School to Career - What employers are looking for.

1. Tell me about yourself. The interviewer is breaking the ice and you are setting the tone for the interview. Mention a few personal, job related or education related skills or accomplishments. Samples: "I am a recent graduate of school where I played tennis and was a member of the club. In school I enjoyed my English and computer classes ... I worked in the summer as a lifeuard and assisted the swim team coach." It is not necessary to give too much detail or go back to childhood activities.

2. Why do you want to work here? The interviewer(s) want to know how much you know about their company, including its products and services. This is where the prior research on the company is crucial.

3. What are your career goals? Most of the time, employers are looking for someone to stay in the job for a while. Therefore, career goals of returning to school, starting your own business or moving to a different location will not be appropriate. They are checking to see if you are really interested in the job or just waiting for the next opportunity. If your career goals fit with the direction the company is moving, then your chances for getting hired have increased. "A career goal is to be the top sales person in xxx amount of time; my immediate goal is to gain more eperience in this field and then, long term, be able to grow as the company grows."

4. Give me an example of ... This can be one of the most difficult questions to prepare for since you have no idea what will be asked. Go to the interview prepared with specific examples of when you used your skills, especially skills in leadership, stress management, team building, persistence, and problem solving.

	*What employers are looking for in an interview*
	Some questions are asked in almost every typical interview. They include: Tell me about yourself Why do you want to work here? What are your goals? Even when we prepare for these questions, sometime we wonder "Why did they ask that question?" or "What were they really looking for during the interview?" Also note many interviews are now performed as a team. Two or more people will be asking questions. This can cause further difficulty in positioning, eye contact and feeling overwhelmed by the questioning. It may help to focus on the person who is asking the question and not glancing at the other people. Trying to pick up on the reactions of others in the room may distract you from answering the questions with clarity and enthusiasm.

	*Questions to expect and what the employer expects*
	1. Tell me about yourself. The interviewer is breaking the ice and you are setting the tone for the interview. Mention a few personal, job related or education related skills or accomplishments. Samples: "I am a recent graduate of school where I played tennis and was a member of the club. In school I enjoyed my English and computer classes ... I worked in the summer as a lifeuard and assisted the swim team coach." It is not necessary to give too much detail or go back to childhood activities. 2. Why do you want to work here? The interviewer(s) want to know how much you know about their company, including its products and services. This is where the prior research on the company is crucial. 3. What are your career goals? Most of the time, employers are looking for someone to stay in the job for a while. Therefore, career goals of returning to school, starting your own business or moving to a different location will not be appropriate. They are checking to see if you are really interested in the job or just waiting for the next opportunity. If your career goals fit with the direction the company is moving, then your chances for getting hired have increased. "A career goal is to be the top sales person in xxx amount of time; my immediate goal is to gain more eperience in this field and then, long term, be able to grow as the company grows." 4. Give me an example of ... This can be one of the most difficult questions to prepare for since you have no idea what will be asked. Go to the interview prepared with specific examples of when you used your skills, especially skills in leadership, stress management, team building, persistence, and problem solving.