Recently I eavesdropped on a line of people interviewing for a job at a local bookstore establishment. The first in line had the fresh ear of the interviewer and the greatest opportunity to make a good first impression. Alas, he did not. He showed up in jeans, apologized for being late (the first thing out of this mouth), commented on his poor SAT scores and didn’t bring his resume due to a last-minute shortage of printer paper. Poor guy. At the end of the day he still won’t have a job.
Interviewing isn’t something we’re born knowing how to do. It’s a skill, one that needs to be learned. Whether a writer meeting a potential publishing contact or a teenager looking for a job, here are my tips for a fabulous first impression:
- Dress appropriately for the job setting; I suggest taking it one level up from what you think would be enough
- Arrive ON TIME or preferably a few minutes early
- Offer a strong hand shake, and look the interviewer in the eye
- Don’t start out with a negative; Always, ALWAYS start out with something positive
- Come FULLY prepared
- Research the person/company ahead of time, and have a few questions of your own on the ready
- Do not be self-deprecating; it is NOT endearing
- Do not be arrogant; it is even less endearing
- Google yourself to see where you show up before an interview; chances are the person interviewing you has done it already, and you might be surprised the Facebook pictures and Twitter comments you conveniently forgot about.
- No begging. It looks as pathetic in real life as it does on American Idol.
What’s your secret to a great interview?
(picture courtesy of lockstockb, stock.xchng)
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Laugh All Night Comedy Event!
Featuring Comedian
*MIKE WILLIAMS*
Sunday, March 7 at 6 pm
Mountainview Community Christian Church
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Admission: FREE
A love offering will be taken, all proceeds to benefit
New Missions’ Haiti Rebuilding Efforts
*NOTE: This is the 27-year organization our family worked with when we went to Haiti this past June. They have 22 schools, 22 [...]
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Friday I posted 20 questions to creatively fill up conversation dead space. If you haven’t noticed, our conversations are in major need of some fresh life. We’ve grown lazy in our ability to connect with one another.
This is tough to do the older we get. We get comfortable, develop habits and have a pickle of [...]
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This contest has a simple premise: Listeners send in original short stories that can be read in three minutes or less.
For the official rules, more information or to submit a short story, go to the Three Minute Fiction page on the NPR website.
Share and Connect:
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Watching the Olympics wears me out.
It’s not so much the late nights of figure skating or my white knuckles during the luge. It’s not even the emotional ups and downs—the thrill of anticipation followed too quickly by the devastation of defeat.
What makes me tired is the thought of all those years of practice, practice, practice [...]











