how to make sure your potential opportunity can be a place for you to thrive.

It’s a Conversation, Not an Interrogation

Often, an interview can turn out to be a rattling off of questions and answers. Take this opportunity to make your interview time more of a conversation! For example, if your interviewer asks about your experience with writing blog posts, don’t be afraid to follow up with a question about what the company’s goals and aspirations are in terms of audience engagement. This will help you in a few ways: it would give you an insight to the company and how they work so you can discern if it is an environment for you, and it would also show that you have an interest in the company, making you more appealing to the employer. Additionally, this can help establish a rapport between you and your interviewer and leave a good impression.

Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

As your interview progresses, be on the lookout for any tidbits of information that signal what the work environment of the company is like. Do they mention travel? Overtime? Opportunities for advancement? If so, see if you can ask a question to get more information on those topics! With that in mind, here are some other questions we recommend asking to get a feel for whether a company is the right fit for you.

What qualities are you seeking in a candidate?

How would you describe the organization culture?

What are the best things about the job and the most challenging parts of this position?

What opportunities are there for me to develop?

What does a day in the office look like?

What goals do you have for the person who will serve this job?

Happy interviewing!

The Art of Interviewing, from a Career Advisor’s point of view…

By Ali Rodriguez, Director, Employer Relations

Over the years, I have interviewed many candidates for full time jobs, student internships, and professional positions. While working in higher education. I've learned a few things about what works, behaviors to avoid, and how to make a lasting positive impression.

Step 1: The initial contact

When the recruiter calls you to offer an interview, make sure you have your list of applications close-by. I’m always surprised when a candidate doesn’t remember applying to the job I am calling about. Also, demonstrate enthusiasm. I'm not implying you want to scream with joy over the phone, but be thankful and let that person know you are looking forward to the opportunity. If the organization reaches out by email, this can be more challenging, but it’s nice when a candidate is excited about an opportunity and shows it.

Step 2: The interview prep

If the interview is longer than an hour, ask for an itinerary. This will allow you to see who you'll meet with and plan accordingly. Research every person you will meet with, as you may discover helpful information. Prepare different questions for each person you meet with, and show specific interest in his/her job and background. I'm always impressed when a candidate knows where I went to college or specifics about my job. This shows that time and effort went into preparing for the big day.

Step 3: The interview is here

You've probably read about behavioral based interviewing, which interviewers use to determine how your past behaviors indicate future performance. What’s the best way to get a handle on these questions? Preparing examples in advance is important, and you should have many scenarios to discuss at the top of your head. Most importantly, you also want to research how recruiters in your field conduct interviews. Will there be a case study? What are some of those brain teasers? Should you bring a portfolio?

This goes without saying, but be professional. Dressing the part is easy, but how you interact with team members is critical to a successful interview. With that being said, don't get too comfortable during the interview. If you get a sense that the office culture is warm and welcoming, that’s wonderful; remember you are still auditioning for the part. Don’t act like you’re a part of the team just yet, but demonstrate that you are a good fit and would work well with others.

Step 4: The follow-up

Please, write a thank you note.  This seems so basic, yet so many candidates don't do it. Sending an email is fine, and it's important to demonstrate why you are the best fit for the job and reiterate what skills you bring to the table. I've had candidates interview with a group of 3-4 people, and then follow up with a group thank you email. This doesn't allow you to personalize the note in any way.  Take the time to connect with each person and that really will go a a long way.

Step 4: The offer

We all know that it’s a candidate’s market right now. Don’t take advantage of this. Be polite, follow up on all requests to interview, and evaluate all opportunities fairly. In an ideal world, you will have multiple offers (this is a whole different blog).  Negotiating the process can be tricky, and I highly recommend you talk to an advisor at the Toppel Career Center about the process. We are here to help as you secure that job or internship and have valuable resources as you work to achieve your career goals.

So, You’re Really Good at Interviewing? Prove It.

By Kiernan King, Toppel Peer Advisor

Getting to the interview stage is one of the hardest parts in the job process because it means that something about your resume really stuck out to an employer and they’d like to call you in to get to know you better.

This is your time to shine.

The power really is in your own hands at this point because how you perform on interview day will determine whether or not you’re offered the position.

The key is to understand exactly what they’re looking for. Here are some steps to take if you want to improve your chances of success:

Do your homework.

Good preparation demonstrates that you’re serious about landing the role. Get to know as much as you possibly can about the firm and think about what you want to say in the interview. Researching will also bring up questions that you definitely need to be asking at the end.

Set the right tone.

Employers are on the look-out for people who are confident, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. You may be the most qualified and experienced person, but none of that will matter if your attitude is wrong.

