Big Black Hairy Spider

Halloween is all about alter egos!! Each year my boys pick a new costume and walk around the neighborhood in search of spooky experiences and scary decorations! They love to say “Trick or Treat” and receive “OOH’S, AWW’s” and CANDY! Our neighborhood is a popular place to visit for Halloween festivities. We have trailers full of kids that line our streets every year, so we see lots of mythical creatures, super heroes and princesses.

To let you in on a little secret, I hate spiders! Last year, we approached a house that was rather grim, and in order to get to the “good” candy, we had to take a death defying walk into a deep, dark dungeon. The Grim Reaper threatened the entry way with his scythe, and there was an eerie glow and lots of spider webs. I was determined to show my three-year-old Ninja Turtle that his momma was brave, so we stepped into the dungeon. We were two feet from the good candy when a big black hairy spider dropped from the ceiling and landed about 2 inches from my face! I was horrified! I screamed loudly and was desperate to escape!

Ever feel this way about your interview?

Interviews don’t have to be scary! You must be prepared!

Sometimes, to get the job offer you have to tread into uncomfortable situations. You must impress the employer by talking about the skills you possess and by answering all the questions to the best of your ability. YOU want to be the one they make an offer to.

First, for the interview, a costume is required. For men, a suit, tie, jacket, pressed slacks, and shiny shoes are a must. You may want to trim your nails and beard, and get a haircut also. For women, it might mean a suit, skirt, dress jacket, new hairstyle, makeup, and manicure. Dressing like the company culture is just as important as your costume on Halloween.

In addition to wearing the right costume, you must also use magic words and speak their lingo! Research the company website and write a company specific cover letter and resume. Turn your experience into the employer’s greatest desires by showing statistics and discussing how much time and energy you have spent becoming a master at your skills set. Your marketing strategy, networking, and interviewing skills must be personal and professional. In reality, when you use magic words, you want to hear the same “OOH” and “AWW” reaction that your children hear on Halloween night. And you want the candy (job offer) too!

However, certain subjects will disqualify you from getting the job.

“Tell me about yourself?” is a famous interview question intended to provoke a personal response. You may be tempted to share your personal story, but don’t. It’s a trap! Sharing your personal life with your future boss is a bad move. Employers are not interested in your personal life.

What they REALLY WANT TO KNOW is “what can you do for me? What accomplishments, degrees, skills and abilities, do you possess that will make me money or save me time?” When you share your personal life, be prepared for a big black hairy spider to drop from the ceiling and eliminate you from the candidate pool!

STAY PROFESSIONAL!

You may be asking, so when I can share things about my personal life? The not so tricky answer is…after you have been hired! Establishing credibility with the company and learning the ropes are top priority.! Once the costume comes off, and you are gaining credibility in your new career, then you can reveal more about your true personality.

Job searching and Halloween have a lot in common! Dressing up and using magic words can be prosperous to the job seekers and the Trick-Or-Treater! The most important magic words to remember are “thank you!” Don’t forget to let the people handing out the candy know how much you appreciate their time!

Kristin Cole is a member of the Regional Facilitator team and specializes in training the workforce in finding a job, keeping a job, and getting a better job. She has a passion for helping people successfully get from one stage in their life to another. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a Master’s of Arts in Counseling from Sam Houston State University. She has 12 years’ experience as a trainer, teaching Special Education, Job Seekers and Foster Parents. After leaving her career in teaching, she utilized the Workforce Services to get a better job and became an Employment Counselor for 2 ½ years and was promoted to Facilitator and continued her passion as a trainer! She has 6 years of employment with Workforce Solutions.