The Little Things That Could Get You Hired (Or Fired)

By Maureen Corbett

In this ever more competitive work environment, everyone has been told that the key to landing your dream job is to stand out. Employees need to distinguish themselves from all the other applicants, who may be equally or more experienced, and show a potential employer what they can do to benefit the company. But how should one go about doing that? Some people distinguish themselves by highlighting their professional leadership qualities, or participating in volunteer activities related to the job. While these are positive ways to help you stand out, there are many things an employee can also do that would negatively impact their impression during a job interview. Here just a few of the little things you might want to shy away from:

1. Bad Posture

Good posture is one of the most important qualities one can have in an interview. Standing and sitting up straight shows assertiveness and lets your interviewer know that you belong in this kind of working environment. On the other hand, bad posture may signal to your interviewer that you are passive or insecure, and could distract them from your other beneficial qualities.  

2. Flashy Jewelry

Sometimes, less is more. The bigger and more flashy your jewelry gets, the bigger the chance is that it will distract your interviewer. Nice earrings and a simple necklace is all it really takes to make you look pretty and professional  This applies for men as well as women. Guys, try to stay away from earrings or long chain necklaces, a simple watch will do the trick. 

3. Too Much Perfume/Cologne

Smelling nice can definitely show your interviewer that you take personal hygiene seriously, but at some point a line needs to be drawn. You never know what scents someone might be allergic to, and too much of any smell can overwhelm an interviewer. You want them to be focused on your impressive resume and charming personality, not thinking about the next time they will get to breathe fresh air. 

4. Hairstyles That "Make a Statement"

I'm all for expressing individuality, but some forms of self expression need to be left at home. While you may think a unique cut or updo will show your interviewer that you keep up with the times, it can also hinder your appearance. Companies want to hire staff members who will represent their "look" to the public, and anything too extreme can be a turnoff. Stick to your usual style for job interviews, and don't try anything too fancy. 

What Makes You Stand Out?

By: Lauren Farmer

An important thing that hiring professionals look at when selecting an employee for their company is that special something that separates them from every other candidate.  So, it is important to know your strengths before going into an interview or applying for a job.

Many will point out good grades, leadership ability, and work experience, but these are all very vague and are probably the reasons you got the interview in the first place, which is good.  But once you are in the interview, the interviewers are looking for something beyond those qualities to make them confident in hiring you over everyone else with the same good grades, leadership skills and work experience.

Some examples of strengths that you may possess that would be a seller to the hiring company are drive, commitment, curiosity or creativity, and passion.  Drive is another way of saying when you are given a task you have the motivation to see it through to the end.  If you are given an assignment in class or a project to work on and you have motivation to complete it and make it to the best of your ability, one of your strengths is drive.  If you go above and beyond the expectations, then you can be considered committed.  Some outside of work examples can be being in a club, volunteer work, participating in marathons and so on.  These are read to interviewers as above and beyond things that can be translated into a good work ethic. Curiosity and creativity come from wanting to know how things work and how things can be changed.  If you see a project and want to learn more about it, and more importantly how you can change it for the better, then this is a good strength that could set you apart from the other competition.  And finally, if you believe in the work you do and don't mind putting in all of the hard work to make your vision come true, then one of your strengths is passion.  This is very important when standing out against other competitors for a job, because this is a major strength companies are looking for when adding to their staff.  It means that you will be loyal to the company and do your best to represent them.

So in conclusion to this blog, it is important to find out what makes YOU special.  Try to focus more on that than what the company you are applying for wants.  This is important, but it is more important to highlight your own specific qualities that best matches you to a job rather than conforming yourself to fit to a job.  

There is No I in Team

By Michael Mustradi

There is no better feeling than when a team comes together and fires on all cylinders.  Most of the time, great sports teams, such as the World Champion ’96 Chicago Bulls, come to mind when thinking about excellent teamwork.  However, teamwork is what drives both individuals and companies to success in the workplace.  Even though it is not always easy to be a team player, the advantages of meshing like a team can make life (and work) more tolerable and much more fun.

                                        

In order to be an affective teammate, you must know your skills or strengths and use them to your advantage.  For example, if organization is your strongpoint, be the one to keep the team organized and on track.  Not only will this make it easy on you since you are playing your strengths, you will feel like you have an important role on the team.

Also, being a communicator helps a team immensely.  A team that does not have open communication will not be as successful as one that does.  This doesn’t mean you have to be talking nonstop and speaking up when you shouldn’t.  Asking quality questions, challenging your teammates, and discussing possible solutions to any encountered problems are crucial to affective communication.  With communication, comes reliability.  If you say you are going to do something, you better get it done. 

If a teammate is pushed for time and is trying to meet a deadline, step up to the plate and help him/her out.  Then, when you are pushed for time (which you will be), he/she will remember your help and give it right back to you.  This brings up an important point: flexibility.  Being on a team does not mean tasks will get completed on your own time.  Sometimes you have to sacrifice a night out with friends to meet with the group and be productive.  Not everyone has the same schedule so being flexible will help the team continue to meet deadlines and increase the likelihood of success.    

No More Drama

By: Nora Kish

Any setting, professional or personal, has the potential to bring drama into your life. Your involvement in that drama can have more influence than you realize; it can mold people’s perceptions of you and define your character. Whether it’s partaking in some seemingly harmless office gossip or being out with friends and getting chewed out by a crazy stranger, drama is always lurking.

In a professional setting, drama is the last thing you want to be associated with. Not only does it negatively impact your work, it impacts your work relationships too. Someone who’s always in the middle of drama may be seen as untrustworthy and unpredictable, which are not desirable professional traits. Be aware of your environment and understand that every action has a consequence.