Sell yourself.

Before you go into the interview you should draw up a list of key attributes and think about the main points you want to make about yourself. Have an elevator pitch? If not, draft one. If so, practice it; fine tune it. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

Listen.

It is important to pay attention to the questions they are asking so that you know exactly what you’re responding to. Failing to do so is one of the most common mistakes potential employees make, be unique and don’t do this! Interviewers are asking questions that look for a particular piece of information, and if you fail to present with such than you are simply doing yourself a disservice.

Recruiting is crucial for companies because getting the wrong person can have serious detriments to that company’s culture and overall message. Bosses want people who will fit straight into the existing group with minimum fuss and challenges to overcome. Getting rejected isn’t always a bad thing, it could just mean that the skills you’ve developed may be better suited elsewhere.

Show that you’re a team player who can be relied upon from your first day on the job!

Remember that Toppel conducts Practice and Mini-Mock interviews. Attend an interview workshop, schedule an appointment or simply come for walk-in advising and interview with our peer advisors or graduate assistants! 

Win Over the Interviewer in 5 Easy Steps

By: Emmy Petit-Frere, Peer Advisor 

“So, tell me about yourself?” If that’s not the most dreaded question asked in an interview, I don’t know what is.  You’d think it would come easy to tell someone (who knows nothing about you) a little bit about yourself, but it’s not. This person is your possible future employer! Everything you say counts; even the ‘um(s), ‘like(s)’, and those awkward blank stares when you don’t know how to answer a question. So let me help you out a little bit with some tips beyond the conventional, “dress for success, “ “be on time,” and “make eye contact” advice that have helped me get through a couple of interviews.

1. Be personable; be yourself.

Need I say more? Be you, and just that. You want to impress your future employer, but don’t lose yourself in the process. Rather than transforming yourself to your possible future employer’s criteria, key in on the elements of your personality, experience, and work ethic that will benefit the company’s culture.

2. Talk.

Pretty obvious, right? No, but seriously, talk! The best way to avoid those hard to answer and often times awkward questions is to answer them before they ask! My favorite interview thus far started out as a conversation about my shoes which then led to my interest in sports, to my love for traveling, to my passion for learning/speaking multiple languages, to a load of skills I had. Had I been asked, “what skills do you obtain that will benefit this company,” I would have probably forgotten to mention many of my skill sets or just gone completely blank. Interactive conversation allows for the interview to be comfortable, genuine, and effective.

3. Tie in your experiences.

I’ve found that this makes answering some of those tough questions so much easier! Here’s an example: Often, employers ask, “How do you approach situations of conflict in the work setting?” This can be a hard question to answer, especially for those of us who have never really had a real job; after all we’re just college students. You have more experience than you think- use it! We’ve all had that dreaded college group project (which somehow ends up being an individual/less than the full group effort LOL), an affiliation or leadership role within a club, volunteer work, or even a Federal Work study job. These are all valid experiences to tie into your responses. Be prepared to use your experiences to answer your interviewers questions.

4. Be memorable.

Stop mentioning things that are already on your resume! If the employer hadn’t already scrutinized your resume enough prior to your interview, you wouldn’t be there in the first place. This interview is where you make the lasting impression; this is where you put a face to the resume. You want to be able to be memorable enough that the possible employer can pick up your resume the next day and say, “Emmy! That’s the short girl with the crooked dimples who loves to travel!” My height (or lack thereof), crooked dimples, and love for travel seem to ALWAYS make it into my interview conversations. Sometimes it’s a story, a physical feature, or just your personality that catches the interviewer’s attention. Whatever it is, use it and be memorable!

5. Do your research

Learn about the company, and use your knowledge to not only show your interest, but to aid in keeping the conversation going, tying in your skill set to the company’s needs, and to most importantly impress your interviewer! Go prepared!

Well, these are just some tips that have helped me in my interviews with employers. Don’t forget the conventional tips as well! I’m sure you know them by heart (Be on time, dress for success, eye contact, firm handshake, blah blah blah.) The most important thing is that you PRACTICE! Interviews aren’t always easy, but you can make them easier with a little practice. Lucky for you, Toppel Career Center offers interviewing workshops and mock interviews where you can run through and practice your interview skills. Visit HireACane.com to find out when workshops or mock interviews will be offered. Good luck and remember, everybody wants to hire a Cane! :) 

 

Answering Impossible Questions

Written by: Oleg Ignatenko

Have you ever received a question in an interview that just seemed to come out of the blue with no relation to the job position at all?  Well, I have and let me tell you its a good thing that I knew how to answer them otherwise there would have been a extremely long and awkward silence.  So why are these questions even there to be asked?  Employers use these type of questions to see how quickly you can think under pressure.  They realize that sometimes you have done a lot of research and you are fully committed to professionalism but they try to approach different tactics to try and throw you off by using these "interview traps" which are designed to reveal more personal information than maybe you planned on initially revealing.  How do you answers these questions?  How do you compose yourself?  All the answers and more will be provided so keep on reading.

