Ditch the Cell Phone, and Other Essential Interview Tips for Twenty-Somethings

Would you answer your cell phone during a job interview? For a business professional, this isn't even a question. But imagine our astonishment when an otherwise presentable and talented young man began an interview with us by casually plopping his cell phone on the conference table. We kept glancing at each other and the cell phone, wondering if it would ring and, if so, whether the young man would actually stop the interview to answer it.

Fortunately for the young man, this was just a coaching session. We met with him while doing pro-bono coaching work with Students Rising Above, (SRA), a nonprofit organization that helps low-income and recently homeless students attend and graduate college. We really enjoy helping these extraordinarily hard-working young people achieve success. But the young man with the cell phone and other twenty-somethings like him made us realize they needed a lot of help!

Here's what we were able to teach them that helped them land jobs. These tips may help some special twenty-something in your life:

1. Ditch Your Cell Phone - Cell phones should be out of sight and turned off. We were prompted to share this because more than one student casually placed their cell phone on the conference room table during an interview. The signal this sends (no pun intended) is that they're not focused 100% on the interview. If it does ring, they should apologize and quickly turn it off -- without checking to see who called.

2. What to Say - An interview is the best opportunity to sell themselves. Even if their work history only includes summer jobs, what they did in those positions counts. We found that students tended to provide minimal information about their previous jobs saying things like "I just answered the phones". As we probed we found out that the calls being handled were much more involved -- dealing with vendors on past due invoices and prospective students (for those who worked at a college). This stronger answer was more representative of what one student did and more positively positioned her. If they did filing, have them discuss how they organized a filing system, or improved the efficiency (one student physically moved the files to a central place so that more people had access to them.). They should expand on whatever experience they've had so that the interviewer gets a sense of how they approach their job.

3. How to Shine - They should fully describe whatever company is on their resume, for example, "I worked for company X, which is headquartered in San Francisco, has 100 employees and about $200 million in sales". That's going to demonstrate that they have an understanding of the broad picture of the company. Also, they should be able to give a solid answer to the question, "Why are you interested in working here?". Examples are, "The company is in an industry that I love" or "You have an impressive client list which means there are a lot of smart people here who I can learn from.".

4. Tell Us About Yourself -- The open-ended questions can often trip up students/recent grads. The best way to handle this question is to right up front say what they are interested in - "I'm interested in the law and here's why". They can follow this up by discussing the classes they enjoyed and why.

5. What to Ask -- Most twenty-somethings know that they should have a question to ask at the end of the interview. Make sure the question's a good one. Relate it to the company. An easy thing to do is to check out the company's website beforehand and read the last few press releases. If the press release is about a new product, ask "How many new products do you typically launch in a year?". Then follow-up with "Is that typical for your industry?". Another good question is "Which areas of the company are growing?" that might help the interviewer think of hiring the student for that department.

6. How to Answer "the Weakness" Question -- A weakness at this early stage in a career should be a reflection of inexperience, not ineptitude. Students are often stymied by this question, as they are unsure what their true weakness might be. When asked this question, one student blurted out "communication", which turned out to be untrue. He then suggested "time management", although this had never been addressed in any previous job. He was making up answers because he thought he had to come up with something. They should figure out an area they really need to work on and position it as making an improvement. For example, they might answer, "What I believe I can improve upon is my efficiency. I need to think more about the process before I start.".

7. Say What You Can Do -- If the interview is not with a specific job in mind, have them give examples of what they can do for the company. This could be working in the mailroom, helping accounts payable, getting sales materials printed up. These are all entry level activities -- in different departments -- which may prompt the interviewer to think of how this person could fit a need they have.

8. Be Enthusiastic -- This is advice for kids of all ages. Have them show enthusiasm about the job, the company and the people they've met so far. They should be appreciative of the time spent in the interview and let the interviewer know they're excited.

9. Get a Business Card -- We set up an interview for the son of a friend. After the interview we asked the son who he had met with and he couldn't remember any one's name. He had no information with which to email and thank the interviewers. At the conclusion of the interview, have them ask for the person's business card. This way they can thank the interviewers and let other people in that company know who they've already met with.

