Interview Articles

The first article I read from the website was, "Ability to Pull an All-Nighter Can Be as Useful as a B.A.", written by Dana Mattioli. This article talked about recognizing other skills one acquires during the college experience, aside from the academia. The other skills sound like things we do in everyday life: write papers at two a.m., watching t.v., and surfing the Internet. Dana emphasizes the importance of translating those other skills into strengths that can be reflected in the workforce. One example translates "living in a residence hall" into, "comfortable working in diverse environment." One other main point she makes is that my generation, the one new to the workforce, is more technology savvy than all other previous generations.

I liked Dana's article, and agreed with most of it. The one thing that I might go against is that it might be hard to convince your future employer that some of those skills hold up. He might not think that pulling an all-nighter is the same as having time-management skills. I do agree with all the technology comments. Our generation seems that we cannot survive without having Internet or a cell phone access at all times. But as a positive, by us investing so much time with technology that just shows how our generation is always looking for a way to move forward and advance the way we live.

For my second article, I read "How To Avoid Blunders During Job Interviews", by Sarah Needleman. Sarah talks about all the negatives an interviewee can bring to an interview. The biggest problem she says most interviewee's have the first time is talking too much. This can reveal that you did not do your homework about the company, and how not letting the interviewer talk will irritate them. Sarah writes on how to win the mental game during an interview by turning arrogance into self-confidence.

Sarah hits on key faults that can happen during an interview, but I believe the best way not to mess up is to practice. Have friends ask questions written down on flash cards to practice responses. This will make the actual interview easier and make you look prepared by avoiding drawing blanks to a surprise question. Being able to expose your weaknesses as steps toward growing shows maturity. Always look your best, "Dress to impress," they say. Relaxation during an interview will allow the interviewee to think clearer and feel more comfortable. It is also important to always keep a positive outlook. By visualizing success, you can make it happen.