Interview Process – Seal Of Approval By U.S. DOL
Saturday, July 31, 2010, 4:27 PM | Leave Comment
Finally, a branch of the Government has spoken up, telling us what the job applicants should do and not do. With unemployment at its highest level in decades, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a report Tuesday suggesting the lack of success in securing jobs is primarily the result of millions of Americans just completely blowing their job interviews.
The Department identified the lack of soft skills that most Americans don’t give a shit about when it comes down to acquiring and securing a job, especially their dream job [if it ever existed.]
According to the report, 7 out of 10 applicants would have secured their jobs if they had known the following and practiced appropriate responses:
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Where do you see yourself in five years professionally?
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Greeting your potential employer with a firm handshake.
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Maintaining eye contact.
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Stop fiddling your hair and fondling your face so much.
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Stop wearing blue jeans to interviews. [I did that once and was told that was the only reason for rejection. They didn’t give a damn how much I knew about the job. I hated that.]
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Need to start bringing extra copies of their resumes.
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Ask appropriate questions when asked: “Do you have any questions for me?” Don’t say No. Ask smart questions about the job and about the company.
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Bring a notepad or pen to the interview not for show-off but actually taking intelligent notes.
- Use bulleted lists, strong action verbs, or boldfaced keywords on your resume and cover letter.
President Obama, who last week signed a law extending unemployment benefits, said the legislation would also address joblessness by creating a $1.2 billion program aimed at training Americans to use firm but approachable body language to make a great first impression.
In a Nutshell
The Secretary of the Department of Labor has pinpointed lack of some real interview skills. It seems that millions of folks are not hired not because of the lack of their hard skills but more importantly because of their soft skills.
So take to your heart, America and the rest of the world. Learn soft skills – along with hard skills, of course – and be hired.
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