10. How to Close -- At the end of the interview have them thank the interviewer and ask "What do you think would be the next step?". The interviewer might say they'll get back to them or might say something like they're not really hiring right now. If that's the case, have them get from the interviewer a referral to another person in the same industry. That company might be hiring.

What most of us take for granted, twenty-somethings are learning for the first time. The quicker they can get up to speed the more successful they'll be in their interviews. A good interview leads to a job, which leads to money, which leads to their own apartment, which leads to freedom for the recent graduates and their parents.

Do you have a twenty-something interview story to share?

Fred & Gladys
Whelan Stone
Executive Search and Coaching
Authors of GOAL! Your 30 Day Career Plan for Business & Career Success

Follow Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gladys29

Comments

[ddadm09]

Nothing to worry or get nervous, just be confident and never tell any lie.. answer what you know.. are the first principles while attending an Interview. I had lot of experience in this area, so collected a big list of interview questions and answers sites (more than 220 sites) on wide variety of areas. This doesn't cover just interview questions but also has information related to how to dress, how and what to ask the person who is interviewing you like if it is HR, you might want to know about the work environment, about the overtime rules, about the holiday structure, any medical benefits, insurance coverages etc.,. Thought it will be useful to all, so sharing them at the below link -- might be of some help to you... today and even in future..
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/06/sites-you-must-refer-to-if-you-going.html

[susiesorority]

I'd be happy if they'd stop the gd texting behind the wheel.

[steppenwolfsayshi]

Here is my advice:
Whenever you do anything persuasive, you must build an argument. I suggest reading a book about being persuasive. Then try to include these parts in your argument:

1. MOST IMPORTANT: I already know how to do everything required of this position. I require NO TRAINING.
(No one will train an entry level worker for anything. Sorry. Tough cookies. Get over it. My suggestion is to pick companies that you like that have upward mobility. If they like you and are willing to stay long term with. If you invest your time in them, they will invest in you.)

2. I have leadership skills, and am thusly independent and trustworthy when left alone to finish my work.

3. I have accomplished goals that I have set for myself, thus I am a hard-worker, organized and competent.

4. I have accomplished goals while working with others, thus I am not a jerk or a weirdo or have some other undesirable personality issue.

In a good argument, you will already have answers to likely questions that will prove to the interviewer 1-4.

[steppenwolfsayshi]

Baaaa. I'm sure "don't answer your cell phone in an interview" might be good advice for homeless people! How about advice for how to get past the hiring freeze on all entry level positions???

I'm 24 and the job I have right now had a hiring freeze on it. The job they wanted to hire me for also had a hiring freeze on it. ALL entry level positions have hiring freezes on them in fact and we are making losts of money. They hired me for a much lower position I was way over qualified for, pay me way less and make me work two jobs. THATS how I got past it.

How about some real advice for college graduates, because a lot my friends are really struggling. It's not their fault.

[urnumbersix]

Because it's so ubiquitous nowadays - I don't think young people realize How Much older people Hate cell phone attention. I have actually witnessed a niece, napping - her cell phone buzzed - she awakened and texted and went right back into a deep sleep. She was also texting DURING a theatre viewing of The Dark Knight.

Youngsters - this freaks your elders out. You want the job?
Ditch the phone. And all other machinery. INTERACT with the person in front of you. Also, speak in full sentences - not "text-talk."

Until we die out - that's what you have to put up with. Sorry.

[barkingcat]

I don't think that answering the cell phone during a job interview "freaks your elders out" so much as it shows a lack of focus on and respect for the topic at hand -- the job interview.

Simple as that.

[JScott]

They should realize that having the cellphone DOES NOT IMPRESS EVERYONE, YOU ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT OR SPECIAL THAT YOU JOB INTERVIEW DESERVES TO BE INTERRUPTED BY A CELL PHONE CALL!!!! Actually you'd think this goes without saying but apparently not.