Employer Perspective: You're being interviewed every day
You might not realize it, but the customer that you wait on at your job at the neighborhood cafe could be the CEO of the company you desperately want to work for. Some preparation and practice can help you reach out to them in a way that may benefit your job search in the future. Practice interviews are a great way to hone your networking and interpersonal skills in a professional environment.
Setting up some informational or practice interviews can be intimidating, but you will see the results and learn a lot about yourself and what you want to do with your career. Start out with a parent, professor, or friend. Have them ask you basic questions and give you honest feedback. Ask them to tally the number of times you say "um," "like," "you know" or other fillers. Once you've gotten that down, head to the Career Center to do some research and ask if there are any UO alumni willing to conduct an informational interview with you at a company you're interested in. They don't have to be in HR, anyone with a job similar to your interest could be a big help. Or, just call the company up and ask if there is someone you can chat with (hint: do your homework on the company first). Here's your line:
I'm really interested in your company, and was wondering if I could have 20 minutes of your time to buy you a coffee and learn more about what you do there.
You'll be amazed at what this little bit of initiative can do for you. Who knows, you might even end up with a second interview!
The Career Center offers a one-credit class each term called Career Connections that focuses on developing skills for a successful informational interview and job search and gives you access to professionals interested in conducting these interviews. Look for Career Connections under CARC in your course schedule. Find out more about Career Connections.
Get started today. Being proactive is the key to finding a job in a tough job market.
OregonLive.com is the online home of the Oregonian and is one of the Career Center's Gold Partners.
