Dress
Wear what you’d wear on the job if you were hired. If you’re unsure, it’s better to overdress than underdress. But make sure you feel comfortable—if you feel strange,you look strange.
Grooming
It’s not just for dogs and cats and horses anymore. It’s important for humans too:
- Fix your hair so it stays out of your eyes. Compulsive adults will be thinking of how to shove it out of the way for you.
- Don’t wear a lot of cologne, perfume, or aftershave. (Hint: If they smell you before they see you, it’s too much.)
- Try not to smell like tobacco, gasoline, or a wet dog.
- Get the cat hair off your sweater.
- Remove the Milk Duds debris from your teeth.
- Avoid makeup that looks like it was applied while you were riding on a motorcycle. This is especially important for girls.
- Use a breath mint.
Arrive Early
One of the things that employers hate most is people who don’t show up on time. Arriving early may not win you any points, but showing up late is a major strike against you. Don’t do it. Before you step through the door, make sure your hair, face, teeth, and elbows are in order. Bring a notepad and your questions with you. Also bring along an extra pen; a mean-spirited federal statute (hustled through Congress by the pencil lobby) requires pen manufacturers to design their pens in such a way that a certain percentage will run out of ink in the middle of a job interview. Or so it seems.
While you’re waiting for the interview, casually look around and see if any of the workers are watching you. If one employee seems to be staring, it’s probably because she’s afraid she is about to be fired and you’re going to get her job.
The Big Chat
If you survive your imagination and make it into the interview, here’s what’s next. Your object is to convey as many of your positive traits as you can before bringing up any negatives. Sell yourself. You’ve got two pitches, really: how you act and what you say. Let’s look at each.
HOW YOU ACT
Actions and gestures speak loud in the first few seconds of a conversation—often louder than the words themselves. Here are some body language tips and what they declare:
Gesture Translation
Offer to shake hands when Meeting you is important to you meet—age and gender don’t matter. Give a firm, friendly grip, look into the person’s eyes, and smile.
Look directly at the person’s face when you speak.
Do the same when you’relistening to people.
Don’t put paper clips in your nose.
What you say
Your ability to communicate is being evaluated. Speak in your normal voice. When you greet the person, always give your name. If she has forgotten it, you’ll save her the embarrassment of having to ask. (And when you repeat it, you make it less likely that she‘ll forget again.)
As a general rule, address an adult by his or her last name (e.g., Mr. Rogers, Ms. Piggy, Dr. Jekyl) until you’re given permission to use the first name. Use the name frequently—people like to hear their names. And above all, don’t use swear words unless you have a note from your mom.
Remember that you’re selling yourself. In the few minutes you have, let the interviewer discover that you’re someone special:
- Convey what makes you unique. You want to be remembered.
- Show interest in the job, not the compensation.
Employers don’t expect teenagers to be experts when they hire them. They’re looking for enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, a cooperative spirit, and reliability. If you can convince the interviewer that you possess these attributes in your interview, you’ve done the best you can.
Every interview is a priceless lesson: take notes, learn from your mistakes, look back and laugh, and get better.
Never start a water balloon fight during a job interview (but if someone else throws the first balloon, go for the kill).
When you feel it’s appropriate, ask your own questions. The kinds of questions you ask will tell the manager a lot about you: You’re smart, not afraid to ask questions, and interested in the job. Jot down a few notes on the answers—if you’re the least bit nervous in the interview (no big deal—most people are), your notes will help you remember the important stuff that’s said.
Try not to bring up hours, vacation, pay, and benefits until the end (unless, of course, the interviewer brings them up first). It’s helpful here to have a copy of your weekly schedule including school hours, regular obligations after school and evenings, and weekend commitments. If it’s a complicated schedule, you may want to give a copy of it to your interviewer. If you’ve sold yourself well in the first part of the interview, your future boss may be more flexible with these things.
Sometimes an employer is ready to hire you after the interview. If not, don’t fret. He or she may have scheduled other interviews, or may need to talk to a bigger boss before making a decision. If no offer comes, ask when you might expect to hear an answer. Then smile and thank the person with a handshake.
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