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Jonathan Lewis

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Best-Ever Job Interview Tips

Posted: 08/15/2012 1:27 am

"I look for a work ethic in a new hire," Regina Starr Ridley says bluntly.

Regina migrated to her current job as publishing director of the prestigious Stanford Social Innovation Review after a 22-year career running a 500-person, $150 million publishing house (with pit stops along the way to become a doula and learn Spanish).

Under the studio lights at iOnPoverty.tv, Regina opened up with practical solutions for job-seekers -- both of the social change variety and the traditional need-a-job-right-now-to-pay-the-bills kind.

To get your job interview, break out of the pack with a cover letter. "Write a great cover letter -- even if one is not asked for. It gets attention. It's more important than the resume," Regina emphatically insists.

"I like to see excellent writing with a lack of jargon. I like to see sincerity. I like to see that candidate knows what the job is. A great cover letter melts my heart."

Chiding every student who has embellished a resume with volunteer work, Regina toughly tells job applicants to make your civic commitment enduring and long-term, not episodic. Authenticity is paramount.

"Be prepared to explain what you learned on your last job. For example, how did you handle the boring parts of your job?" Regina advises.

Go into an interview prepared to listen, learn, react and participate. In short, treat your future boss in the same manner you will want to be treated as an employee.

"Not looking me in the eye is a turnoff. Not having anything to say is a turnoff. I want to feel like the person has heard what I said and then responded back. I want people to hear me because they will take that skill into the workplace."

"No matter what, go into the interview with great questions," she concludes with a probing, journalistic smile. "I look for curiosity."

With the Millennial generation unemployment rate hovering at 12 percent (50 percent above the national average), Regina's get-a-job insider tips could not be more well-timed or more useful.

 

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"I look for a work ethic in a new hire," Regina Starr Ridley says bluntly. Regina migrated to her current job as publishing director of the prestigious Stanford Social Innovation Review after a 2...
"I look for a work ethic in a new hire," Regina Starr Ridley says bluntly. Regina migrated to her current job as publishing director of the prestigious Stanford Social Innovation Review after a 2...
 
 
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05:49 PM on 08/29/2012
Well im unemployed and Ive been searching all day for extra ways to make money as i need to start saving up for a few things :(

I couldnt find much online but the best i did find are these out of everything floating around.. Heres a few jobs that i found if anyone else is interested..

Here you can become a paid Mystery Mall Shopper!! and you even keep the bits you get when taking part, sounds good to me :o ! MallShoppers.info

and/or if you just want to stay at home and work in your spare time then there is always just completing them simple consumer opinion polls and surveys for cash even while watching tv! :D!

Appartantly these pay the most out of them all so its worth signing up just to check out what they have available on their database.. SurveyDatabase.com

and if you want something possibily even more long term then there is always something like MomCpa.com

or alternatively you could just learn how to write ebooks and them sell them online etc. WritingeBooks.info seemed a great help for this.

Hope its of some use to someone else who's also struggling like me, thought id try and make it easier than i found it hunting online :) x
03:27 PM on 08/16/2012
These are great tips, especially for new grads entering an uncertain economic climate. Whether your job interview is in person or through online video, it’s important to come prepared. Researching the company will allow you to tailor your answers and highlight the achievements in your past which are most relevant to the position. It will also allow you to ask insightful and impressive questions when the interview is winding down. These questions will not just help you gather more information about the company, they will also leave an impression on your interviewer.
photo
Mrim Boutla
Turning students into social business leaders
01:27 PM on 08/15/2012
Thanks for this great content Jonathan! I can't agree more with the power of cover letters as the best way to convert an application into an interview. I would furthermore emphasize that a great tailored cover letter that highlights how close you are from the dream candidate described in the job posting is the best possible interview prep you can go through. Indeed, writing a tailored cover letter involves researching and articulating your fit with the skills needed for the position, but also with the culture of the organization. Articulating that fit within your cover letter will help you articulate it in the interview. I hope that my posts on Justmeans (http://www.justmeans.com/Job-Hunting-Tips-for-your-New-Years-Resolutions-Proactive-Search/41785.html) and our MTM Careers blog (http://morethanmoneycareers.com/2011/06/not-qualified-use-job-postings-to-your-advantage/) will provide additional insights to you and your readers!
08:39 AM on 08/15/2012
I hope this is advice for teens because if I was asked how I dealt with the boring part of my job, I would seriously contemplate getting up to leave. What did I learn at my last job? Is your civic commitment enduring and long-term, not episodic?

Would you seriously ask a 45 year old individual these questions?
02:00 PM on 08/15/2012
The video is definitely intended for the young job-seeker - college grad type person.