Job interview tips/hints/suggestions

[vetman81]

Hi all,

Thought I would get some advice for my wife. We are both in college and as such have never had a "real" job interview. All of the crappy jobs we have had werent that hard to acquire. Anyways, she has four interviews next week and is pretty nervous. She had a mock interview and that helped her, but I was wondering if anyone had tips and suggestions that they can give.

She is applying for entry level accounting positions if that makes a difference. She has a BS and will graduate in May with her Masters of Accountancy. Thanks for any help you all can give.

[Jim Kuhn]

All jobs are crappy and none of they are hard to acquire! She can look at it like she has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4U
/images/graemlins/spade.gif /images/graemlins/diamond.gif /images/graemlins/club.gif /images/graemlins/heart.gif

[Rushmore]

I have done hundreds of interviews and can tell you that I don't even bother looking at a resume until after I have sat down with a potential employee.

What is most important to me has always been the applicant's demeanor. If they are confident without being arrogant, seem to possess a work ethic, and are equipped to take direction properly, I will almost always give them a shot (assuming, of course, that they have at least the minimum education and/or experience).

TIP: Do not ask about benefits until you've built some rapport with the potential employer. Any applicant who asks me about benefits before it is established they are qualified (or even in the running for the job) has definitely cracked out of turn.

Good luck.

[Dominic]

Whenever I interview prospective employees, what's most important to me is their ability to tell me what they want out of the job. Be confident in your abilities, be ready to back up your claims ("expert in FLASH," etc.) and be interested more in what you can do for me than what I can do for you.

Also, while a resume is a nice tool to quickly see if someone is qualified enough for me to invite for an interview, what makes me want to meet you is the cover letter. I glance at the resume - I pay attention to the cover letter. Can you write clearly? Professionally? Can you sell me on why I should give you a call over the hundreds of other applicants? Make it interesting but no more than two or three paragraphs.

Remember - the cover letter is key.

But if you have a choice, I say stay in college! Change majors at the last minute, go back to class. It's much more fun.

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[Wahoo91]

The best book I have ever seen is Knock em Dead (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1580629385/qid=1096742189/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-6440798-5515156?v=glance&s=books&n=507846).

Get this and study, it will really help you prepare and feel confident about the interview. It is great for avioding pitfalls (like telling them what you really like to do and work on!).

[namknils]

Number 1. Firm hand shake.

Wait, this is for you wife? Are women supposed to give firm handshakes?

Ok, anyway, I would just tell her to be confident in her abilities. If she is about to graduate with her masters then she should be able to offer the company(ies) more than the average applicant. (ok, ok unless a masters degree is a requirement)

[Utah]

There are a million books out there that can help you.

I think the biggest things are:
1) Speak with confidence
2) Prepare answers to the basic questions (tell me about yourself, what are your strengths, weaknesses, what do you want to do with your career,) these need to be automatic
3) Focus on the employers needs. They should hire you because you bring XXX to the job. Dont talk about why you want the job.
4) Have some things that make you standout. Did you do the bare mimimum in college or did you do extra things. Basically, show that you are a winner and not someone who did the bare min.

Good luck to your wife!

[LondonBroil]

[ QUOTE ]
She had a mock interview and that helped her, but I was wondering if anyone had tips and suggestions that they can give.

[/ QUOTE ]

Breast augmentation. /images/graemlins/blush.gif

[James Boston]

Don't you make porn?

[Dominic]

1) I'm 41 and I have had other jobs besides my current one as the Director of Poduction for an adult web site.

2) I work for is a $100 million company, with production, post-production, marketing, communications, design, HR, and web departments, among others. We have over 140 employees.

So if you think I don't conduct interviews for my department, you're mistaken.

Any other questions?

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Any other questions?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, and I'm being serious, not judgemental. Is there really a steady stream of people looking for a serious job in porn, off camera. I knew a guy who worked for a production company in California who told me that working in your industry, regardless of the nature of the job, was the kiss of death when looking for another non-porn job. How many people spend all that time in college, get a marketing/business/accounting degree, and then say, "I belong in porn." And, when they decide to move on, how do other employers feel about their previous job? I'm legitimately curious.