First things first, don't freak out!  Interviews can be stressful without those type of questions so this might set some people over the edge but remember, the main goal is to stay composed.  If you look a bit flustered, its understandable and the interviewer probably expects you to be.  At the same time, they also expect you to give a confident and a reasonable response.  So, lets go over some of these questions and how to properly answer them.

1.  Interviewer: How would you react if I told you that so far, this interview has gone horrible?
     You:  This is usually a test to see if you get flustered easily.  Ask politely why and for specific reasons of what  you have said or done to make such a bad impression on the interviewer.

2.  Interviewer: If you won the lottery, would you still work?
     You:  Try to be honest but maybe not too honest.  The best type answer is mentioning that while you would be obviously thrilled, you would still try to find a job that you find satisfying and that it would be have to be something that you love to do.

3.  Interviewer:  What was the last book you read?
     You: If you answer "I don't read books" or "I read 'It's a shore thing' by Snooki" you can assume that you won't get a call back.  Instead, try to mention a book that made a memorable impression on you and choose a reputable author that the interviewer has probably heard of.

4.  Interviewer:  If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you be?
     You:  This question might really throw you off but instead of saying things like "are you serious?" you should say something like "Italian of course, because I go with anything and I am favored by most".

5.  Interviewer:  If you were a superhero, what kind of super powers would you have?
     You:  This is probably not the best time to mention that you would have the powers of Magneto to take over the world.   Instead, mention a superhero that you like for their actions and someone who you respect.

 

If you've been asked a crazy interview question, you're not alone.  Here are some online articles with interesting questions candidates have been asked:

15 MORE Google Interview Questions That Made Geniuses Feel Dumb from Business Insider

20 Craziest Job Interview Questions and the Right Answers from CBS Money Watch

When preparing for an interview, make sure you check out Glassdoor.com's Interview Questions.  

Best of luck in your next interview!

 

Interview Faux Pas

By: Robert Vanisko

At the Toppel Career Center, we have tons of advice for students who are interviewing for jobs and internships. Today, however, we are going to focus on what not to do when interviewing for a job or internship.

Being underdressed: When attending any type of career related event, one of the worst things you can do is show up underdressed. Whether it is a job interview, career fair, networking event, etc. showing up underdressed will make you stick out like a sore, unprofessional, thumb.

Showing up late to an interview: There are few things that can kill your chances of getting a job faster than showing up late to an interview. In a job interview, employers want to see if you are going to be a good fit with their company. No matter what your excuse is, showing up late immediately throws up a red flag and makes you seem like an unreliable employee. 

Obnoxious name-dropping: While you may have friends in high places, make sure you are not obnoxious about it when dropping names. While these contacts may be very helpful in getting your foot in the door, you need to make sure you don’t come across as arrogant in the interview.

Bad mouthing former bosses and co-workers: While you may feel that some of your past career failures have been the result of your former bosses and co-workers, a job interview is not the time to say it. This makes you come across as selfish and not a team player. Plus, you never know who the person interviewing you is friends with.

Having your phone turned on: Even if you have it on vibrate, nothing says “I don’t care about this interview” more than having your cell phone turned on and distracting from the interview. Having a cellphone ring or vibrate mid-interview can quickly turn the tide of an interview against you, either by throwing you off while you are trying to answer a question or by angering the interviewer. While cell phones have been working their way more and more into everyday life, they still have no place in an interview.

Luckily for you, you now know to not do any of these things when interviewing for a job or internship. If you have any more questions regarding interviews or any other part of the application process, feel free to come to Toppel for an Interviewing Skills Workshop or a Mini-Mock Interview. 

Career Toolbox Series: Career Insider

By: Oleg Ignatenko
Part of the Career Toolbox Series

You are walking into an interview and you realize that you have no idea what that company does.  Has this ever happened to you?  Well, it shouldn't.  Especially not with the resources that are available today.  Fortunately, this week you are being presented with another chapter of the Career Toolbox Series: Career Insider.  Through the use of this site you will be able to find out the background information of the company, their high's and low's, their various rankings, featured reviews from associates and some helpful tips that might assist you in becoming a part of their organization.  Company information is not the only thing provided, Career Insider also offers career advice, guides, videos, blogs, discussions and other career related material that will help you develop a solid understanding and knowledge of information you need to succeed in the future. I will go over the top three areas that you should check out when visiting this site.