The best thing to do is to try to avoid drama at all costs. This means taking preventative and proactive measures.  

Don’t participate - If someone tries to start something with you or tries to get you to gossip, don’t involve yourself. If you avoid it in the beginning, you don’t have to worry as much or at all about any fallout.

Communication is irreversible – What is heard cannot be unheard so be careful what you say. Your words and actions are a representation of yourself so make they reflect the person you really are.

Don’t let it get to you – It only stresses you out if you let it. Some people only want to get a rise out of you – don’t give them that satisfaction!

Did you say it?

By: Yameng Zhang


Communication might be the first thing we learned when we were kids, as we grow up, communication becomes harder and harder. When we were kids, we cry so that people know we were hungry, sad or hurt; we laugh because we were happy and it meant we liked it.  As grown-ups, only cowards cry, and smiling or laughing may have nothing to do with "yes" or happiness.

As things turned complex, there's no way to turn it back to simple anymore. We research and analyze contexts to learn speaking appropriately, because what we say defines who we are.

We ask, so we can have a chance to get what we needs. "I am having a bad cold, do you mind if I don't wear working attire?" "I am trying to concentrate, can you stop spinning your pen?" "I'm waiting for an important phone call, can I turn on my phone?" "I like Blue man group, can I go talk to them about advertising?" Things can be simple, but at most of the time, we make it complicated. In workplaces, as long as it won’t break principles, it is better to say it clearly, otherwise, you may need to be tolerant, make up a lie, pretend to be cool and mess up everything else to make yourself an easy-going, open-minded, nothing-matters person.

We all have rules, we draw lines so we know when it's time to stop. When you have to working alone, it is always right to say "no" to your friends' company. When you deserve a better job, it is time to say "no" to the old one. When you know it is wrong, say "no" so everyone can see what you've got. Nodding and smiling may mean being polite when you're listening, but expressing yourself is what is expected after others are done talking. If you don't want your rules to be broken, say "no" before anything goes across the line.

We say words and do things accordingly. In interviews, we are supposed to present the best part of ourselves and what we have to offer, and then the employers would expect you to be as good as you said you were. However, if you bragged too much about your greatness, you may disappoint others no matter how hard you tried. Therefore, say what you did do in the past, promise what you can offer in deed, no exaggeration, no disguise and no shame to be who you really are.

As a kid, I wanted a bike but nobody gave me one, so I didn’t eat and cried a lot. That was how I got my bike. As I turned to an adult, I ask for things like class notes, a hand for lifting a chair from another table, anything bigger than that? I say "I want it", I fight for it, and I say "I got it". That's how it works.
 

Don't Procrastinate

by: Rebekah Beachum

I am a procrastinator.  As a kid, my parents would ask me to clean my room before bedtime and I would typically put it off until just before bed or I would even try to push bedtime back so I did not have to clean my room.  Unfortunately, this bad habit has followed me through junior high, high school, and all through college.  I cannot tell you how many nights I would find myself staying up to complete a project that’s due the next day (which I could have easily finished long beforehand). 

I try to attribute this to my “creative brain” because my dad told me creative types often work best when nobody else is around to distract and when they need to produce.  I am not sure this is true.  When there’s something I cannot wait to do or if I have an idea that’s burning the back of my head, I get it done and have multiple versions. 

The good thing, however, is that I have finally learned what things can quickly be done and the things that require time.  This is great timing, I think, as I am beginning to search for a job post-graduation and I know procrastinating on applications can mean losing the job that I really desire or losing interest entirely.  Procrastinating on my life is not an option. 

If you are at all like me and procrastinate terribly, start with small goals and get bigger.   Know your limits by setting personal deadlines, and expect to meet them.  When you meet the deadline, reward yourself in some small way and set the next goal.  I have found that this system definitely helps motivate to continue a good habit into professional life where deadlines are constant and inevitable.

Need more steps to meeting a deadline? See 14 Essential Tips for Meeting Deadlines. (These are specifics for a freelancer, but can be applied to almost anything.)

Advice to my Freshman-self

Here are ten pieces of advice I would go back and give to my freshman self if I could. I think these are applicable to each and every one our lives anyway, so they are still good rules to live by.

1.     Do all things in moderation. Spend time studying, with friends, relaxing, sleeping, eating, working out, etc. Do not over indulge and keep your life as balanced as possible! A little bit each day will go along way!

2.     Try new things and get involved right away. Hey, you are basically a foreigner here and you barely know anyone! Go out and explore your interests and meet some people who share them. You will be happy you did and will probably meet life-long friends.

3.     Make mistakes. Failing a test, screwing up a relationship, oversleeping for class, those are all things that are going to happen. What you learn from them is what truly matters.

4.     Like everyone, trust few. Everyone is in the same boat as you with trying to make friends. Treat everyone you meet the same way, but wait to trust anyone until you really see who sticks around. You will be happy you did this.

5.     Make a resume and cover letter. You might not need them right away, but when you make it, you will see how much room you have to fill.

6.     Learn everything you can about your school. Purdue pride is something you should be a part of. You did chose to come here after all, so make the most of your short four years here (trust me, they will go fast!)

7.    Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is too short to get wrapped up in things that don’t matter.

8.    Be open-minded. Our school is very diverse and there are so many great people you can meet and learn from. You will meet people from all over the globe. Don’t shy away from your peers knowledge and experiences, embrace them.

9.    Do what you really want to do and pursue your interests. If you don’t like what you are doing, stop doing it! Find what you really like and go for it! (You know those Pharmacy classes you are in right now? Yeah, you actually really don’t like them. Try communications, you are so much better with your words! )

10.  Thank your parents. They got you here and they are your biggest supporters. Be appreciative of them and continue to look to them for support.