SHPE - Conference 2008 - (Page 18)

CAREERS & EMPLOYMENT Are there certain skills and experiences you want to emphasize? Do you have certain interests or passions that the interviewers should know and understand? Dress the Part Before the interviewer gets to hear your polished responses, he or she might be distracted by your unpolished shoes or the fact that you didn’t bother to iron your shirt. Nowhere do appearances matter more than during an interview. Don’t underestimate the power of a first impression. Within seconds of a first meeting, people make assumptions based upon appearance. You are more likely to receive better service, command more respect and get what you want if you are dressed and speak appropriately for your surroundings. Your appearance should be consistent with your message. Today’s job seekers often make the mistake of dressing too casually. The best advice is to dress one or two levels higher than the job for which you are applying. This demonstrates that you care about the job and know the game. Chances are good that by dressing on the conservative side, you won’t unintentionally disqualify yourself. Consider investing in a couple of wellmade, well-fitting suits in conservative colors – various shades of blue and gray are best. If you wear black, make sure that there is another color near your face to soften the look. Brown is still considered questionable as a business color and probably should be avoided. Change your outfit’s look for a second interview by wearing a different color blouse, shirt, scarf or tie. Whatever you wear should accent the fact that you’re a professional who is ready to get to work at a new job. Let common sense guide you, and it should be easy to avoid fashion blunders that could damage your chances of getting to the next level in the process. In this market, it is essential that you look good and your appearance is right for the job. (See page 16.) Check Your Body Language As the interviewer walks toward you to shake hands, an opinion is already being formed; and, as you sit waiting your turn, you’re already being judged by your Body Language Checklist Here are five quick items to consider before heading to the Career Expo. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends for some constructive criticism and feedback. The handshake: Your handshake should be firm, but not bone-crushing. Your hand should be dry and warm. Tip: If your palms are sweating, try running them under cold water when you first arrive at the interview site. If your hands are cold, run them under warm water. Posture: Standing and sitting erect demonstrates energy and enthusiasm. A slouching posture looks tired and uncaring. Eye contact: Look the interviewer in the eye, but don’t stare. Looking around the room while talking can convey nervousness or a lack of confidence in the topic being discussed. Gesturing: Talking with your hands is natural, but keep it in moderation. Getting carried away with hand gestures can be distracting. Watch yourself in a mirror while talking on the phone. Chances are you are probably using some of the same gestures in an interview. Don’t fidget: There is nothing worse than people who constantly play with their hair, click a pen, tap their foot or unconsciously touch parts of the body. A B E T P R O G R A M E VA L UATO R S : T H E FAC E O F Q UA L I TY I N T E C H N I C A L E D U C AT I O N Are you a good communicator? A true team player? A respected member of your profession? Then you may qualify to serve as an ABET program evaluator. Program evaluators are dedicated technical professionals — deans, department heads, faculty, industry leaders, government representatives, and private practitioners — with a demonstrated interest in contributing to their professions and improving higher education. As a program evaluator, you can help ensure that today’s technical graduates are prepared to be tomorrow’s technical workforce. Visit www.abet.org/volunteer.shtml for the program evaluator’s job description, minimum qualifications, desired competencies, instructions for applying, and more. Leadership and Quality Assurance in Applied Science, Computing, Engineering, and Technology Education 111 Market Place, Suite 1050 Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 347-7700 www.abet.org appearance, posture, smile or your nervous look. Body language conveys strong messages that can speak louder than anything you are verbally saying. Preparing what you have to say is important, but practicing how you will say it is imperative. (See above.) Interviews are conversations that should be animated and interactive. If you say you are excited about the prospect of working for this company, but don’t show any enthusiasm, your message will probably fall flat. Don’t underestimate the value of a smile. In addition to conveying your enthusiasm, smiling often makes you feel better about yourself. So smile, gesture once in a while, show some energy and breathe life into the interview experience. ■ Editor’s Note: Fran Correa is Director of Sales for Verizon Business focused on Premier Accounts headquartered in New Jersey. Her expertise in exceeding corporate objectives stems from assembling winning teams that exhibit the strengths about which she writes. She is a graduate of Harvard Business School. The author can be contacted at francorrea@juno.com. SHPE ❘ Conference 2008 18 http://www.abet.org/volunteer.shtml http://www.abet.org http://www.abet.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Conference 2008

SHPE - Conference 2008 President’s Letter From the Vice President News of Particular Interest to Society Members Calendar Making the Most of the Career Fair Grupos de Afinidad Phoenix Rising Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math and Science (AHETEMS) 2008 SHPE Conference Program Guide Welcome Letters Highlights Conference Schedule STAR Awards Company of the Year Chapter of the Year Awards Speakers Entertainment Hospitality Suites Advisor Program Professional Program Quick Guide Business Proposal Competition Professional Workshop Descriptions Technical Paper and Poster Competitions AHETEMS Design Competition Extreme Engineering Challenge National Academic Olympiad AHETEMS Teacher Program AHETEMS Pre-College Symposia Corporate Tours AHETEMS Graduate Program AHETEMS Distinguished Lecture Series AHETEMS Deans’ Summit Undergraduate Workshops Quick Guide Undergraduate Workshops Descriptions MUST Scholars Symposium Career Fair Exhibitors Sponsors Hotel and Convention Center Maps Regional Roundup Inner Circle Employer Profiles Advertisers Index

SHPE - Conference 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.