[Dominic]

That's a legitimate question...

Actually, the company I work for
does "softer" adult material...meaning, no men! We only produce material with women in it...for a male market.

I've been in the film business for almost 20years now, as a writer and director, as a producer, and working in various crew positions, as well...all in the "legitimate" side of the business...this is my first foray into the "adult" side
and yes, I was a little relunctant to do so...but the company I work for is very successful, and the steady paycheck, as well as benefits, profit-sharing, 401K, etc. that it offered (all rare things in this business!) was both too good to pass up and made it possible for me to continue my work writing and directing non-adult material.

Also, I do get tons of resumes from film school grads, experienced video editors, gaffers, DP's, make-up artists, etc...

I do think if you're working in hardcore adult, there is still a stigma attached to that, but not to my side of the business.

anyway, if there's anything else you'd like to know, just ask.

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I do get tons of resumes from film school grads, experienced video editors, gaffers, DP's, make-up artists, etc...

[/ QUOTE ]

That doesn't surprise me as much. This is what does. You mentioned the 401k, benefits, etc... Someone has to manage that. It just seems odd that someone would take a job like that knowing that it was forever attached to their resume, when they could do the exact same job for a "legitimate" company. Even if they were a fanatastic employee, they have to apply for their next job and explain why they were in the adult film industry. If that's just something you really want to do, and don't want a career change, I'm sure it's fine. Personally though, I would never take a job where the nature of the company might hurt my chances of finding another job. Have your past employees made that transition smoothly?

In regards to my original post. Surely you get many applicants who just think porn is cool, and don't really have much to offer the company. I work in radio, so I know this is true. Certain "cool" jobs attract people who aren't aware that actual work is involved.

[Dominic]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Also, I do get tons of resumes from film school grads, experienced video editors, gaffers, DP's, make-up artists, etc...

[/ QUOTE ]

That doesn't surprise me as much. This is what does. You mentioned the 401k, benefits, etc... Someone has to manage that. It just seems odd that someone would take a job like that knowing that it was forever attached to their resume, when they could do the exact same job for a "legitimate" company. Even if they were a fanatastic employee, they have to apply for their next job and explain why they were in the adult film industry. If that's just something you really want to do, and don't want a career change, I'm sure it's fine. Personally though, I would never take a job where the nature of the company might hurt my chances of finding another job. Have your past employees made that transition smoothly?

In regards to my original post. Surely you get many applicants who just think porn is cool, and don't really have much to offer the company. I work in radio, so I know this is true. Certain "cool" jobs attract people who aren't aware that actual work is involved.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course I get resumes from unqualified people who think adult filmmaking is "cool" and not a lot of hard work. But I think lots of industries can say that.

And it is hard work (no pun intended). As far as transitioning into the more "legitimate" side of the film business, I've had people come and go with ease...like I said before, we only do female adult stuff - no males allowed - and for some reason, this is "acceptable" to others out here...I have an agent and a mananger for my non-adult work, and anytime someone asks me what I've been doing (on an interview, a lunch, whatever) I'm never afraid to tell them what pays the bills. In this business, if someone likes my script or my reel (a DVD that highlights my work as a director or producer) they're going to hire me regardless of my so-called past. That's just the way it works out here.

In fact, once they find out what I do, most people think it's pretty cool and they want to come "visit the set." Men and women alike!

Now, I once owned a small production company that specialized in producing high-end corporate videos and DVD-ROMS for IT companies like Cisco and Microsoft. If I was to do that again, I'd probably leave out the adult stuff on my bio!

But other than that, I have no problem tlling people what I do.

[astroglide]

Also, I do get tons of resumes from film school grads, experienced video editors, gaffers, DP's, make-up artists, etc...

busted!

[Dominic]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I do get tons of resumes from film school grads, experienced video editors, gaffers, DP's, make-up artists, etc...

busted!

[/ QUOTE ]


???

DP = Director of Photography

[astroglide]

???

lol, somebody back me up here

[Dominic]

if you're referring to "double penetration," well...we don't do that as we're an all-girl site!

