Editor #21
As if it isn’t difficult enough for a college graduate to successfully enter the workforce or for a professional to successfully reenter the workforce, landing a job as a teenger may seem impossible. Just to put things in perspective, during February 2014 the unemployment rate for teenagers aged 16 to 19 was 21.4 percent, increasing from 20.2 percent in December 2013 and 20.7 percent in January 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; the national unemployment rate is 6.7 percent as of March 7, 2014.
Making a good impression at your job interview is the key to giving yourself the upper hand. Do some research about the company you are applying to work for. Find out enough information to talk like an expert about Starbucks, Forever 21 or whatever company you wish to work for. Also ask the interviewer questions about the company’s upcoming goals and plans; this will show that you are already imagining your role in the growth and improvement of that place of business.
Prior to your interview, be sure to rehearse your answers to common questions such as “What is your greatest weakness?”, “How do you handle stress?” and “Why do you want to work for [fill in the blank]?” Your responses should sound natural and truthful rather than scripted. It’s also never a bad idea to make small talk with your interviewer. Show that you are personable while you sneak in a few stories of your life accomplishments and explain how what you learned from them relates to the skills needed for your potential job. Most importantly, emit confidence. Your interviewer does not want to talk to a scared child; he or she wants to have a conversation with a bright and friendly young adult. Wear an outfit that will make you feel like the king or queen of the world on your interview day; however, be sure to keep it appropriate to the environment of your intended workplace.
There is not much you can do to make up for inadequate work experience; you can’t pretend to have experience that you don’t have. However, show your interviewer that you are fully capable of learning new skills quickly and that you already possess a strong work ethic. Give him or her examples of times when you applied your leadership skills or impeccable work habits during school or extracurricular activities; for example, perhaps you won medals and recognition in the science fair, or you are captain of the track team. Be sure to emphasize why you would be the perfect candidate for the position both today and in the future as the company expands and sets new goals.