Hey im 16/17 and im going for my first job intervieuw on thursday. If it helps its a a little resteraunt that my grandfathers freind's owns. The types of positions i might be hierd to do is chash, dish washer, bussing tables or waiting tables. My question is what are some things that i should say or do during an interview?
When you get up in the morning beforehand, take a shower and make sure that you don't put too much make up on. You want them to see the real you, so use a little mascara, eyeshadow and maybe some pale lipstick. NOT lip gloss, which is a bit too 'fun' for an interview. Make sure your hair is neat and tidy. Don't wear it down if you have flyaway hair but instead tie it back in a ponytail or clip it back. Make sure you have no hair covering your face.
Wear a suitable outfit. As someone has already said, the job may not require you to dress smartly but you should NEVER attend an interview in anything less than a smart skirt and a blouse. Consider the sort of place you are interviewing to work in. Is it a fancy restaurant or a small time place? If it's very fancy, you will need either a skirt suit or pant suit. If it's a little smaller, a plain black or grey skirt, teamed with a white blouse will be fine. Make sure you are wearing sensible court shoes.
Now, consider the questions they are likely to ask. As someone already correctly identified, they will probably ask you for your strengths and weaknesses. These are common for almost all interviews. Strengths should always be something along the lines of "I work well in a team or alone when required", or "I will work however hard it takes to get the job done properly". When asked for weaknesses, try to limit what you supply and don't give them a list. Something like "I can be a bit of a perfectionist", always goes down well. BUT, don't lie. If you know it's not true and you say that it is, they will work it out eventually!
Do your homework on the company. Make sure you know when they started business, what they sell, when they open from and to, what sort of clientele they have. You need to know as much as possible about the business, so that when they ask you "Why do you want to work for us?" you can come out with something like "Last year you were listed as ...... in 'where to eat'", and that way, they like you immediately because you've shown initiative and interest. That will really make you stand out.
Now, when you GET to the interview, take a few deep breaths before you go in. Make sure you remind yourself that you are calm and prepared. The first thing you need to do when asked to go in and meet them is smile, shake their hands (work on the handshake with your parents if you haven't done it before because getting the correct firmness can be tricky) and then sit down on the chair they direct you to. Maintain eye contact. It's very important for them to know that you are in the room with them mentally, as well as physically and that you are attentive to everything they say. It's okay to look away now and then, but when they speak and you are listening, you need to keep eye contact for around 80% of the time.
Don't forget to sell yourself. If they ask you about your achievements, tell them about any awards you've won. Tell them about your extra-curricular activities that you may be good at. Tell them about anything you do to help out in the community.
Also, make sure you have some questions. At the end of the interview, they always ask "Is there anything you would like to know?" Rather than just shrugging and saying "No", it's better to have something ready and waiting, so they know you're interested. Ask them what hours you would be working. Ask them what sort of career advancement they offer. Ask them about the training. Anything you REALLY want or need to know about the job? This is the time to ask so before you go to the interview, sit down for a few minutes and think about what you don't know about the job already. Then you'll have your questions.
Lastly, remember that they are as nervous as you are. Everybody hates interviews, from the prospective employee to the prospective employer. They're a horrible formality but a necessary one so when you're sat outside, terrified about what you will say and what they will ask, remember the same thing is going on on the other side of that door.
alisonmarie answered Tuesday November 14 2006, 1:55 pm: Before you go to the interview, make sure you've picked out an appropriate outfit. Even though the job yo're going for doesn't require being dressed up, the interview process DOES require it. This doesn't mean a suit, but it DOES mean nice trousers and a nice shirt.
You'll also want to consider the answers to some general questions: What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Why do you want to work for this place? What experience do you have? What is your availability?
You may also want to think of a question or two to ask the employer, to show you are interested.
During the interview, make eye contact, smile, answer the questions honestly. It's okay if you have never worked before - employers want employees who are dependable, motivated, and able to get the job done.
Most importantly, remember to breathe! It will not be as scary as you may anticipate. You could even ask your grandfather to coach you if he has any insider knowledge about his friend or the restaurant.
MelLeDisko answered Monday November 13 2006, 10:49 pm: Well, I figured best to ask some sites with better, more accurate opinions than from me whose never had a job interview before:
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