There are three ways we communicate with employers: cover letters, resumes and interviews. Resumes list the experiences from your past. Cover letters put your past experience into the context of the job and employer you seek. Interviews allow you to answer job specific questions and determine your fit with the employer. Here are some tips for the interview.

Preparation. Do your research on the position, organization and staff. Learn what they do, how they do it, who uses their services and how successful they are at their work.

Practice. Your first interview for any position should not be the actual interview! Use a friend or career counselor to take you through questions that you believe will be asked during the interview. Prepare clear and concise answers to common questions like, 'tell me about yourself' or 'why are you interested in this job' or 'what are your strengths and weaknesses' prior to the interview. Using a videotaped mock interview will allow you to 'see' how you interview.

Remember, past behavior predicts future behavior. Your job is to identify and articulate examples from your past that demonstrate that you have successfully used the skills they need in this new position. The examples do not have to be from exactly the same industry as the one to which you are applying. Focus on the skills.

Think about being a STAR when you answer questions. Tell stories that demonstrate what you did rather than simply speaking about what you would do in the future.

For example, if you are asked if you have good organizational skills. You should respond by giving concrete, specific expamples of what you have done in the past. One way to frame your experience is:

• S... what SITUATION have you been in that required you to use your organizational skills?
• T... what specific TASK did you address that required your organizational skills in the situation cited above?
• A... what specific ACTION did you take to implement your organizational skills in the action cited above?
• R... what was the RESULT of your action?

This is a much more complete and informative answer for an employer. One that provides them with enough information to make a good decision about the level of your specific skills.

A great way to develop these skills is through practice interivews with the staff at the CDO or with employers who visit the Grinnell College campus. Check PioneerLink for interviewing opportunities or contact the CDO for more info!