Job Interviews: How to do well!

Salut Mon Ami!

I have mixed feelings for this coming weekend. Why? I am so looking forward for this weekend so I can do my long overdue apartment general cleaning. Hay naku mga day, New Year pa nung nag vacuum ako ng magic carpet ko! We are expecting a major snow storm this friday that will last till Saturday. So mega shovel ng snow sa harap ng apartment ang magiging drama ng beauty ko come sat or sunday.

Anyway, today I want to share some bits of advice on Job Interviews - on how to do well and on how to leave good impressions. Mga day, importante na sa interview pa lang eh karirin nyo na to the max! As in to the max!

O sya mga day, pencils and papers ready?

BEFORE INTERVIEW DAY!

1. Call (or e-mail) a day before your interview to confirm your schedule and attendance.
Kung nate-text nyo ng one month in advance ang friend nyo to remind them ng utang nya sa inyo eh mga day, pick up the phone and call the HR person to confirm your interview schedule and attendance. Mega raise ng hands and say present! This is viewed as courtesy. And sometimes dahil ang mga HR people ay may pagka-busy, they forget to inform people about re-scheduling ng interviews. So it works on your end na din to know kung tuloy ang interview nyo. Baka mamaya, naka ball gown kayo with matching miss universe make-up only to find out na next year na pala ang next interview schedule mo!

2. Read about the company!
Day, kung napagtitiisan nyong basahin ang blog ko that means kaya nyong pagtiisan basahin ang facts about the company na pinag-aaplayan nyo. Read about their history, mission and vision, products, profile ng mga bosses, competitors, chismis about sa company, chismis tungkol sa boss (charing lang). In short, come with ample knowledge about the company so mega relate kayo sa mga sasabihin ng interviewer nyo at para hindi kayo mukhang aanga-anga!

3. Read and understand the job description!
O mga totoy at neneng! Alam nyo ba ang ina-aplayan nyong trabaho at position? Alam myo ba ang requirements ng position. Naiintindihan nyo ba ang description ng job? Ma-eexplain nyo ba sa Interviewer in your own words pag tinanong kayo kung ano ang nature ng job na mega apply kayo. Baka mamaya Secretary position ang ina-aplayan nyo eh sa Security Guard post kayo mapunta!

DURING THE DAY OF INTERVIEW!

1. Dress Properly!
Hay naku mga day! I couldn't emphasize more the importance of your appearance during the interview! Sure at tama nga siguro si Pilisopo Tasyo about: "Don't judge the book if you're not a judge!" I mean "Don't judge the book by its cover!" pero purdyospursanto mga day, dress accordingly naman during your interview! Basics for Boys: Long Sleeves, Slacks pants, Leather shoes with matching office socks ha at hindi yung pang basketball nyo lintek kayo! Just in case, bring a tie para if ever na mejo pormal pormalan ang interviewer nyo, hindi kayo left behind. Basics for Girls: Skirts or slack pants, nice formal top, nice pair of shoes! Mga girls utang na loob, tantanan nyo na ang pagsusuot ng half slip paired with skirts! Pag pahingahin nyo na si Maria Clara in you! Kung hindi kayo sure sa isusuot nyo for your interview, take a picture send nyo sa email ko at morriseDOTdiangATgmail.com for my comments. I'll tell you kung approve or ligwak!

2. Arrive 30 minutes before your Interview Time!
No Filipino Time allowed mga lintsak kayo! Why arrive half an hour early? Duh? Para hindi kayo late! Obvious ba? Coming late for interviews is VERY unacceptable. If I were the interviewer, I'll ask you to go home and pray the rosary! Aba day! Kapal fes pag late ka sa interview mo. Wa ako care kung ma-traffic, naligaw ka, at kung ano-ano pang kamalasan ang sasabihin mo! When you come half an hout early, it will give you the time to do the following: make-up re-touch for girls, drain your gall bladder, i-text si jowa and MOST IMPORTANTLY to compose yourself and relax! Hindi kayo hagardous ever!

3. Smile, greet and shake-hands.
Smile though your heart is aching sabi nga ng isang song! When you smile, it shows a bit of your personality. It calms the other person and yourself too. It offers a ground for a good conversation. So mega show kayo ng bugs bunny teeth nyo mga day. Wag naman ngiting kabayo!
Greet. Always be the first to greet! Always! Say: "Good morning/afternoon/evening Mr. Chuvalou. How are you?" And when the interviewer replies and asks you the same thing say: "Pakialam mo! Charing lang! Reply: "I'm very well thanks for asking."
Shake Hands. Eto mga day ang never ever forget nyong gawin! Extend your hand for a hand shake! And in doing so, please guys do me a huge favor! DO IT FIRMLY! Not the lousy shake hands na parang matamlay pa kayo sa may sakit na kabayo! It shows your confidence and sincerity when you shake hands firmly. And while doing it, look him/her in the eye. Hindi yung nasa kisame kayo nakatingin! Finally, wait till he/she asks you to take a seat.

4. Communicate
Interview is a form of communication. You know that communication is a two-way street. Parang mag-jowa yan eh! Make the interview interesting by asking questions about the company, the job description, etc. Ok, when I say ask something it doesn't mean na ask na lang kayo ng ask! Make sure your questions are relevant sa existing topic ng interview nyo. Refrain from a YES or NO answer. Mga day, chuchugihin ko agad kayo pag ang mga sagot nyo sa tanong ko ay YES, YES, YES, NO, NO, NO... Aba, learn to expound and express your thoughts.Pero, pero, pero! Don't be an eager-beaver mga day ha. Wag masyado madaldal! Don't "overexpress". Be precise yet clear with your answers. Sa tagalog: TUMBUKIN NYO! Remember this: When an interviewer asks you to tell him/her about yourself, what he meant is something about you that makes him/her want to hire you in respect to the job position. Don't reply by saying: "I'm a simple person, I like shopping, I like going to malls and Luneta, all those cutesy cutesy things about you!" If he asks you about your hobbies then go kayo! Mega pa-impress kayo like you play golf, you ride horses, you play tennis etc! Charing!

5. Thank you and Shake Hands.
So after ng Interview at mga kapalpakan na pinagsasabi nyo during the interview eh may I say THANK YOU kayo. Thank him/her for the time and attention. Then do not forget to Shake his/her hand again!

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

1. Run to the closest Hallmark store o sa pinas eh National Bookstore
...and buy agad ng Thank You Card! Send it sa nag-interview sa inyo. Wag na mag write ng nobela sa card. Just put the name of the person who interviewed you and sign in your name. Tapos!

2. Follow Up Call (if necessary!)
Mga day, magpalipas naman kayo ng ilang araw bago mag follow-up. Like 2 years! Charing lang! Some companies tell you right off the bat kung kelan sila release ng decisions! Otherwise, call them after say 5 days after your interview to learn the bad news yourself...hahahaha charing lang! Be polite and be professional! Pag good news ayan, celebrate ka! Pag bad news, aba eh bagsakan mo na ng telepono! NO! Say Thank you still and put the phone down then start cursing them to death! hahahaha.

O ayan mga girls and boys! Sana eh makahanap na kayo ng work ng makatulong naman kayo sa economy ng bansa nyo at lalong lalo na sa bulsa ng mga magulang nyo! hahahahaha

If you have questions, feel free to email me at: morriseDOTdiangATgmail.com

Hugs,
Morrise