One of the best tools that Career Insider provides is their guides.  Career Guides are known as the premier resource for insider information.  Forbes Magazine calls them "Cliff notes for careers."  These guides provide information on resumes, interviews, employers, industries, and other career related topics.  By selecting one of these topics, you will have the ability to choose from a variety of different guides that focus on specific parts of that topic as well as have the ability to download it.  Popular industry guides include Vault Guide to Capitol Hill Careers, Career Launcher: Film, and Career Launcher: Fashion. Under Interview and Resume Guides, you can download Vault Guide to Advanced Finance and Quantitative Interviews and Vault Guide to the Case Interview. After reading any one of these guides, you will be one step closer to finding out which industry and company is right for you and how to get your dream job.

Another area that is extremely helpful is Company Research.  You will have the opportunity to view the most popular companies as well as research the companies by name, location or industry.  Depending on your career focus, you can also view the best companies to work for based on the type of industry you are looking for such as Accounting, Banking, Law, Consulting and other industries.  In each industry the firms are ranked by Vault and are usually listed in top 10 or top 25 order.  You will be able to view the rankings, the scores and the location for each of those firms in order.  Once you click on a company, you can also view their ranking in other various subjects such as Diversity, Prestige, Leadership, Benefits, etc.

The third area that you should definitely take a look at is Career Advice.  Here, you will find a variety of categories that can help you in your search for more career information.  Some of the categories include A day in the Life, Internships, Career Change, First Person, and Unemployment.  So, for example, take a look at the A Day in the Life category.  There are about 90 articles that you can click on and you will get a detailed description of what a specific person's daily activities on the job.  These descriptions will go by a time schedule and you will feel as if you are shadowing a person at their job.  Obviously, not every day will consist of communicating with the same clients or conducting meetings on the same exact topic but there will definitely be similarities and you will get a better perspective on how that employee or manager handles their daily activities and tasks.

So there it is, a little preview into the world of Career Insider by Vault.com.  To access your free Career Insider account, login to HireACane and on the Home page on the right side of the page you will see a heading called Additional Resources.  Under Additional Resources, click Vault Career Online Library: Career Insider and then create your personal account. There are many more tools and areas besides the ones that I discussed that are also very valuable and worth taking a look at.  It is almost like having your own personal career center on your computer.  Use it as often as you can to get the scoop on career advice and it will undoubtedly help you succeed in your future career endeavors.

Take it From Chuck! 5 Ways Chuck Norris Can Help You Be a Better Student

Written by Thien Van Tran

“There’s no way all those ridiculous facts about Chuck Norris could be true, they’re so far-fetched,” said no one ever. Everyone wants to be like Chuck, in every way. And while that’s so highly impossible that it’s completely laughable, there’s something we can all take away from this. It’s like when people say aim for the stars and hit the moon; we should have our aspirations of mimicking Chuck, and hopefully learn something that we can apply to our own lives. Me? I just need to apply more tanning oil. These guns could use some color.

Chuck Norris Was Never Aware of the Filming of Walker, Texas Ranger

He had no idea that his daily life was being watched by millions of adoring fans who followed his every move. Rather than caring about what others thought about him, he continued to be an awesome, hyper-masculine human being. But people judge. That’s just human nature. You know there’s that nerdy club with all the engineers, the muscle-bound frat boys, and the weird music school Acapella groups. While these stereotypes aren’t always true, some people get caught up in how they think others will view them. Forget that, do what you want. Study what you want, and be happy.

When Chuck Norris Left for College, He Told His Dad, “You’re the Man of the House Now”

Sometimes you have to leave your home or your comfort zone in order to discover new interests. You may not know anyone in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, but that shouldn’t stop you from joining in order to partake in the many design competitions and projects. And this applies to any activity or group! You don’t have to be super smart or a science genius to join the robotics club. Some of us are cut out for math, and some aren’t. I found out at a very young age, when a teacher asked me, “If you had 10 lollipops and I took half away, what would I have?” A broken arm.

When Chuck Norris Gets Bored, He Tells Himself Jokes He’s Never Heard Before

Don’t just sit around and twiddle your thumbs if you find that you have some down time once in a while. Never sit still. Either start your work early so that you are ahead, or find some other activities to do. Find an on campus job! Join an organization! Make some angel hair pasta! Go to the gym! Being like Chuck will take some work. I mean, Chuck Norris has muscles in places where I don’t even have places.

