Getting the Job

Congratulations! You have finally done it. You have been awarded that golden piece of paper that says you are ready to land your first professional job. You probably thought by now you'd have at least a dozen offers on the table. That's fantasy 101. Reality 101 says that you will actually have to go out and win your place in the world.

Finishing your degree program is one of the most exciting and scariest moments you may encounter in your life. You now have the credentials to take the next step. Interviewing for your first professional job. If you are one of the many who forgot to sign up for your college careers centers interviewing workshops, fear not. Here is a crash course in what you need to know to pass go in the game of job interviews.

Simple Rules of the Game

Show up on time-Sounds basic but you'd be surprised how many people sashay into interviews at least 10 minutes late. You've heard that saying that first impression counts. Well in the world of job interviews you rarely get a second chance to make a first impression. Most job interviewers make up their minds within the first 10 minutes of the interview. You need to be present and alert in order to make it to the second round of interviews.

Websites like Mapquest and Google Maps are great for finding directions to your interview. But they are not foolproof. We've all heard stories about people who relied solely on these directions, only to find themselves in front of a lake or a river. Take a practice-run several days before your interview. This will give you time to revise directions that might be slightly off.

Come prepared-In an ideal world you will walk in for your interview and the interviewer will have a copy of your resume in front of him or her. But resumes can get lost in the shuffle. It's always a good idea to have several extra copies of your resume on hand, just in case.

Take the time to research the company you are interviewing with. You don't want to sit there with a blank stare on your face when asked, So tell me what you know about our company? This particular question happens to be a favorite of interviewers, particularly those who are assigned to interviewing entry-level staff.

Looks count-Okay, so you've heard this is a really hip company where shorts are the basic uniform for most employees. Great, keep that in mind when you get hired. But remember, you are not an employeeyet.

Dressing to impress is still important. If you are unsure how polished you need to be, err on the side of caution. Tight skirts and low cut shirts might be fine if you are interviewing for The Apprentice but they won't go over well for interviews in the corporate world. Make the investment and buy yourself one nice suit. And if you never need to wear it again on the job, it will come in handy for your cousin Louise's wedding.

Behaviors matter-How you say something is just as important as what you say. Today's interviewers often use an approach called behavioral-based interviewing. Here candidates are asked to describe particular situations they may have encountered. For example, an interviewer may ask you about the toughest class you ever had. They would then follow up this question by asking what you did to succeed in this class. Throughout the interview the interviewer is looking for a pattern of behavior. For example, are you the type of person that quits when things aren't going your way or do you persevere? Practice responding to commonly asked behavioral-based interviewing questions (see sidebar) so you answer these questions with ease and consistency.

Honesty counts-Job interviews are a two-way street. They are an opportunity for the company to assess whether or not you are right for the organization and vice-a-versa. If you are interviewing for an entry-level job, chances are that you don't have experience in every aspect of the job.

When asked about a skill -et that you do not have, don't be afraid to respond by saying this is an area where you will need some additional training. Then ask the interviewer to explain how the company develops recent college grads. The last thing you want to do is walk into a job where you do not have the proper skills and the company is not prepared to help you gain them.

Ask questions-It is important to leave the interview with enough information to determine if the opportunity is worth pursuing. In order to do this, you must be prepared to ask questions. For example, if working for a socially responsible organization is high up on your list, ask the interviewer to describe the company's community-based programs. If you are planning to continue your education at night, ask detailed questions about the company's tuition-assistance program.

Practice, practice, practice-When it comes to interviewing, practice pays off. If you get called for a job that may not be exactly what you are looking for, it still may pay to go to the interview. Look at it as an opportunity to iron out all the kinks before you interview for the job you really want.

Once you get the hang of it, interviewing can be fun. And who knows, if you are any good at it, you might soon find yourself in the role of the interviewer.