9
A
g
& F
ood
E
mployer
G
uide
AFTER YOU’VE APPLIED
Don’t answer the phone
unprofessionally.
You never know
when an employer might contact you
after you’ve applied. Make sure you are
answering the phone in a professional
manner. Your voicemail greeting is also
important. “Remember you are creating
a first impression with what an employer
hears on your voicemail,” said Bass.
Haven’t heard back from an employer
after your application was processed?
It
is fine to follow up on your resume,
but…
keep messages short, clear and
repeat your phone number at the end of
the message. Give the person a
compelling reason to call you—“One of
the most effective techniques I’ve seen
is a person who called me regarding the
position stating even if they are not a
perfect fit, they may have referrals for
me. Of course I called that person back!”
said Franklin.
THE INTERVIEW
“Show you are engaged by asking
questions prior to the interview,”
said Bass. “You could ask who you are
interviewing with, get the interview
schedule and dress code,” shared Bass. If
you are visiting a farm or meeting with
the CEO, you may want to change your
outfit. Don’t look sloppy. It is safe to be
on the dressier side with your interview
wardrobe. Clothes should be clean,
wrinkle-free and fit well. Your outfit
should indicate professionalism, but not
be distracting when you are expressing
yourself and your qualifications.
Don’t be late!
This should be
obvious, but the importance shouldn’t be
underestimated. Plan your travels to
ensure you arrive 5 to 10 minutes prior
to your interview time.
First impressions begin while you
are waiting.
“Stay off electronics, smile
at everyone you encounter and treat
them with respect,” shared Franklin.
The receptionist often will report first
impressions to the hiring team.
Get rid of your cell phone during
the interview.
Leave it in your car, or if
you must bring it along, ensure that all
sound is turned off.
Don’t arrive at an interview
empty-handed.
Bring additional copies
of your resume and references, but also
paper and pen for note-taking. “If you
are nervous, write down key strengths
in your notebook. Ask the interviewer
if you may refer to your notes. It is
okay to tell the interviewer that you are
nervous as most will likely put you at
ease,” added Franklin.
Don’t tell the interviewer you
have skills, training or qualifications
that you do not.
What if you are asked
a question and you know your answer
won’t be what the interviewer wants
to hear? Be honest–share with them
how you could work towards obtaining
some of the skills you might be missing.
Some qualifications are preferred, but
not required.
Don’t say “I have no questions”
at the end of the interview.
The
majority of the interview will consist of
the employer asking you questions, but
it is your turn at the end. Prepare several
questions ahead of time and make sure
they are specific to the organization and
position. Employers often are
discouraged when candidates are
worried more about “What’s in it for
me?” rather than thinking about what
they can provide for the organization.
Ask questions that demonstrate you want
to know how you would contribute to
the company. Examples might be “What
would a typical day in this role look like?”
or “How can I be successful in this role?”
Follow their response with how you
could contribute to this success.
Speaking of questions, don’t ask
about salary in the first interview.
In
fact, candidates shouldn’t be the first to
bring up salary at any time. Let the
employer take the lead about if and
when to discuss money.
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Don’t forget to verbally thank the
employer for their time at the end of
your interview and follow-up with a
thank you note.
Handwritten thank you
notes are a nice touch and will help you
stand out. However, if time is of the
essence, an email thank you is acceptable.
Aim to send your thank you in the first
24 hours after your interview while it
is fresh on your mind, and you are still
top of mind for the interviewer. If the
interviewer asked you to send in samples
of your work or other information, do
that within this time frame as well.
Follow-up, but don’t be a pest!
Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer
where they are in the hiring process,
when they expect to make a decision or
when you might hear back from them at
the end of the interview. “This can be
especially important if you are
interviewing for other positions, as a
company doesn’t want to lose good
candidates,” said Bass. You could even
ask, “Do you mind if I follow up in ten
days?” If that time passes, feel free to
touch-base with a phone call or email
to check in. If the company is dragging
their feet, it is a two-way street and may
say something about the organization.
“Is that really an organization you want to
work for?” added Bass.
To pave your way for job search
success, consider what NOT to do, then
incorporate some of our suggestions to
impress potential employers!
“Remember, you are
creating a first
impression with what
an employer hears on
your voicemail.”
- Jackie Bass, Christensen Farms