When Life Hands Chuck Norris Lemons, He Makes Grape Juice

I have no idea why the “When life hands you lemons…” saying even exists. How does that signify taking a negative situation and turning it into a positive one? Lemons are PERFECT for making lemonade! When life hands you lemons, you say THANK YOU. But in any case, when life hands you something you don’t want, you can still make the best of it. If you get stuck with an 8AM class that you have to take, so be it. Schedule your other classes earlier in the day so that you’re finished sooner. If the sorority you wanted to join didn’t give you a bid, so be it. Kill them. Cry about it. Drown your sorrows. Knit. Rush another sorority! Maybe that one wasn’t the right one for you anyway.

When Chuck Norris Was Born, the Doctor Said, “Congratulations, it’s a MAN”

Be confident in yourself! This applies mainly to interviewing situations. Everyone gets nervous to some degree, but remember: the interviewers want to talk to you for a reason, so there is something they like about you. You have some skill set or some strength that drew them to you, so just be yourself.

Who'da Thunk?

By Thien Van Tran

Did you know?

So you’re a student at the University of Miami, or maybe even a recent graduate. Obviously, you decided to come here to place yourself in a position near South Beach to obtain a desirable job. But the journey is a perilous one, with many, many routes. And much like encountering the massive gum and candy smorgasbord presented to you while waiting in line at the grocery store, you ask yourself, “There are so many choices, but which is the right one for me?” Without guidance, it’s very difficult to get to where you want to be, or to even know where you want to go. But I bet you didn’t know, this is exactly (probably) what the Toppel Career Center was created for.

The Toppel Career Center, located inconspicuously on the corner of Stanford Circle, provides all the resources that can help you secure the position you want. Advisors are available to answer any questions, workshops are presented to provide tips to improve various aspects of professional life, and endless networking opportunities are available with numerous companies. So, think you’re giving yourself the best possible chance at landing that coveted position without taking advantage of what the Toppel Career Center has to offer? (Spoiler: no).

Cave of Wonders

Picture somewhat unrelated

Now you may or may yes be pondering how I myself was able to discover this cave of wonders. Well I happen to be the newest Toppel Peer Advisor, and only recently have I been able to realize the vast amount opportunities that I’ve been neglecting every time I’ve walked passed this building without so much as a glance. Let me break it down for you.

Resumes, Cover Letters, and Personal Statements

Whether you have a resume created or not, we can help. For those who have no idea where to begin, there are free guides to writing the ideal document to market your experiences. These contain formatting tips, specific “rules,” as well as numerous examples to help you create your own. For those who have already completed a draft, you are welcome to bring it in and get it critiqued one-on-one. No appointments necessary! The same applies to cover letters and personal statements.

Interviewing Skills

Remember the last time you walked into an interview utterly unprepared and completely uninformed, but somehow managed to secure the position? Me neither. One doesn't simply walk into Mordor land a job by chance. If you’ve never had a professional interview before, it can be an understandably nervous experience. That’s where we come in. Not only do we provide an interviewing skills handbook, we also conduct mock interviews! There are mini-mocks, which are approximately 30-minute sessions, and are done on a walk-in basis. Full-mocks are about an hour long, and an appointment is required. Both of these are tailored to fit your needs, whether it is a graduate school interview, or a business internship. You know you’ve got the skills and talent that the interviewer is looking for in a candidate, so all you have to do is make sure they know it as well. We can help you exude that confidence!

Hi my name’s Thien, but you can call me later

Internships and Jobs

Now I’ve always heard that having internship experience is critical if I want to be able to find a job upon graduation, but how do I go about getting one of these things? The hardest step is usually getting your information out there in the real world for employers to see. Fortunately, we have a website dedicated to showing you positions employers are wishing to fill. Not only can you view these jobs, but once you make an account on this website and upload a resume, you can directly apply to these jobs instantly! The website is www.HireaCane.com, and is completely free!

But let’s say you don’t find any openings that pique your interest online. In this case, I’d recommend that you go to the Career Expo that is held every semester. There, you’ll be able to meet directly with recruiters and give out resumes like candy. If nothing else, this is a great opportunity to network and get to know your prospective employers on a personal level. Talking to someone in person will always give you an advantage over simply applying on a website, and much like Peter Pan, being ahead never gets old.

Act Now!

Who would have thought all these resources were available to students right here on campus? I have barely skimmed the surface of what the Toppel Career Center has to offer, but rather than read my superficial descriptions and somewhat irrelevant analogies of everything we have to offer, make like a baby and head out to our office and see for yourself! And unlike reading the Twilight books, you won’t regret it, nor be embarrassed to tell your friends about it.