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[astroglide]

i hope you didn't google that!

[tek]

She could tell the interviewer that he can "make a journal entry" /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[WDC]

Number one rule of interviewing is if someone asks you "if you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be" either get up walk out of the interview get in your car and drive 5 hours through a blizzard to get back home because their is no way you are going to work for those morons anyway.

Or if you really want the job answer a "money tree".

[Sarge85]

I think I may have a few tid bits.

I work for a county HR department and have seen a whole slew of interviews – good/bad and downright awful.

First a few obvious moves –

Dress appropriately
Shake everyone’s hand before you sit down (and when you leave) – with a firm handshake for god sake’s make sure it’s firm – practice if you need to, - and no I’m not kidding.
Execute proper posture and maintain eye contact with the person you are interviewing with – if it is a panel interview – move your eyes to each person.

Now during the interview –

Most people fall into two categories – 1)diarrhea of the mouth or 2) they won’t say a word to save their lives.

When the person asks a question – take a moment to think of an answer to the SPECIFIC question. – Don’t go off on any tangents. Stick to the question they ask. – It is ok to sit silently for a moment to think of an appropriate response. IN fact it is even more OK to tell them – “Give me a moment – I’d like to think of a specific example to answer this question.”

Which brings me to another point…. USE past examples.- ok you said you are both fresh out of college – well don’t let that be a cop out. If you don’t have a work related example – find an example from your home life, professional organization, volunteer organization, whatever – just make sure it ties to the original question. A specific example speaks much louder than responding with – “Well I would do this, this and this etc…” Saying something to the effect of “Well in my blah blah blah organization, we had a similar situation, and in that situation the solution we came up with was blah blah blah, so I think to answer your question I would use similar blah blah blah technique to find an appropriate solution.”

Remember – never say you can’t do something. Look back into your past experiences and find something similar that you can bring back to the table. – make it relevant.

Also – go to any number of websites and get the generic questions. – just do a Google search – have those prepared with good answers. Chances are you’ll be asked at least one of them. The good thing is, you can take control of the interview and address the qualities about you that you want to bring out.

For example when they ask –“Tell me about your strengths”… you should have 1) 3 strengths that apply to the position you are applying for, and 2) a killer example of past work experience that drives that strengths home, and 3) (and this requires some research) How your XYZ strength will help ABC organization on the current project they are working on because of blah blah blah.

Addressing point number two about people not talking. I know it’s nerves on the applicants part – but my god – an interview IS NOT the place to be humble. I’m not saying be a braggart and the Phil Helmuth of job interviews, but she should be in there hammering away on why she’s the best person for the job.

Here’s a good dazzler…. Bring an example of your past work. Tough to say what exactly that would be for an entry level accountant, but if you did any internship work developing budgets, financial reports, anything… Bring it – if its high quality. SHOW THEM SPECIFICALLY what you can do.

Hope this helps….

Let us know how it turns out.

Sarge/images/graemlins/diamond.gif

[vetman81]

First of all, a big thank you to all who responded. So she had four interviews last week. She thought two went well and two were so-so. Yesterday she got a call from one of the ones that went well and she was invited back for a second interview next week. She wont find out about the other three until next week, but thought I would update this one.

Thanks again.

Matt

PS. I couldnt get her to go for breast augmentation. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Nepa]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi all,

Thought I would get some advice for my wife. We are both in college and as such have never had a "real" job interview. All of the crappy jobs we have had werent that hard to acquire. Anyways, she has four interviews next week and is pretty nervous. She had a mock interview and that helped her, but I was wondering if anyone had tips and suggestions that they can give.

She is applying for entry level accounting positions if that makes a difference. She has a BS and will graduate in May with her Masters of Accountancy. Thanks for any help you all can give.

[/ QUOTE ]

If she is hot she shouldn't have much to worry about.

[BradleyT]

Aww man I went in for a 2nd interview last night and didn't find this thread till this morning.

D'oh!

[BradleyT]

Sweet I got a job offer today! /images/graemlins/smile.gif /images/graemlins/laugh.gif